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Albertsons Companies, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales edged up on fuel: Net sales and other revenue rose 0.2% to $24,941.6 million; management attributed the rise to higher fuel sales. Source
  • Earnings fell from a year ago: Diluted net income per share was $0.17, against $0.41, and adjusted net income per share was $0.42, against $0.55. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin was lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,013.2 million against $1,111.0 million, or 4.1% of net sales and other revenue against 4.5%. Source
  • Gross margin rate fell: Excluding fuel and LIFO expense, the gross margin rate fell 23 basis points against the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Core grocery under pressure: Management attributed the pressure to softer industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer, and tied the revised guidance to these conditions. Source
  • Pharmacy and digital kept growing: Pharmacy sales continued to grow and digital sales rose 13%, despite ongoing IRA headwinds to pharmacy sales. Source
  • Buybacks of $226.5 million: The company repurchased 13.4 million shares for $226.5 million under the existing multi-year repurchase authorization. Source
  • Eleven divisions became four regions: The company consolidated its 11 divisions into four regions and fully centralized center-store merchandising under one enterprise team. Source

“As we look ahead, we are moving decisively.”

Susan Morris, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Identical sales SourceFiscal 2026(1.5)% to (0.5)%Lowered from 0.0% to 1.0%
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$3.550 billion to $3.625 billionLowered from $3.850 billion to $3.925 billion
Adjusted net income per Class A common share SourceFiscal 2026$1.75 to $1.85 per shareLowered from $2.22 to $2.32 per share
Effective income tax rate SourceFiscal 202624% to 25%Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026$1.9 billion to $2.0 billionLowered from $2.0 billion to $2.2 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 guidance was revised for identical sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and capital expenditures; the tax rate guidance was kept. Source
  • New: The company announced ACI Edge, an operating structure realignment intended to speed execution and increase accountability. Source
  • New: Management said it is accelerating investments in the customer value proposition and customer experience ahead of expected productivity benefits. Source

Results and sales growth

  • Sales edged up on fuel: Net sales and other revenue rose 0.2% to $24,941.6 million; management attributed the rise to higher fuel sales. Source
  • Earnings fell from a year ago: Diluted net income per share was $0.17, against $0.41, and adjusted net income per share was $0.42, against $0.55. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin was lower: Adjusted EBITDA was $1,013.2 million against $1,111.0 million, or 4.1% of net sales and other revenue against 4.5%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rate fell: Excluding fuel and LIFO expense, the gross margin rate fell 23 basis points against the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Delivery costs rose with digital: Management cited higher delivery and handling costs from digital growth, partly offset by better pharmacy margins from the IRA. Source
  • Selling costs rose as share of sales: Excluding fuel, selling and administrative expenses rose 42 basis points as a share of sales, on rent, occupancy and depreciation, partly offset by lower employee costs. Source
  • Merger and transformation costs: Merger-related costs were $41.6 million, mainly litigation tied to the terminated merger, and business transformation costs were $54.2 million. Source

“Given continued softness in industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer, we are accelerating investments and operational changes designed to strengthen our customer value proposition and improve our competitive position.”

Susan Morris, Chief Executive Officer

Demand, pharmacy and digital

  • Core grocery under pressure: Management attributed the pressure to softer industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer, and tied the revised guidance to these conditions. Source
  • Pharmacy and digital kept growing: Pharmacy sales continued to grow and digital sales rose 13%, despite ongoing IRA headwinds to pharmacy sales. Source
  • IRA weighed on pharmacy growth: Management said the selling and administrative rate was held back by lower identical sales and the IRA's effect on pharmacy sales growth. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Capital spending on remodels: Capital expenditures covered 15 remodels, four new store openings and continued digital and technology investment in the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow slipped: Net cash provided by operating activities was $728.9 million, against $754.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Buybacks of $226.5 million: The company repurchased 13.4 million shares for $226.5 million under the existing multi-year repurchase authorization. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised: The Board raised the remaining share repurchase authorization in April to $2.0 billion in total. Source
  • Dividend raised 13% in April: The Board raised the quarterly cash dividend 13% in April, from $0.15 to $0.17 per common share. Source

Debt, interest and tax

  • Interest expense rose: Interest expense, net was $166.7 million, against $141.8 million, which management attributed to higher average outstanding borrowings. Source
  • Net debt ratio rose: The rolling four-quarter net debt ratio was 2.33 against 1.96; total debt including finance leases was $9,162.8 million. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose: Income tax expense was $29.0 million, at a 25.5% effective tax rate, against a 24.1% rate a year earlier. Source

ACI Edge operating realignment

  • Eleven divisions became four regions: The company consolidated its 11 divisions into four regions and fully centralized center-store merchandising under one enterprise team. Source
  • Regions aim for faster decisions: Management said the regional structure is meant to speed decisions and strengthen local execution. Source
  • Merchandising centralized for suppliers: Management said bringing category management, supplier relationships and merchandising strategy together is meant to strengthen supplier partnerships. Source
  • Sharper value and fresh focus: Management said the actions are designed to deliver sharper value, greater differentiation in fresh and an elevated customer experience. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 July 2026

  • Dividend payment on August 7: The $0.17 quarterly dividend is to be paid August 7, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on July 24, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales SourceIdentical sales declined 0.8%
Digital sales growth Source13%
Inventory Source$5,192.6 million at June 20, 2026
Store count Source2,240 at quarter end
Store openings SourceFour new stores
Gross margin rate Source26.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said continued softness in industry unit trends and a more cautious consumer weigh on the business. Source
  • Regulatory: The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program under the IRA is estimated to be a 150 basis point headwind to identical sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Missed: Management said the first quarter results did not meet its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The company said it continued incremental investments in its customer value proposition, funded by productivity initiatives. Source

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.