Insteel Industries Reports $7.6M Net Income in Q1 2026 with 23.3% Sales Growth
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 15 2026
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Should l Buy IIIN?
Source: Businesswire
- Significant Profit Growth: Insteel reported a net income of $7.6 million for Q1 2026, translating to $0.39 per share, a substantial increase from $1.1 million and $0.06 per share in the same quarter last year, indicating strong profitability driven by robust market demand.
- Sales Surge: The company achieved a 23.3% year-over-year increase in net sales, reaching $159.9 million, primarily due to an 18.8% rise in average selling prices and a 3.8% increase in shipments, demonstrating effective management of rising raw material costs.
- Margin Improvement: Gross margin expanded by 400 basis points to 11.3% from 7.3% in the prior year quarter, reflecting higher shipment volumes and lower unit manufacturing costs, which further enhances the company's profitability.
- Cash Flow Dynamics: While operating activities used $0.7 million in cash during the quarter, Insteel maintained a cash reserve of $15.6 million and paid a special cash dividend of $19.4 million in December, showcasing strong capital management capabilities.
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Analyst Views on IIIN
About IIIN
Insteel Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction applications. The Company manufactures and markets prestressed concrete strand (PC strand) and welded wire reinforcement (WWR), including engineered structural mesh, concrete pipe reinforcement and standard welded wire reinforcement. The Company’s PC strand is a seven-wire strand that is used to impart compression forces into precast concrete elements and structures, providing reinforcement for bridges, parking decks, buildings, and other concrete structures. Its WWR is produced as either a standard or a specially engineered reinforcing product for use in nonresidential and residential construction. Its products are sold to manufacturers of concrete products that are used in nonresidential construction. The Company sells its products nationwide across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America.
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.
- Earnings Growth: Insteel Industries reported Q1 net earnings of $7.6 million, a substantial increase from $1.1 million in the same period last year, reflecting improved profitability amid rising demand in commercial and infrastructure markets.
- Shipment Trends: First-quarter shipments increased by 3.8% year-over-year but declined by 9.7% sequentially, consistent with normal seasonal patterns, demonstrating the company's adaptability in a fluctuating market.
- Gross Profit and Margin: Gross profit rose to $18.1 million with gross margin expanding by 400 basis points to 11.3% year-over-year, although it narrowed by 480 basis points sequentially due to rising inventory costs, indicating challenges in cost management.
- Shareholder Returns: The company returned $19.4 million to shareholders through a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share and repurchased approximately 24,000 shares, reflecting a strong commitment to shareholder returns and financial health.
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- Surge in Trading Volume: MGM Resorts International (MGM) recorded an options trading volume of 26,208 contracts today, equivalent to approximately 2.6 million shares, representing 62.1% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in its stock.
- Bullish Call Options: Notably, the $36 strike call option expiring on January 16, 2026, saw a high volume of 21,977 contracts traded today, representing about 2.2 million shares, suggesting investor optimism regarding MGM's future performance.
- FIGR Options Activity: Concurrently, Figure Technology Solutions Inc (FIGR) also experienced significant options trading, with a volume of 19,177 contracts, approximately 1.9 million shares, accounting for 61.8% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, reflecting market interest in the company.
- Put Options Trading: Among FIGR's trades, the $60 strike put option expiring on February 20, 2026, recorded a volume of 5,393 contracts, representing about 539,300 shares, highlighting investor concerns regarding potential risks facing the company.
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- Earnings Growth: Insteel Industries reported net earnings of $7.6 million in Q1 2026, translating to $0.39 per share, a significant increase from $1.1 million and $0.06 per share in the same quarter last year, reflecting robust demand in infrastructure and commercial sectors.
- Price Increase: Average selling prices rose by 18.8% year-over-year, primarily due to pricing actions taken in fiscal 2025 to offset rising steel wire rod costs, although prices remained stable sequentially, indicating enhanced market pricing power.
- Capital Investment Plan: The company plans to invest approximately $20 million in 2026 for plant and information systems infrastructure to support the growth of its engineered structural mesh business, reduce cash production costs, and enhance the robustness of its information systems, demonstrating confidence in future growth.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Management expressed optimism for 2026, anticipating strong demand driven by infrastructure investment and data center construction, despite risks from trade policies and supply chain uncertainties, showcasing the company's resilience in a complex environment.
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- Significant Revenue Growth: Insteel's Q1 net sales reached $159.9 million, reflecting a 23.3% year-over-year increase driven by an 18.8% rise in average selling prices and a 3.8% increase in shipments, showcasing the company's strong performance amid recovering market demand.
- Improved Profitability: The company reported a GAAP EPS of $0.39 for Q1, indicating effective enhancement of profitability alongside sales growth, which further boosts investor confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Market Demand Recovery: With increased investments in construction and infrastructure, demand for Insteel's products continues to rise, and this trend is expected to create more market opportunities for the company, solidifying its competitive position in the industry.
- Optimistic Strategic Outlook: Insteel's strong performance in the current economic cycle has led analysts to maintain an optimistic view on its future earnings, believing the company will continue to benefit from the dual drivers of industry recovery and price increases.
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- Significant Profit Growth: Insteel reported a net income of $7.6 million for Q1 2026, translating to $0.39 per share, a substantial increase from $1.1 million and $0.06 per share in the same quarter last year, indicating strong profitability driven by robust market demand.
- Sales Surge: The company achieved a 23.3% year-over-year increase in net sales, reaching $159.9 million, primarily due to an 18.8% rise in average selling prices and a 3.8% increase in shipments, demonstrating effective management of rising raw material costs.
- Margin Improvement: Gross margin expanded by 400 basis points to 11.3% from 7.3% in the prior year quarter, reflecting higher shipment volumes and lower unit manufacturing costs, which further enhances the company's profitability.
- Cash Flow Dynamics: While operating activities used $0.7 million in cash during the quarter, Insteel maintained a cash reserve of $15.6 million and paid a special cash dividend of $19.4 million in December, showcasing strong capital management capabilities.
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- Leading Quant Ratings: PNC Financial Services leads the upcoming earnings with a quant rating of 4.78, indicating a strong buy signal that suggests its financial performance may exceed market expectations, potentially driving stock price increases.
- Strong Regional Bank Performance: First Horizon (FHN) and M&T Bank (MTB) follow closely with ratings of 4.60 and 4.51, respectively, indicating that regional banks are well-positioned for growth in the upcoming earnings, likely attracting more investor interest.
- Airline Industry Highlight: Delta Air Lines (DAL) receives a quant rating of 4.54 ahead of its earnings report, showcasing its strong performance in the airline sector, which may boost market confidence due to sustained high demand.
- Construction Sector Pressure: Insteel Industries (IIIN) ranks lowest with a score of 1.56, reflecting the pressures faced by construction-linked companies, which may lead to diminished investor confidence and negatively impact their stock performance.
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