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Albertsons Companies, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 13 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales held near prior-year level: Net sales were $18,894.7 million, down 0.1% from $18,915.8 million a year earlier, as identical sales fell 0.8% and higher fuel sales partly offset the decline. Source
  • Earnings per share lower year on year: Net income was $51.5 million, or $0.11 per share, against $168.5 million, or $0.30, a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $179.0 million, or $0.36 per share, against $0.44. Source
  • ACI Edge consolidates divisions: ACI Edge consolidated 11 divisions into four regions and fully centralized center-store merchandising under one enterprise team. Management calls it the first step in a broader turnaround. Source
  • Review covers strategy and structure: The review covers customer strategy, cost structure, operating model, the portfolio of banners, markets, assets and businesses, and capital allocation priorities. Source
  • Gross margin rate declined: Gross margin rate was 26.8%, against 27.0%. Excluding fuel and LIFO, it fell 17 basis points, driven by delivery and handling costs and higher shrink. Source
  • Leverage ratio rose: The net debt ratio on a rolling four-quarter basis was 2.42, against 2.02. Total debt including finance leases was $9,328.2 million, against $8,126.5 million. Source

“our results do not reflect the potential of the Company”

Susan Morris, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable 6 November 2026$0.17 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance withdrawn: The fiscal 2026 forecast is withdrawn. The company will not give an updated forecast until its comprehensive business review ends in the fourth quarter. The prior revised figures were identical sales of (1.5)% to (0.5)%, adjusted EBITDA of $3.550 billion to $3.625 billion, and adjusted EPS of $1.75 to $1.85. Source
  • New: Management launched a comprehensive business review of the company, following the July ACI Edge realignment. Source
  • New: Cody Perdue is named Interim CFO and co-hosted the call with the CEO. The prior release named Sharon McCollam as President & CFO. Source
  • New: An investor day is planned for spring 2027. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Sales held near prior-year level: Net sales were $18,894.7 million, down 0.1% from $18,915.8 million a year earlier, as identical sales fell 0.8% and higher fuel sales partly offset the decline. Source
  • Earnings per share lower year on year: Net income was $51.5 million, or $0.11 per share, against $168.5 million, or $0.30, a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $179.0 million, or $0.36 per share, against $0.44. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down: Adjusted EBITDA was $784.0 million, or 4.1% of net sales and other revenue, compared with $848.4 million, or 4.5%, in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Source

Turnaround and comprehensive review

  • ACI Edge consolidates divisions: ACI Edge consolidated 11 divisions into four regions and fully centralized center-store merchandising under one enterprise team. Management calls it the first step in a broader turnaround. Source
  • Review covers strategy and structure: The review covers customer strategy, cost structure, operating model, the portfolio of banners, markets, assets and businesses, and capital allocation priorities. Source
  • Savings to fund customer value: Management said the review aims to simplify the organization and improve decision-making, with savings reinvested in customer value and returns to shareholders. Source

“tackle even harder a cost structure we can no longer afford”

Susan Morris, Chief Executive Officer

Pharmacy and digital growth

  • Digital sales grew 11%: Digital sales rose 11% in the quarter, after 13% growth in the first quarter. Delivery and handling costs rose with digital growth. Source
  • Pharmacy sales still growing: Pharmacy sales kept growing in the quarter despite Inflation Reduction Act headwinds, according to the release. Source
  • Pharmacy margins improved on IRA: Pharmacy margin improvements, primarily tied to the IRA, partly offset higher delivery, handling and shrink costs in gross margin. Source

Margins and cost lines

  • Gross margin rate declined: Gross margin rate was 26.8%, against 27.0%. Excluding fuel and LIFO, it fell 17 basis points, driven by delivery and handling costs and higher shrink. Source
  • Selling and admin rate rose: Selling and administrative expenses were 25.6% of sales, against 25.4%. Excluding fuel, the rate rose 38 basis points, mainly from deleverage on lower identical sales. Source
  • Store impairments raised property losses: The net loss on property dispositions and impairments was $42.4 million, against $4.4 million a year earlier, mainly from retail store impairments and equipment disposals. Source
  • Interest expense rose on borrowings: Net interest expense was $125.0 million, against $105.3 million, on higher average borrowings. The effective tax rate was 17.9%, against 23.3%. Source

“The Company believes it is prudent to complete the review, establish clear priorities and fully evaluate the associated financial model before providing an updated outlook.”

