---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-26-033167"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "IIIN"
cik: "0000764401"
company_name: "INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC"
filed_at: "2026-10-22T10:30:23+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-10-22T10:35:21.854329+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Insteel Q4 earnings fall to $0.40/share from $0.74 as gross margin compresses to 10.0%

## Summary
- Q4 net earnings $7.7 million, or $0.40 per share, versus $14.6 million ($0.74 diluted) a year ago; included $0.7 million in welded wire consolidation restructuring charges ($0.03 EPS).
- Q4 net sales $209.3 million, up 17.9% from $177.4 million; average selling prices rose 6.6% and shipments rose 10.6%, aided by an extra week in the fiscal calendar.
- Gross profit fell to $21.0 million from $28.6 million as gross margin narrowed to 10.0% from 16.1% on higher raw material, freight and operating costs.
- Fiscal 2026 EPS $1.51 versus $2.10; sales $739.5 million on 11.5% higher ASPs and 2.4% higher volume; operating cash flow $36.6 million.
- FY2027 capex guided to about $30.0 million versus $11.8 million; debt-free with $37.5 million cash, $100 million revolver undrawn, and ~114,000 shares repurchased in FY2026.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-26-033167
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: IIIN
- cik: 0000764401
- company_name: INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC
- filed_at: 2026-10-22T10:30:23+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/764401/000143774926033167/0001437749-26-033167-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/764401/000143774926033167/iiin20261021_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-26-033167
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-26-033167.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-26-033167.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.