Acuity's Fourth-Quarter Sales Growth Reaccelerates
Net sales were $1.24 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter, up 2.9% from a year earlier, after a 1.6% year-over-year rise in the third quarter.
Acuity Inc. (AYI), a market-leading industrial technology company, reported net sales of $1.24 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter ended August 31, 2026, up 2.9% from a year earlier, after a 1.6% year-over-year increase in the third quarter.
Adjusted operating profit was $232.9 million, up 3.4% from a year earlier, after a 0.8% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. Adjusted operating profit margin was 18.7%, up 10 basis points year over year, after a 10-basis-point year-over-year decline in the third quarter.
GAAP operating profit was $227.0 million, up 25.7% from a year earlier, after a 38.3% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. GAAP operating profit margin was 18.2%, up 330 basis points year over year, after a 420-basis-point year-over-year increase in the third quarter.
Diluted earnings per share were $5.63, up 56.0% from a year earlier, after a 46.2% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $5.77, up 11.0% from a year earlier, after a 3.7% year-over-year increase in the third quarter.
Acuity Brands Lighting generated net sales of $958.7 million, down 0.4% from a year earlier, after a 1.9% year-over-year decline in the third quarter. ABL GAAP operating profit was $188.8 million, up 3.2% from a year earlier, after a 19.9% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. ABL GAAP operating profit margin was 19.7%, up 70 basis points year over year, after a 320-basis-point year-over-year increase in the third quarter.
ABL adjusted operating profit was $179.8 million, down 7.1% from a year earlier, after a 5.3% year-over-year decline in the third quarter. ABL adjusted operating profit margin was 18.8%, down 130 basis points year over year, after a 60-basis-point year-over-year decline in the third quarter.
Acuity Intelligent Spaces generated net sales of $297.6 million, up 16.6% from a year earlier, after a 14.9% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. AIS GAAP operating profit was $64.7 million, up 131.1% from a year earlier, after a 106.2% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. AIS GAAP operating profit margin was 21.7%, up 1,070 basis points year over year, after an 820-basis-point year-over-year increase in the third quarter.
AIS adjusted operating profit was $74.1 million, up 35.7% from a year earlier, after a 22.5% year-over-year increase in the third quarter. AIS adjusted operating profit margin was 24.9%, up 350 basis points year over year.
ABL independent sales network net sales were $729.2 million, up 3.8% from a year earlier. ABL direct sales network net sales were $79.8 million, down 24.2% from a year earlier. ABL retail sales were $41.7 million, down 3.9% from a year earlier. ABL corporate accounts net sales were $55.2 million, up 4.3% from a year earlier. ABL original equipment manufacturer and other net sales were $52.8 million, down 9.6% from a year earlier.
The company received $44.9 million in tariff refunds in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, versus $6.4 million in the third quarter. Special charges were $17.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, including $14.7 million of ABL product-portfolio, supply-chain and footprint initiatives and $3.1 million of AIS facility impairment.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Neil Ashe said the company demonstrated solid execution in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, grew sales, expanded adjusted operating profit and adjusted operating profit margin, increased adjusted diluted earnings per share, generated strong cash flow and allocated capital effectively. He said that throughout fiscal 2026 the company strengthened Acuity Brands Lighting while continuing to scale Acuity Intelligent Spaces, building the operating and financial capacity needed to compound growth and value over time.