Belden (NYSE:BDC – Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The industrial products company reported $2.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.04 by $0.30, FiscalAI reports. Belden had a return on equity of 24.47% and a net margin of 8.49%.The firm had revenue of $750.16 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $746.89 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.89 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. Belden updated its Q3 2026 guidance to 2.150-2.300 EPS.
Here are the key takeaways from Belden’s conference call:
- Belden reported record second-quarter results: revenue rose 12% year over year to $750 million, adjusted EPS increased 24% to $2.34, and orders reached a record $836 million with a 1.11 book-to-bill ratio. Results exceeded the high end of guidance, although EPS included an approximately $0.25 benefit from expected tariff recovery.
- Demand was broad-based, with organic growth of 8% and double-digit growth in Automation, discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, data centers, and healthcare. Broadband was flat year over year, but management expects improvement in the second half from DOCSIS upgrades and new fiber products.
- Belden highlighted accelerating AI infrastructure momentum, including approximately $40 million of hyperscaler orders in the quarter and a $20 million contract for high-density fiber connectivity in an AI data center. Its data center and AI infrastructure business, excluding RUCKUS, now has an annualized revenue run rate of approximately $175 million or more.
- The RUCKUS Networks acquisition closed July 1 and is expected to be immediately accretive to revenue growth, EPS, and EBITDA. Management sees cross-selling opportunities across industrial, warehouse, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, and venues, while raising the combined company’s solutions mix above 20% and long-term organic growth outlook toward the high-single-digit range.
- The acquisition is expected to increase net leverage to approximately 3.9 times adjusted EBITDA by the end of the third quarter, creating near-term balance-sheet pressure. Belden expects more than $500 million of combined free cash flow over 18 months to reduce leverage to 1.5 times by the end of 2029, while also cautioning that RUCKUS integration will cause temporary inefficiencies.
Belden Stock Performance
Shares of BDC traded up $15.45 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $117.48. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 948,852 shares, compared to its average volume of 447,534. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $109.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $119.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.57 billion, a PE ratio of 19.78 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a current ratio of 2.09. Belden has a one year low of $98.00 and a one year high of $159.99.
Belden Announces Dividend
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of equities analysts have issued reports on BDC shares. Wall Street Zen raised Belden from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, July 20th. DA Davidson started coverage on Belden in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $155.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup assumed coverage on Belden in a research note on Friday, June 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $150.00 target price for the company. Fox Advisors raised Belden from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings cut shares of Belden from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Belden currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $158.75.
Read Our Latest Research Report on Belden
Key Stories Impacting Belden
Here are the key news stories impacting Belden this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter results beat estimates. Belden reported record revenue of approximately $750 million, up 11.6% year over year and slightly above the $746.9 million consensus estimate. Adjusted EPS was $2.34, exceeding expectations of $2.04 and rising from $1.89 a year earlier. Belden Reports Record Second Quarter 2026 Results
- Positive Sentiment: Orders and AI demand strengthened the outlook. Record orders of $836 million increased 19% year over year, producing a 1.11 book-to-bill ratio. Management attributed the performance in part to demand for networking infrastructure supporting AI and data-center applications, while also citing solid organic growth. Belden Inc. Q2 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
- Positive Sentiment: Profitability improved. Adjusted EPS grew 24% year over year, while GAAP EPS rose 14% to $1.74. Belden also completed its previously announced RU acquisition, expanding its networking solutions portfolio. Belden Earnings Conference Call
- Neutral Sentiment: Third-quarter guidance was broadly consistent with expectations. Belden forecast adjusted EPS of $2.15–$2.30 and revenue of $950 million–$970 million, compared with consensus estimates of $2.25 and $959 million, respectively. The midpoint implies a modest potential shortfall but leaves room for an upside beat.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Belden
Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BDC. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. grew its position in Belden by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 2,290 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $275,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Belden by 32.0% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 437 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 106 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in Belden by 12.8% during the 4th quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 1,025 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $119,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors raised its stake in Belden by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,904 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $452,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. lifted its holdings in Belden by 2.1% during the third quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 7,058 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $849,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.75% of the company’s stock.
Belden Company Profile
Belden, formerly Belden Inc (NYSE:BDC), was a global provider of signal transmission solutions for demanding applications. The company produced a wide range of copper and fiber optic cables, connectors, patch panels, cable assemblies, and surge protection devices. Its portfolio extended into networking and security hardware, including managed switches, industrial routers, and software tools for remote monitoring and network management.
Founded in 1902 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden built its reputation on delivering high‐performance, reliable products for harsh environments.
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