Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) — Q2 2026 Earnings Preview

Ticker

VRT

Earnings Date

July 29, 2026 (11:00 AM ET)

Exchange

NYSE

Prepared

July 28, 2026

Reporting Period

Q2 2026 (ended June 30, 2026)

Last Close

$287.60 (July 27, 2026)

Sources: Visible Alpha consensus and actuals data. Q2 2026 guidance from VRT Q1 2026 earnings release (April 22, 2026). Note: Q1 2026 FCF actual taken from company-reported earnings release; VA has not yet ingested this period.

Table 2 — Beat/Miss History (Last 8 Quarters, Top 2 KPIs)

Quarter

KPI

Reported

Consensus

Surprise %

Result

Q1 2026

Adj. EPS

$1.17

$1.01

+15.8%

Beat

Q1 2026

Net Sales

$2.65B

$2.65B

0.0%

In-Line

Q4 2025

Adj. EPS

$1.36

$1.29

+5.4%

Beat

Q4 2025

Net Sales

$2.88B

$2.88B

0.0%

In-Line

Q3 2025

Adj. EPS

$1.24

$0.99

+25.3%

Beat

Q3 2025

Net Sales

$2.68B

$2.59B

+3.5%

Beat

Q2 2025

Adj. EPS

$0.95

$0.84

+13.1%

Beat

Q2 2025

Net Sales

$2.64B

$2.36B

+11.9%

Beat

Q1 2025

Adj. EPS

$0.64

$0.62

+3.2%

Beat

Q1 2025

Net Sales

$2.04B

$1.94B

+5.2%

Beat

Q4 2024

Adj. EPS

$0.99

$0.82

+20.7%

Beat

Q4 2024

Net Sales

$2.35B

$2.16B

+8.8%

Beat

Q3 2024

Adj. EPS

$0.76

$0.69

+10.1%

Beat

Q3 2024

Net Sales

$2.07B

$1.98B

+4.8%

Beat

Q2 2024

Adj. EPS

$0.67

$0.57

+17.5%

Beat

Q2 2024

Net Sales

$1.95B

$1.94B

+0.7%

Beat

VRT has beaten adjusted EPS consensus in each of the last 8 quarters, with an average surprise of approximately +14% — a consistent pattern that sets a high bar for the market's implicit expectations even when the stated consensus appears achievable.

Source: Visible Alpha Consensus and Actuals Data.

3. Guidance & Commentary Evolution

Key Takeaway: Full-year guidance was raised meaningfully at Q1 earnings (April 22) and has not been formally revised since. The May Investor Conference reaffirmed the long-term algorithm with upgraded 5-year targets but left 2026 guidance unchanged. Tone has shifted from cautious tariff management to confident mitigation.

Metric

Initial Guidance (Q1 2026 Earnings, Apr 22)

Revised Guidance

Current Consensus

Note

Q2 2026 Net Sales

$3.25B–$3.45B

$3.39B

Unchanged since Q1 print; consensus at midpoint

Q2 2026 Adj. Op. Margin

20.7%–21.7%

21.5%

Consensus slightly above midpoint (21.2%); Q1 came in 180bps above guidance

Q2 2026 Adj. Diluted EPS

$1.37–$1.43

$1.44

Consensus slightly above high end of range; reflects pattern of consistent beats

FY 2026 Net Sales

$13.5B–$14.0B (30% organic growth)

$13.89B

Raised at Q1 from prior guide; May Investor Conference left unchanged

FY 2026 Adj. Op. Margin

22.8%–23.8% (23.3% mid)

23.4%

Raised 80bps at Q1; May conference reaffirmed; consensus at midpoint

FY 2026 Adj. Diluted EPS

$6.30–$6.40 (+51% YoY)

$6.48

↑ Raised $0.33 at Q1 earnings; consensus slightly above high end, consistent with beat pattern

FY 2026 Adj. Free Cash Flow

$2.1B–$2.3B (+17% YoY)

$2.27B

Maintained at Q1; consensus at midpoint

EMEA Organic Growth (FY)

Flat YoY

N/A (not separately tracked in VA)

H2 return to YoY growth embedded in guidance; Q1 EMEA was −29% organic

Long-Term Revenue CAGR (5-yr)

Low-to-mid teens (2024 Investor Day)

20–22% CAGR

N/A

↑ Raised at May 19–20 Investor Conference; TAM expanded to ~$75B

Long-Term Adj. Op. Margin Target

25% (2024 Investor Day)

27%

N/A

↑ Raised at May 19–20 Investor Conference

Sources: VRT Q1 2026 Earnings Release and Transcript (April 22, 2026); Vertiv Investor Conference transcripts (May 19–20, 2026); Visible Alpha Consensus Data.

