Acuity Inc. Reports $1.1B Net Sales in Q1, Up 20% Year-over-Year
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 08 2026
0mins
Should l Buy AYI?
Source: Globenewswire
- Significant Sales Growth: Acuity Inc. achieved net sales of $1.1 billion in Q1 2026, representing a 20.2% increase year-over-year, highlighting the company's sustained growth potential amid strong market demand.
- Profitability Improvement: The operating profit reached $160.4 million in Q1, up 20.3%, with an operating margin of 14%, indicating successful cost control and efficiency enhancements.
- Earnings Per Share Growth: Diluted EPS was $3.82, a 14% increase, while adjusted EPS rose to $4.69, up 18.1%, reflecting enhanced profitability and increased shareholder returns.
- Strong Cash Flow: The net cash provided by operating activities was $140.8 million in Q1, demonstrating effective cash management, while the company repurchased approximately 77,000 shares and repaid $100 million in loans, maintaining robust cash flow.
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Analyst Views on AYI
Wall Street analysts forecast AYI stock price to rise
6 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 313.240
Low
375.00
Averages
401.25
High
435.00
Current: 313.240
Low
375.00
Averages
401.25
High
435.00
About AYI
Acuity Inc., formerly Acuity Brands, Inc., is an industrial technology company. The Company uses technology to solve problems in space and light. The Company's segments include Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS). The Company offers various products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. It operates across North America, Europe and Asia.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Acuity CFO Executes Significant Stock Transaction
- Executive Stock Transaction: Acuity's CFO, Karen J. Holcom, exercised 897 options and sold 4,974 shares on January 28, 2026, for a total value of approximately $1.5 million, indicating ongoing executive engagement with the company's stock.
- Stake Reduction: This transaction reduced Holcom's direct holdings from 26,497 to 21,523 shares, accounting for 18.77% of her direct stake, suggesting potential concerns regarding market volatility affecting her confidence in the company's stock.
- Financial Overview: Acuity reported a trailing twelve-month revenue of $4.54 billion and a net income of $410.4 million, maintaining a dividend yield of 0.23% despite pressures from high interest rates and rising construction material costs, reflecting its financial resilience.
- Market Performance and Outlook: Although Acuity's stock has declined by 4.69% over the past year, it has delivered over 150% returns over the last five years, outperforming the S&P 500's 98% return, indicating strong long-term investment potential despite current industry challenges.
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Acuity Inc. (NYSE:AYI) Named Among 10 Most Undervalued Industrial Stocks, Price Target Cut to $410
- Analyst Rating Maintained: Morgan Stanley's Christopher Snyder cut Acuity Inc. (NYSE:AYI) price target from $425 to $410 on January 12 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating optimism about the company's long-term prospects despite short-term challenges.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Acuity's fiscal Q1 EPS exceeded expectations, yet the stock dropped 13% post-report due to weaker-than-expected margins in the ABL segment, reflecting market concerns about the company's future pricing power.
- Competitor Insights: Baird analyst Timothy Wojs lowered Acuity's price target from $408 to $375 on January 9 while reiterating a Buy rating, suggesting a cautious outlook based on updates to the firm's financial model following modest upside in Acuity's first-quarter results.
- Investment Appeal: Despite short-term challenges, analysts highlighted that the 13% pullback presents an attractive entry point for investors, indicating that Acuity is still viewed as a potential investment opportunity in the current market environment.
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Acuity (AYI) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
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- U.S. Stock Performance: U.S. stock indexes had a mixed performance on Thursday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.55%.
- Flat Index: The Dow Jones Industrial Average remained flat during the trading session.
- Decline in Index: The Nasdaq Composite experienced a decline, dropping by 0.44%.
- Market Sentiment: Overall market sentiment reflected varied investor reactions across different sectors.
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Acuity Reports 20% Sales Growth in Q2 but Stock Falls 13%
- Sales Growth: Acuity's Q2 sales increased by 20%, meeting market expectations and demonstrating strong performance in both lighting and intelligent spaces, although the stock fell due to unchanged guidance.
- Adjusted EPS: Adjusted earnings per share rose by 18%, reflecting improvements in cost control and operational efficiency, despite a lukewarm market reaction.
- Intelligent Spaces Business: Acuity's intelligent spaces segment saw a 40% sales increase following the acquisition of QSC, indicating significant potential in IoT applications and positioning it as a future growth driver for the company.
- Market Reaction: Despite meeting expectations, Acuity's stock dropped 13%, highlighting market concerns about future growth, particularly in light of the lack of raised guidance.
See More
Acuity Reports 20% Sales Growth in Q2, Stock Drops 13%
- Earnings Meet Expectations: Acuity's Q2 sales and adjusted EPS grew by 20% and 18%, respectively, but despite meeting Wall Street expectations, the stock fell 13%, indicating market skepticism about future guidance.
