Ryan Schroeder

President & Chief Executive Officer, The Eastern

Search every verified Ryan Schroeder interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Ryan Schroeder, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Eastern Company, discussed the company's second-quarter fiscal 2026 results during an earnings call. He reported that net sales from continuing operations were $61.8 million, an 11.9% decrease year-over-year, while the bottom line included a $6.5 million bargain purchase gain. Management addressed a margin challenge at the company's "Big Three" segment, which resulted from accepting rack orders below minimum thresholds to fill capacity during a period of soft demand. Schroeder highlighted that backlog reached $126 million, a 45% increase year-over-year, with the majority expected to convert to revenue in the second half of 2026. He noted that two acquisitions completed during the quarter were a "disciplined and opportunistic use of capital," adding exposure to different end markets, longer-cycle programs, and mission-critical applications. He stated that initial priorities include investing in people, processes, and equipment to increase throughput and shorten lead times, while maintaining quality standards. He also reaffirmed an unchanged capital allocation strategy, including maintaining a strong balance sheet, pursuing acquisitions, and returning capital through the quarterly dividend and share repurchases. The company repurchased 19,529 shares during the quarter, bringing first-half repurchases to over 40,000 shares.