4. Guidance vs. Estimate Revision Tracker

Key Takeaway: Estimates have moved higher since Q1 earnings across all key metrics, tracking with the raised guidance. The EPS revision trajectory is particularly notable — consensus has risen from ~$1.25 post-Q4 to $1.44 today for Q2, and from ~$6.47 to $6.48 for the full year, suggesting the street has largely absorbed the guidance raise with modest additional upward drift.

KPI (Period)

Estimate ~Apr 29, 2026 (Post-Q1 Baseline)

Current Consensus

Estimate Δ (%)

Initial Guidance (Q1 Call)

Current Guidance

Guidance Δ

Cons. vs. Guidance Mid

Net Sales — Q2 2026

$3.38B

$3.39B

+0.3%

$3.25B–$3.45B

Unchanged

+0.3% vs. $3.35B mid

Adj. Op. Margin — Q2 2026

21.4%

21.5%

+10bps

20.7%–21.7%

Unchanged

+30bps vs. 21.2% mid

Adj. EPS — Q2 2026

$1.43

$1.44

+0.7%

$1.37–$1.43

Unchanged

+2.8% vs. $1.40 mid

Net Sales — FY 2026

$13.88B

$13.89B

+0.1%

$13.5B–$14.0B

Unchanged

+1.0% vs. $13.75B mid

Adj. Op. Margin — FY 2026

23.4%

23.4%

Flat

22.8%–23.8%

Unchanged

+10bps vs. 23.3% mid

Adj. EPS — FY 2026

$6.47

$6.48

+0.2%

$6.30–$6.40

Unchanged

+1.2% vs. $6.35 mid

Free Cash Flow — FY 2026

$2.27B

$2.27B

Flat

$2.1B–$2.3B

Unchanged

At midpoint

Estimates have been remarkably stable since the Q1 print, with consensus tracking guidance midpoints closely. The slight premium of consensus to guidance midpoints on EPS reflects the market's expectation of continued operational outperformance, consistent with VRT's 8-quarter beat streak.

Source: Visible Alpha Consensus and Actuals Data. Post-Q1 baseline uses consensus as of approximately April 29, 2026 (5 trading days post-earnings).

8. Insider Transaction Activity

Key Takeaway: No open-market buys or discretionary sells were identified in the post-Q1 period (April 22 – July 28, 2026). All Form 4 filings reviewed consisted exclusively of non-discretionary transactions: RSU/DSU vesting-related tax withholding (Code F), dividend-equivalent DSU accruals (Code A), and 401(k) plan acquisitions. The absence of open-market activity is neither a positive nor negative signal — it is consistent with a company in a quiet period ahead of earnings and with insiders whose equity compensation is primarily RSU-based.

Name

Title

Transaction Type

Value

Date

Note

Multiple Insiders

Various

RSU/DSU Tax Withholding (Code F)

Various

Apr–Jul 2026

Mandatory tax withholding upon RSU/DSU vesting; not discretionary

Multiple Insiders

Various

DSU Dividend Accrual (Code A)

Various

Apr–Jul 2026

Automatic accrual of dividend-equivalent DSUs on RSUs; non-discretionary

Multiple Insiders

Various

401(k) Plan Acquisition

Various

Apr–Jul 2026

Shares acquired under 401(k) plan; exempt from reporting requirements

No open-market purchases (Code P), open-market sales (Code S), or 10b5-1 plan initiations were identified in the review period. Source: SEC Form 4 filings reviewed via SEC EDGAR (April 22 – July 28, 2026).