- Negative Market Reaction: After a 30% stock price increase from April 2024 to early January, the lack of an upward revision in guidance disappointed investors, leading to a swift market reaction.
- Significant Acquisition Impact: The QSC business, acquired for $1.2 billion in 2024, has seen a 40% year-over-year sales increase, becoming the core of Acuity's growth strategy and demonstrating strong performance in the audio-visual solutions market.
- Attractive Valuation: With a current trading multiple of 19 times free cash flow, Acuity presents an appealing investment opportunity if its emerging intelligent spaces segment continues to thrive, potentially becoming a highlight for future investments.
See More
Acuity CFO Executes Significant Stock Transaction
- Executive Stock Transaction: Acuity's CFO, Karen J. Holcom, exercised 897 options and sold 4,974 shares on January 28, 2026, for a total value of approximately $1.5 million, indicating ongoing executive engagement with the company's stock.
- Stake Reduction: This transaction reduced Holcom's direct holdings from 26,497 to 21,523 shares, accounting for 18.77% of her direct stake, suggesting potential concerns regarding market volatility affecting her confidence in the company's stock.
- Financial Overview: Acuity reported a trailing twelve-month revenue of $4.54 billion and a net income of $410.4 million, maintaining a dividend yield of 0.23% despite pressures from high interest rates and rising construction material costs, reflecting its financial resilience.
- Market Performance and Outlook: Although Acuity's stock has declined by 4.69% over the past year, it has delivered over 150% returns over the last five years, outperforming the S&P 500's 98% return, indicating strong long-term investment potential despite current industry challenges.
See More
Acuity Inc. (NYSE:AYI) Named Among 10 Most Undervalued Industrial Stocks, Price Target Cut to $410
- Analyst Rating Maintained: Morgan Stanley's Christopher Snyder cut Acuity Inc. (NYSE:AYI) price target from $425 to $410 on January 12 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating optimism about the company's long-term prospects despite short-term challenges.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Acuity's fiscal Q1 EPS exceeded expectations, yet the stock dropped 13% post-report due to weaker-than-expected margins in the ABL segment, reflecting market concerns about the company's future pricing power.
- Competitor Insights: Baird analyst Timothy Wojs lowered Acuity's price target from $408 to $375 on January 9 while reiterating a Buy rating, suggesting a cautious outlook based on updates to the firm's financial model following modest upside in Acuity's first-quarter results.
- Investment Appeal: Despite short-term challenges, analysts highlighted that the 13% pullback presents an attractive entry point for investors, indicating that Acuity is still viewed as a potential investment opportunity in the current market environment.
See More
Acuity (AYI) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
See More
U.S. Markets Closed Thursday with Mixed Results as Kratos Defense & Security Outperformed While Regencell Bioscience Underperformed
- U.S. Stock Performance: U.S. stock indexes had a mixed performance on Thursday, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.55%.
- Flat Index: The Dow Jones Industrial Average remained flat during the trading session.
- Decline in Index: The Nasdaq Composite experienced a decline, dropping by 0.44%.
- Market Sentiment: Overall market sentiment reflected varied investor reactions across different sectors.
See More
Acuity Reports 20% Sales Growth in Q2 but Stock Falls 13%
- Sales Growth: Acuity's Q2 sales increased by 20%, meeting market expectations and demonstrating strong performance in both lighting and intelligent spaces, although the stock fell due to unchanged guidance.
- Adjusted EPS: Adjusted earnings per share rose by 18%, reflecting improvements in cost control and operational efficiency, despite a lukewarm market reaction.
- Intelligent Spaces Business: Acuity's intelligent spaces segment saw a 40% sales increase following the acquisition of QSC, indicating significant potential in IoT applications and positioning it as a future growth driver for the company.
- Market Reaction: Despite meeting expectations, Acuity's stock dropped 13%, highlighting market concerns about future growth, particularly in light of the lack of raised guidance.
See More
Acuity Reports 20% Sales Growth in Q2, Stock Drops 13%
- Earnings Meet Expectations: Acuity's Q2 sales and adjusted EPS grew by 20% and 18%, respectively, but despite meeting Wall Street expectations, the stock fell 13%, indicating market skepticism about future guidance.
- Negative Market Reaction: After a 30% stock price increase from April 2024 to early January, the lack of an upward revision in guidance disappointed investors, leading to a swift market reaction.
- Significant Acquisition Impact: The QSC business, acquired for $1.2 billion in 2024, has seen a 40% year-over-year sales increase, becoming the core of Acuity's growth strategy and demonstrating strong performance in the audio-visual solutions market.
- Attractive Valuation: With a current trading multiple of 19 times free cash flow, Acuity presents an appealing investment opportunity if its emerging intelligent spaces segment continues to thrive, potentially becoming a highlight for future investments.
See More
