8-K filings, October 21, 2026: Medpace and Hexcel expand share buyback plans

Several companies said they are returning cash to shareholders through share repurchases

The filings were Form 8-K filings, the reports a US company makes to disclose a material event. Most carried third-quarter 2026 results.

• Medpace said it authorized management to repurchase up to $1.0 billion of its common stock through December 31, 2028.
• Hexcel said its board increased the share repurchase authorization to $750 million from $381 million, citing confidence in the business's cash generation. Hexcel said it expects to return to its targeted leverage range by the end of 2026 after prioritizing debt repayment.
• SEI Investments said its adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS), profit divided by the number of shares, increased 24% to $1.64. SEI said a 3% reduction in share count from repurchases supported this, along with revenue growth and margin expansion.
• SouthState said it increased its dividend by 10% and repurchased nearly 5% of its shares over the past year.
• Rollins said it made more meaningful share repurchases during the quarter.

Two industrial property owners said rents on new leases rose sharply

• First Industrial Realty Trust said its third-quarter cash rental rates increased 52% on commenced new and renewal leases and 76% on a straight-line basis, a method that averages rent over the lease term.
• EastGroup Properties said rental rates on new and renewal leases signed during the quarter increased an average of 36.3% on a straight-line basis. It expanded its Frisco Park 121 Phase 2 development plan to 11 buildings totaling approximately 1,000,000 square feet.

Other companies reported margin gains in parts of their business

• Knight-Swift said its Truckload adjusted operating ratio, operating costs as a share of revenue, improved 700 basis points year over year to 89.2%. It said Intermodal revenue grew 30.6%. Knight-Swift said it expects further meaningful rate growth in 2027.
• Hexcel said its third-quarter 2026 gross margin rose to 23.3% from 21.9%, and its commercial aerospace sales increased 21% year over year.
• Element Solutions said demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and other high-performance electronics applications drove broad-based double-digit organic growth across its Electronics verticals.