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Key Takeaways DuPont raised adjusted EPS guidance to $7.24 and sees second-half organic growth of about 6%.Pricing and productivity are expected to support roughly 40% second-half incremental margins.DuPont plans a $250 million buyback and has well over $1 billion available for acquisitions. DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD - Free Report) used its second-quarter 2026 earnings call to raise its full-year outlook and outline a stronger second half. Adjusted earnings of $1.88 per share topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.76. Revenues of $1.819 billion marginally beat the consensus mark of $1.818 billion.

The call centered on execution, with management linking growth and margins to pricing, productivity, commercial improvements and 80/20 simplification.

DD Raises Its 2026 OutlookCFO Antonella Franzen raised the midpoint of full-year adjusted earnings guidance to $7.24 per share and operating EBITDA guidance to $1.76 billion. Organic sales growth is now expected to be slightly above 4%.

For the second half, Franzen projected about 6% organic growth, supported by healthcare, industrial water, aerospace and implemented pricing. She expects roughly 40% incremental margins after adjusting for price-cost effects.

The outlook assumes $90 million of pricing to remain price-cost neutral, while oil-and-gas inflation creates a 50-basis-point second-half margin headwind.

Third-quarter guidance calls for $1.835 billion in sales, $448 million in operating EBITDA and adjusted earnings of $1.80 to $1.90 per share. Currency is expected to reduce growth by about one percentage point.

DuPont Connects Growth and ExecutionCEO Lori Koch described one operating system linking innovation, commercial excellence, operational excellence and 80/20. DuPont is using it to prioritize higher-value opportunities and scale successful practices.

Koch said that the innovation vitality index is about 35%, with greater emphasis shifting toward growth products. Launches include direct lithium extraction solutions, expanded biopharma offerings and products for electric vehicles and battery storage.

A Morgan Stanley analyst asked about AI-enabled selling. Koch said AI cut sales-play preparation to four weeks, while the commercial organization drove a roughly 30% win rate and $5 million to $6 million in incremental garment sales.

DD Sees Water Timing, Not Structural WeaknessGoldman Sachs and Mizuho analysts focused on Middle East water-project delays. Koch said that projects remain booked but have shifted, with more revenues expected in the fourth quarter than the third.

Water organic sales grew at a low-single-digit rate, but increased at a mid-single-digit pace outside the Middle East. Koch said that the region represents about 10% of Water sales.

DuPont now expects low-to-mid-single-digit Water growth for 2026 and high-single-digit growth in the second half. Stronger Healthcare demand is offsetting the revision and preserving the segment’s overall growth profile.

DuPont Sets Higher Productivity GoalsA Melius Research analyst asked how quickly DuPont can reach its productivity target. Koch aims to reduce cost of goods sold by 3% annually on a net basis, with that run rate achievable within 18 months.

The quarter delivered about 200 basis points of COGS reduction, contributing roughly 100 basis points to margin expansion. Koch also put cost of poor quality near 4% of sales, below a benchmark of about 5%.

The 80/20 program should add a few million dollars of EBITDA in the second half through simplification, yield improvement and better resource allocation. Koch said it should not create a material top-line headwind.

DD Pairs Buybacks With M&A CapacityDuPont plans a $250 million third-quarter share repurchase after transaction-adjusted free cash flow conversion reached 127% in the quarter.

Franzen said full-year conversion should finish much closer to 100% than the prior 90% target. Improvements in receivables, payables and inventory supported the cash result.

A Wolfe Research analyst asked about acquisitions. Koch said that DuPont has well over $1 billion available and is evaluating Water and Healthcare targets, including packaging and contract development and manufacturing opportunities, while maintaining return discipline.

DuPont Stays Focused on Repeatable ExecutionKoch’s message was that growth initiatives, productivity and portfolio focus are becoming repeatable operating disciplines. Franzen paired that posture with higher guidance and continued underlying margin momentum.

The second-half plan still depends on pricing realization, project timing and strength in healthcare, industrial water and aerospace. Management remained confident while acknowledging those execution requirements.

What DD’s Zacks Signals SayDD carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. Its Momentum Score of A indicates favorable momentum characteristics, but the Value Score of D, Growth Score of F and VGM Score of F show weaker readings across valuation, growth and the combined style profile. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Style Score complements the Zacks Rank, with A and B scores preferred. DD’s mix presents a neutral and uneven near-term signal, and the Zacks Rank can change as analysts revise earnings estimates following the reported results.

Key Takeaways DD beat Q2 earnings and sales estimates as organic sales rose 4% on broad-based end-market strength.DD raised the midpoint of full-year guidance for EBITDA and adjusted EPS after Q2 outperformance.DD generated stronger operating cash flow and free cash flow, supported by higher earnings. DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DD - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 net income from continuing operations of $191 million or $1.37 per share, up sharply from $24 million or 17 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.  

Barring one-time items, adjusted earnings came in at $1.88 per share, up from the year-ago quarter’s $1.27. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.76.  

Net sales of $1,819 million increased 4% year over year and marginally topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,817.9 million. Organic sales also improved 4%, driven by continued strength across healthcare, industrial water and aerospace end markets. 

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseDD’s Segment HighlightsHealthcare & Water Technologies generated net sales of $856 million, up 5% year over year. It missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $860 million. Organic sales rose 4%, while currency contributed 1%. Healthcare Technologies recorded mid-single-digit organic growth on broad-based increase led by personal protection and biopharma, while Water Technologies posted low-single-digit organic growth driven by industrial water and semiconductor markets, partly offset by weakness in the Middle East. Operating EBITDA increased 4% to $258 million.  