Albertsons Companies, Inc., press release

Identical sales and store base

  • Identical sales fell 0.8%: Identical sales decreased 0.8%. Fuel sales, which are excluded from identical sales, were higher and partly offset the decline in total net sales. Source
  • Store count lower than last year: The company operated 2,240 stores at quarter end, against 2,257 a year earlier, with 1,709 in-store pharmacies and 408 fuel centers. Source
  • Fuel sales offset part of decline: Higher fuel sales partly offset the decrease in net sales and other revenue in the quarter. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Capital spending through 28 weeks: Capital expenditures were $899.6 million for the first 28 weeks, including 38 remodels, seven new stores and digital and technology investment. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.17: The $0.17 quarterly dividend was paid on 7 August 2026. The next $0.17 payment is set for 6 November 2026. Source
  • Buybacks lower than last year: In 28 weeks the company repurchased 26.0 million shares for $387.6 million under its multi-year authorization, against 25.7 million shares for $550.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Leverage ratio rose: The net debt ratio on a rolling four-quarter basis was 2.42, against 2.02. Total debt including finance leases was $9,328.2 million, against $8,126.5 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower: Net cash from operating activities was $1,210.3 million for 28 weeks, against $1,282.0 million a year earlier. Cash and equivalents were $282.0 million at quarter end. Source

Legal, merger and transformation costs

  • Merger litigation costs rose: Merger-related costs were $35.3 million, against $19.0 million, mainly litigation over the terminated merger. Legal and regulatory accruals were $19.7 million. Source
  • Opioid charge in prior year: The rolling four-quarter legal accruals include a $773.8 million charge in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 for the opioid settlement framework. Source
  • Transformation costs steady: Business transformation costs were $35.6 million, against $35.3 million. For 28 weeks they were $89.8 million, against $73.6 million. Source

Leadership and next steps

  • Interim CFO leads call: Cody Perdue, Interim CFO, co-hosted the call with the CEO. The prior release named Sharon McCollam as President & CFO. Source
  • Investor day planned for 2027: The company plans to hold an investor day in spring 2027. Source

Coming up, as management said on 13 October 2026

  • Dividend payment on 6 November: The $0.17 per share dividend is payable on 6 November 2026 to holders of record at the close of business on 23 October 2026. Source
  • Investor day in spring 2027: The company plans to host an investor day in spring 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Identical sales Source-0.8%
Digital sales growth Source+11%
Gross margin rate Source26.8% (27.0% prior year)
Inventories, net Source$5,282.1 million (September 12, 2026)
Stores at quarter end Source2,240 (2,257 prior year)
New stores opened (28 weeks) Source7

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Inflation Reduction Act headwinds continue to affect pharmacy sales, with the company citing the IRA as an ongoing pressure. Source
  • Regulatory: Merger-related litigation costs were $35.3 million in the quarter, and legal and regulatory accruals were $19.7 million. Source
  • Operational: Delivery and handling costs rose with digital growth, and shrink increased, pressuring gross margin. Source
  • Financial: Net debt ratio on a rolling four-quarter basis rose to 2.42 from 2.02, with higher average borrowings lifting interest expense. Source
  • Operational: Net losses on property dispositions and impairments were $42.4 million, driven by retail store impairments and equipment disposals. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said second quarter results were in line with its revised fiscal 2026 forecast. Source
  • Not stated: Selling and administrative dollars were relatively flat year on year, which management attributed to productivity and cost 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.