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Aramark: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue grew 6%, organic 5%: Consolidated revenue was $4.8 billion. Organic revenue, which excludes currency translation, rose 5% year-over-year. Source
  • Calendar shift reduced growth: The 53rd-week shift reduced revenue by about 3%, mainly in FSS United States. Organic growth would have been about 8% without it. Currency translation added about $51 million. Source
  • Operating income flat, AOI up 1%: Operating income was $218 million, slightly above last year. AOI rose 1% to $263 million. Without the calendar shift, AOI growth would have been about 11%. Source
  • GAAP EPS down 8%, adjusted flat: Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.36, down 8%. Adjusted EPS was $0.51, unchanged. Management said adjusted EPS growth would have been about 13% without the calendar shift. Source
  • Retention and new wins highlighted: Management described new business wins as extensive and client retention as unprecedented in both FSS United States and FSS International. Source
  • Operating cash outflow widened: Net cash used in operating activities was $782 million, against $587 million. Free cash flow was negative $902 million, against negative $705 million, reflecting seasonal cadence and working capital use. Source

“Our success comes from the teams throughout the organization and around the globe who show up every day with purpose, serving with integrity, solving problems with ingenuity, and delivering consistent excellence.”

John Zillmer, Aramark’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026$19,550 - $19,950Kept
Adjusted Operating Income SourceFiscal 2026$1,100 - $1,150Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$2.18 - $2.28Kept
Leverage Ratio (Net Debt to Covenant Adjusted EBITDA) SourceEnd of fiscal 2026Under 3xKept
Currency translation in revenue range SourceFiscal 2026~$100 millionKept
Net New Business SourceFiscal 20264% to 5% of prior year revenueKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 ranges for revenue, Adjusted Operating Income, Adjusted EPS and leverage were continued without change from the prior quarter's release. Source
  • New: A repricing of the 2030 Term Loan B was completed in the quarter. The prior-quarter release did not report it. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue grew 6%, organic 5%: Consolidated revenue was $4.8 billion. Organic revenue, which excludes currency translation, rose 5% year-over-year. Source
  • Calendar shift reduced growth: The 53rd-week shift reduced revenue by about 3%, mainly in FSS United States. Organic growth would have been about 8% without it. Currency translation added about $51 million. Source
  • Operating income flat, AOI up 1%: Operating income was $218 million, slightly above last year. AOI rose 1% to $263 million. Without the calendar shift, AOI growth would have been about 11%. Source
  • GAAP EPS down 8%, adjusted flat: Diluted GAAP EPS was $0.36, down 8%. Adjusted EPS was $0.51, unchanged. Management said adjusted EPS growth would have been about 13% without the calendar shift. Source

Segments and regions

  • FSS United States revenue up 2%: FSS United States revenue rose 2% to $3,362 million, with organic growth of about 5% without the calendar shift. Business & Industry, Healthcare and Sports, Leisure & Corrections led growth. Source
  • FSS US profit hit by calendar shift: FSS United States operating income was $189 million, down 3%. AOI was $226 million, down 1%. Without the calendar shift, AOI growth would have been about 9%. Source
  • FSS International revenue up 17%: FSS International revenue rose 17% to $1,469 million, or 13% organic. The U.K., Chile, Germany and Spain drove the increase. Source
  • FSS International AOI up 16%: FSS International operating income was $60 million, up 11%. AOI was $68 million, up 16%, or 12% in constant currency. Source

“The Company is off to a great start to fiscal 2026, with momentum building across the business.”

Aramark, press release

Client wins and retention

  • Retention and new wins highlighted: Management described new business wins as extensive and client retention as unprecedented in both FSS United States and FSS International. Source
  • Mobilization costs on record wins: In some FSS International countries, mobilization costs came with record new business in Sports & Entertainment and Higher Education. The documents give no dollar amount. Source
  • Base and net new business drove growth: Management said organic growth was strengthened by both base business expansion and net new business. Source

Costs and margins

  • Profit helped by technology and cost control: Management attributed profit to higher revenue levels, technology leverage in supply chain, and disciplined organizational cost management. Source
  • Adjusted margin 5.4%, down from 5.7%: Consolidated adjusted operating income margin was 5.4%, against 5.7% in the prior-year quarter. Reported operating margin was 4.5%, against 4.8%. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Operating cash outflow widened: Net cash used in operating activities was $782 million, against $587 million. Free cash flow was negative $902 million, against negative $705 million, reflecting seasonal cadence and working capital use. Source
  • Capital spending higher on timing: Net purchases of property and equipment were $120 million, against $118 million. Management tied the higher spend to timing of commitments for new business and client renewals. Source
  • Term loan repriced 25 basis points lower: The $2.4 billion 2030 Term Loan B was repriced 25 basis points lower, with annual interest expense savings. Debt amounts and maturities did not change. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • $30 million of stock repurchased: The company repurchased another $30 million of common stock under its share repurchase program during the quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.12 approved: The Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share, announced February 4, 2026. Source
  • About $1.4 billion cash available: Cash availability at quarter-end was approximately $1.4 billion. The fiscal 2025 year-end figure was over $2.4 billion. Source

Strategy and technology

  • Global Supply Chain network expansion: Management said it is highly committed to expanding the Global Supply Chain network and is actively pursuing hospitality categories, while benefiting from higher volume and scale. Source
  • AI tools in supply chain: Management said AI-driven technology is enhancing supply chain capabilities, delivering back-end efficiencies and actionable business insights. Source
  • Profitability from several operating levers: Management said it remains focused on driving profitability from several operating levers, including supply chain initiatives and cost management. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • Calendar shift to lift second-quarter growth: Management expects the calendar shift to favorably increase revenue, AOI and adjusted EPS growth in the second quarter. Source
  • Dividend payment date set: The $0.12 dividend is payable March 4, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on February 18, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Inventory Source$414.6 million at January 2, 2026, against $418.8 million at October 3, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: A non-cash impairment of $6.1 million on assets of a business held for sale was excluded from adjusted results in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Legal charges of $1.3 million tied to an antitrust review were recorded in the quarter and excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • External: Hyperinflation in Argentina produced $0.5 million of charges in the quarter, compared with $0.7 million a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred back to the earlier 14% increase in the quarterly dividend, which it said it had previously announced. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to investing in the business, repaying debt, increasing the dividend annually, and opportunistic buybacks. 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.