Gold soars to record high over $3,900/oz amid yen slump, US rate cut bets
Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ:DAKT) shares soared 24.64% on Wednesday after the company presented its fiscal first quarter 2026 results, showcasing a dramatic improvement from the previous quarter’s disappointing performance. The digital display manufacturer reported robust order growth, expanded margins, and significant progress on its transformation initiatives.
Quarterly Performance Highlights
Daktronics delivered a strong start to fiscal 2026 with orders reaching $238.5 million, a 35% increase year-over-year, driven by exceptional performance in the Live Events segment. The company reported net sales of $219.0 million, representing a 26.9% sequential increase from the previous quarter, though slightly down 3.1% from the same period last year.
Profitability metrics showed substantial improvement, with gross margin expanding to 29.7% from 25.0% in the previous quarter. Operating income reached $23.3 million, translating to a 10.6% operating margin, a significant recovery from the $1.7 million operating loss reported in Q4 FY2025.
As shown in the following financial highlights:
The company’s product backlog grew to $360 million, up 35% year-over-year, providing strong visibility for future revenue. This backlog growth was supported by record order bookings in the High School Park & Recreation segment and robust demand in Live Events and International markets.
Segment Performance Analysis
Daktronics reported varied performance across its five market verticals. The Live Events segment led the way with orders increasing by 81% year-over-year to $92.2 million, driven by three major league sports projects and strong professional sports demand. The High School Park & Recreation segment also performed exceptionally well, with orders up 36% year-over-year to $63.3 million, including a notable 9-stadium Mobile County School District video/audio project.
The International segment saw orders increase by 21.5% year-over-year, with record Q1 orders from government customers and the highest advertising orders in over three years. The Commercial segment posted a modest 5% year-over-year increase in orders, while Transportation was the only segment to experience a decline, with orders down 3.7% compared to the prior year.
The detailed breakdown of net sales and orders by business unit is illustrated below:
Financial Position and Cash Flow
Daktronics significantly strengthened its financial position during the quarter. The company ended Q1 with a cash balance of $137 million, up from $127 million at the end of the previous fiscal year. Operating cash flow increased by 34% year-over-year to $26 million, reflecting improved operational efficiency and profitability.
The company demonstrated its commitment to shareholder returns by repurchasing $10.7 million in shares at an average price of $16.43. Additionally, inventory management improved substantially, with the inventory-to-revenue ratio decreasing to 49.2% from 60.4% in the prior year.
The following slide details the company’s balance sheet and investment activities:
Free cash flow generation also showed significant improvement, as demonstrated in this reconciliation:
Strategic Initiatives and Transformation Plan
Daktronics continues to make progress on its multi-year transformation plan, which targets revenue growth of 7-10% CAGR through FY2028, operating margins of 10-12%, and return on invested capital (ROIC) of 17-20%. The company is focusing on both driving profitable growth and reducing costs through various initiatives.
Key growth initiatives include value-based pricing changes, SaaS product trials, prioritizing high-growth international markets, and improving inventory turnover. Cost reduction efforts include operational efficiency reviews across manufacturing sites, leveraging purchasing power, reducing product complexity, and renegotiating key supply contracts.
The company’s transformation roadmap is outlined below:
Daktronics is also advancing its digital transformation strategy, with initiatives spanning demand creation, fulfillment and support, corporate performance management, and data and artificial intelligence capabilities. The company has already completed several Q1 milestones in this area.
Product Development and Innovation
During Q1 FY2026, Daktronics achieved several product development milestones, including the release of Indoor Narrow Pixel Pitch and Indoor Fascia Ribbon displays, as well as an update to its Outdoor Fascia Ribbon display. The company also demonstrated a next-generation LED Street Furniture prototype.
Looking ahead, Daktronics plans to release several new products in FY2026, including Indoor Narrow Pixel Pitch for the US market, next-generation LED Street Furniture, next-generation Indoor video, and a Large Digit Fuel Price System.
The company’s product development roadmap is illustrated here:
Forward-Looking Statements
Daktronics’ outlook remains positive, supported by its large and growing backlog, efficient revenue conversion, and strong operating cash flow. The company acknowledged tariff uncertainty as a potential challenge but expressed confidence in its ability to mitigate these expenses through flexibility and diligence.
Management reaffirmed its three-year growth, profitability, and return targets, indicating that the transformation plan is on track. The company expects to see the majority of benefits from its transformation initiatives in the second half of FY2026 and throughout FY2027.
This quarter’s performance represents a significant rebound from the previous quarter’s disappointing results, when Daktronics reported an EPS of -$0.19 against a forecast of $0.15 and missed revenue expectations by 11.02%. The strong market reaction to the Q1 FY2026 results suggests investors are encouraged by the company’s improved execution and financial performance.
Full presentation:
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.