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Albertsons Companies, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 14 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss included opioid charge: The company reported a net loss of $(481) million, or $(0.94) per diluted share, including a $600 million net-of-tax charge, or $(1.18) per share, for the Opioid Settlement Framework. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $903 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $903.4 million, against $855.1 million a year earlier. The company estimated $68 million of the increase came from the extra week. Source
  • Pharmacy headwinds tempered identical sales: Fourth-quarter identical sales rose 0.7%, mainly on pharmacy, which the company said was affected more than expected by IRA pricing headwinds and a mix shift in the industry. Source
  • $773.8 million pre-tax opioid charge: The company recorded a $773.8 million pre-tax loss, or $599.8 million net of tax, under a framework meant to resolve substantially all related claims. Source
  • Identical sales guided at 0% to 1%: Fiscal 2026 identical sales growth is guided at 0.0% to 1.0%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guided at $3.85 to $3.93 billion: Adjusted EBITDA is guided at $3.850 billion to $3.925 billion for fiscal 2026. Source

“Fiscal 2025 was a year of disciplined execution and resilience, as we closed the year with a solid fourth quarter”

Susan Morris, CEO of Albertsons Companies

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Identical sales SourceFiscal 20260.0% to 1.0%New
Identical sales headwind SourceFiscal 2026150 basis pointsNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$3.850 billion to $3.925 billionNew
Adjusted net income per Class A share SourceFiscal 2026$2.22 to $2.32 per shareNew
Effective income tax rate SourceFiscal 202624% to 25%New
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026$2.0 billion to $2.2 billionNew
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable May 8, 2026$0.17 per shareRaised from $0.15 per share
Share repurchase authorization SourceRemaining as of April 14, 2026$2.0 billionRaised

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance was issued for identical sales, Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EPS, tax rate and capital expenditures. Source
  • New: The quarterly cash dividend was increased 13%, to $0.17 per common share. Source
  • New: The remaining share repurchase authorization was increased by $900 million, to $2.0 billion. Source
  • New: Senior notes due 2032 and 2034 were issued, and notes due 2027 and 2028 were redeemed in full. Source
  • New: The company recorded a charge tied to the Opioid Settlement Framework announced on April 14, 2026. Source
  • Ended: The accelerated share repurchase agreement was completed on January 8, 2026. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Extra week lifted quarter sales: Net sales and other revenue was $20.3 billion for the 13-week quarter, up from $18.8 billion, with about $1.4 billion from the extra week. Source
  • Net loss included opioid charge: The company reported a net loss of $(481) million, or $(0.94) per diluted share, including a $600 million net-of-tax charge, or $(1.18) per share, for the Opioid Settlement Framework. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.48 versus $0.46: Adjusted net income was $251.7 million, or $0.48 per share, against $269.5 million, or $0.46 per share, in the prior-year fourth quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $903 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $903.4 million, against $855.1 million a year earlier. The company estimated $68 million of the increase came from the extra week. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS $2.18: Full-year adjusted net income was $1,209.3 million, or $2.18 per share, against $1,382.4 million, or $2.34, in fiscal 2024. Source

Identical sales and pharmacy

  • Pharmacy headwinds tempered identical sales: Fourth-quarter identical sales rose 0.7%, mainly on pharmacy, which the company said was affected more than expected by IRA pricing headwinds and a mix shift in the industry. Source
  • Full-year identical sales up 2.0%: Fiscal 2025 identical sales rose 2.0% and digital sales 21%. Net income was $217 million, or $0.40 per diluted share. Source

“As we enter fiscal 2026, we are building on this foundation by scaling our productivity engine”

Susan Morris, CEO of Albertsons Companies

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin fell on delivery costs: Gross margin rate was 27.2% against 27.4%, and 25 basis points lower excluding fuel and LIFO, mainly on higher delivery and handling costs tied to digital growth. Source
  • Pharmacy gross margins improved: Pharmacy gross margins improved in the quarter, primarily from changes related to the Inflation Reduction Act. Source
  • Selling and admin ratio rose on charge: Selling and administrative expenses were 29.6% of sales, against 25.7%. Excluding fuel and the opioid charge, the ratio fell two basis points. Source
  • Value investments funded by productivity: Management said the company continues to invest in its customer value proposition, funded by benefits from its productivity initiatives. Source