Diversified Industrials recorded net sales of $963 million, up 3% year over year, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $947 million. Organic sales increased 3%, supported by growth in Building Technologies from residential and non-residential construction markets and continued aerospace and electric vehicle strength in Industrial Technologies. Operating EBITDA improved 7% year over year to $213 million. 

DD’s FinancialsDuPont ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.74 billion, up significantly from $715 million at the end of 2025. Long-term debt was $3.13 billion, essentially flat with year-end 2025.  

Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations totaled $400 million in the quarter compared with $74 million in the year-ago period. Transaction-adjusted free cash flow rose to $326 million from $107 million a year ago, reflecting stronger earnings and improved cash conversion. 

DD’s OutlookFollowing its second-quarter outperformance, DuPont raised the midpoint of its full-year 2026 operating EBITDA and adjusted earnings guidance. The company now expects net sales in the range of $7.16-$7.19 billion, operating EBITDA between $1.75 billion and $1.77 billion and adjusted earnings of $7.17-$7.32 per share. 

For the second half of 2026, DuPont projects net sales of $3.66-$3.69 billion, operating EBITDA of $890-$910 million and adjusted earnings of $3.65-$3.80 per share. Management also expects organic sales growth to be slightly above 4% for the full year. 

The outlook reflects continued strength across healthcare, industrial water and aerospace end markets. Management expects mid-single-digit organic sales growth in the second half and remains focused on productivity, profitable growth and shareholder value creation. 

DD’s Price Performance DD's shares are down 35.1% in the past year compared with the Zacks Chemicals Diversified industry’s 3.9% rise. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DD’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksDD currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) , Neo Performance Materials Inc. (NOPMF - Free Report) and Lundin Mining Corporation (LUNMF - Free Report) .

Avient is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s second-quarter earnings is pegged at 89 cents per share. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. 

NOPMF is slated to report second-quarter results on Aug. 11. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 5 cents per share. NOPMF has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Lundin Mining is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 5. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LUNMF’s second-quarter earnings is pegged at 34 cents per share. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. 

Tailored direct lithium extraction solutions combine advanced sorbents, membranes, ion exchange resins, and technical expertise to enable high-performance lithium recovery across diverse brine compositions

, /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced it has launched an end-to-end Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) portfolio comprising more than 20 products across multiple technologies, designed to improve lithium recovery and provide tailored solutions for diverse brine resources, supporting scalable lithium production amid accelerating global demand. As an alternative to traditional lithium processing approaches such as hard rock mining or evaporation, DLE is well positioned to support growing lithium demand through advanced separation technologies designed to extract lithium effectively and efficiently from brine.

The new DLE portfolio spans lithium-selective sorbents, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, and ion exchange resins across the entire lithium brine treatment process, from extraction and purification to final concentration. This integrated flowsheet design enables customers to implement end-to-end solutions or select individual technologies tailored to their specific process requirements and brine compositions.

A key differentiator of DuPont's new portfolio is its breadth and flexibility, which allows DuPont to design customized solutions across a wide range of lithium extraction applications. For example, the portfolio includes specialized lithium-selective DuPont™ AmberSorb™ adsorbent technologies for both high- and low-temperature brine streams to meet the needs for efficient lithium recovery from diverse global resources. In addition, DuPont provides different grades of FilmTec™ LiNE nanofiltration and reverse osmosis elements, offering unique separation characteristics and incorporation of low salt rejection reverse osmosis (LSRRO) technology to achieve ultra-high lithium concentration.

These capabilities are enhanced by advanced DuPont™ IntegraTec™ and Inge™ ultrafiltration modules, FilmTec™ nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membranes, and DuPont™ AmberLite™ ion exchange resins, which improve lithium yield, purity, and concentration throughout the process. By bringing these technologies together into a single, cohesive platform, DuPont enables customers to optimize performance and recovery across the full direct lithium extraction flowsheet.

"DLE processes are highly sensitive to the lithium brine composition, temperature, and competing ions. By integrating the lithium-selective sorbents, membranes, and ion exchange technologies into a single process design framework, we can optimize the full flowsheet rather than treating them in isolation," said Dr. Martin Deetz, Senior R&D Laureate for DuPont Water Solutions. "Our customers are trying to move from the lab to reliable lithium production as quickly as possible. By combining these technologies with advanced modeling, testing, and piloting support, we can help accelerate the design of tailored, end-to-end lithium extraction flowsheets for their specific brine resources and goals."

DuPont further supports customers through its global research and development network, offering advanced laboratory testing and process modeling. These services allow lithium producers to validate performance using real brine samples and accelerate process development. This approach positions DuPont as a technical collaborator, helping customers move from initial evaluation to implementation with greater speed, confidence, and process reliability. As demand for lithium surges to power electric vehicles and energy storage systems, the industry is increasingly adopting DLE as a more coordinated and efficient approach to unlocking new lithium resources.

DuPont's technical experts hosted an educational webinar on June 18, 2026 to help customers understand how tailored DLE technologies can increase lithium yield and purity while addressing the unique characteristics of their brine resources. The session highlighted how customers can leverage DuPont's testing, modeling, and piloting support to evaluate and implement customized solutions. Watch on-demand here: https://www.dupont.com/water/contact-us.html?dfp=water-webinar-direct-lithium-extraction&src=ws_global_newsletter_dlewebinar_website_pressrelease_2026-07-14 

Learn more about DuPont's Direct Lithium Extraction portfolio at https://www.dupont.com/water/applications/direct-lithium-extraction-solutions.html.

About DuPont

DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader, providing advanced solutions that help transform industries and improve everyday life across our key markets of healthcare, water, construction, and industrial. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.

DuPont™, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with ™, ℠ or ® are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted.

SOURCE DuPont