RBC Bearings Inc. closed out what officials called a “record” fiscal year with sharply higher sales and earnings in the final quarter.
The company’s gross margin, however, edged up only slightly, and its operating margin was flat year-over-year.
The Connecticut-based bearings and components manufacturer on Friday reported $518 million in sales in its fiscal fourth quarter, up 18.3% compared to the same period last year. Sales in its industrial division were up 5.5%, while its aerospace and defense sales jumped by 41.2%. The company attributed $30 million in sales to its mid-2025 acquisition of Vacco Industries.
RBC’s operating income was also up 18.3%, to $119.1 million, while its net income of $91.7 million was up 26.1%. Gross margin climbed 20 basis points to 44.4%, and operating margin remained at 23%.
Sales for the full fiscal year came in at $1.87 billion, up 14.3% over its fiscal 2025 total. Operating income and net income were also up, while gross margin was flat and operating margin was down 10 basis points.
“We closed out fiscal year 2026 with another strong quarter, driven by continued expansion in our aerospace and defense segment and accelerating growth in our industrial business,” RBC Chairman and CEO Michael Hartnett said in a statement. “As we look ahead to fiscal year 2027, we remain highly encouraged by the strength of our operating environment and the momentum we are seeing across the businesses.”
The company issued a forecast only for the current quarter of its new fiscal year. RBC expects quarterly sales growth of between 14.7% to 17% and adjusted gross margin of between 45.25% to 45.5%.