Opioid settlement framework charge

  • $773.8 million pre-tax opioid charge: The company recorded a $773.8 million pre-tax loss, or $599.8 million net of tax, under a framework meant to resolve substantially all related claims. Source
  • Settlement covers states, subdivisions and tribes: The framework is intended to resolve substantially all opioid-related claims by participating states, political subdivisions and Native American tribes. Source
  • Tax benefit on the loss: The income tax benefit was $160.2 million, at a 25.0% effective rate, resulting from the pre-tax loss in the quarter. Source

Capital spending and debt

  • Capital expenditures reached $1.84 billion: Capital expenditures were $1,839.4 million in fiscal 2025, covering 94 remodels, nine new stores and digital and technology investment. Source
  • Operating cash flow declined: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,366.7 million in fiscal 2025, against $2,680.6 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Net debt ratio rose to 2.24: The net debt ratio was 2.24, against 1.88 a year earlier. Source
  • Notes issued and older notes redeemed: $1,200.0 million of 5.625% notes due 2032 and $900.0 million of additional 5.750% notes due 2034 were issued. Proceeds redeemed $1,350.0 million of 2027 notes and $750.0 million of 2028 notes. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividend raised 13%: The Board raised the quarterly cash dividend 13%, from $0.15 to $0.17 per common share, announced April 14, 2026. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 buybacks reached $1.49 billion: Including the accelerated share repurchase, the company invested $1,492.5 million to repurchase 78.7 million shares in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Remaining buyback authority raised: The board added $900 million to the remaining repurchase authorization, bringing the total remaining to $2.0 billion. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Identical sales guided at 0% to 1%: Fiscal 2026 identical sales growth is guided at 0.0% to 1.0%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA guided at $3.85 to $3.93 billion: Adjusted EBITDA is guided at $3.850 billion to $3.925 billion for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Adjusted EPS and tax rate guided: Adjusted net income per Class A share is guided at $2.22 to $2.32, with an effective tax rate of 24% to 25%. Source
  • Capital spending guided at $2.0 to $2.2 billion: Capital expenditures are guided at $2.0 billion to $2.2 billion for fiscal 2026. Source

Stores, digital and loyalty

  • 2,244 stores and 1,713 pharmacies: At February 28, 2026 the company operated 2,244 stores, against 2,270 a year earlier, with 405 fuel centers and 22 distribution centers. Source
  • Store closures reduced sales: Sales were partly offset by a net reduction in sales from store closures since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Source
  • Digital and loyalty grew in quarter: Fourth-quarter digital sales rose 16%, and loyalty members reached 51.2 million, up 12%. Source

Transformation and merger costs

  • Consulting fees for Customers for Life: Business transformation adjustments covered third-party consulting fees for the Customers for Life strategy and employee termination costs. Source
  • Terminated-merger litigation costs continued: Merger-related costs in the quarter and year related primarily to litigation and retention program expense for the terminated merger. Source
  • Equity compensation expense: Equity-based compensation was $21.9 million in the fourth quarter and $95.5 million for fiscal 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 14 April 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable May 8: The next quarterly dividend is payable May 8, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on April 24, 2026. Source
  • Buybacks may use several methods: The repurchase program could include open market repurchases, accelerated programs, tender offers, block trades, privately negotiated transactions, or trading plans. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Identical sales, fourth quarter Source+0.7%
Identical sales, fiscal 2025 Source+2.0%
Digital sales growth, fourth quarter Source+16%
Gross margin rate, fourth quarter Source27.2%
Inventory, net Source$5,173.9 million
Store openings, fiscal 2025 Source9
Store count, end of year Source2,244, down from 2,270

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited IRA pricing headwinds and a pharmacy industry mix shift as pressure on pharmacy sales and identical sales. Source
  • Operational: Delivery and handling costs rose with digital growth, pressuring the gross margin rate. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense rose to $141.1 million, which management attributed to higher average outstanding borrowings. Source
  • Financial: Payments under the opioid settlement framework are expected over nine years, following the $773.8 million charge. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company reported the accelerated share repurchase completed on January 8, 2026, with final delivery of 7.3 million shares.
  • Not stated: Fiscal 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $3,901.5 million is reported in the reconciliation; the release makes no comparison to the January range.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.