greeksoup/ stock research

Aramark: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 15%, organic growth 12%: Revenue was $4.9 billion, up 15%, with Organic Revenue up 12%. Currency translation added about $101 million to revenue. Source
  • Operating income up 26%, AOI up 24%: Operating Income was $220 million; Adjusted Operating Income was $258 million, up 24% on a constant currency basis. The calendar shift added an estimated $25 million to profit growth. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 65%, Adjusted EPS up 40%: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.38 and Adjusted EPS was $0.49. The calendar shift is cited as a benefit of approximately 30% to GAAP EPS growth and 20% to Adjusted EPS growth. Source
  • New business wins reach $1 billion: Management reported new business wins of $1 billion year to date, which it called a record, and client retention above 98% across the company. Source
  • Operating cash flow up 56%: Operating cash flow was $400 million and Free Cash Flow was $305 million. Management attributed the higher inflow to stronger earnings and favorable working capital. Year-to-date operating cash flow was negative $382 million. Source
  • Aramark Nexus launched for AI data centers: Aramark Nexus offers hospitality and workforce support for hyperscale AI data centers and similar remote sites. Management expects margins above the company average from this suite. Source
  • Hyperscaler client expected to be largest: Management expects the hyperscaler engagement to become the company's largest client. Source

“Our financial results underscore the continued momentum at the Company driven by our unwavering focus on delivering hospitality excellence,”

John Zillmer, Aramark's Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic Revenue growth SourceFiscal 2026high end of +7% to +9%Raised from +7% to +9%
Adjusted Operating Income growth SourceFiscal 2026+12% to +17%Kept
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFiscal 2026+20% to +25%Kept
Leverage Ratio (Net Debt to Covenant Adjusted EBITDA) SourceFiscal 2026under 3xKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Organic Revenue growth expectation for fiscal 2026 moved to the high end of the previous +7% to +9% range. Source
  • Guidance kept: Expectations for AOI, Adjusted EPS and Leverage Ratio were reaffirmed. Source
  • New: Aramark launched Aramark Nexus, a platform for hospitality and workforce support in hyperscale AI data centers and similar remote sites. Source
  • New: A multi-year agreement with a top global hyperscaler was added and is underway. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 15%, organic growth 12%: Revenue was $4.9 billion, up 15%, with Organic Revenue up 12%. Currency translation added about $101 million to revenue. Source
  • Operating income up 26%, AOI up 24%: Operating Income was $220 million; Adjusted Operating Income was $258 million, up 24% on a constant currency basis. The calendar shift added an estimated $25 million to profit growth. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 65%, Adjusted EPS up 40%: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.38 and Adjusted EPS was $0.49. The calendar shift is cited as a benefit of approximately 30% to GAAP EPS growth and 20% to Adjusted EPS growth. Source

Segments and regions

  • FSS United States revenue up 12%: FSS United States revenue rose to $3.43 billion, up 12%, with Organic Revenue also up 12%. Sports, Leisure & Corrections, Business & Industry and Healthcare were the main contributors. Source
  • FSS US operating income up 27%: FSS United States operating income rose 27% to $193 million and AOI rose 27% to $223 million, with the calendar shift adding an estimated 16% and 13% to growth. Source
  • FSS International revenue up 21%: FSS International revenue rose 21% to $1.48 billion, or 13% on an organic basis. Europe and Canada grew double digits, and Emerging Markets grew high single digits organically. Source
  • FSS International AOI up 19%: FSS International operating income rose 19% to $61 million and AOI rose 19% to $69 million, or 12% on a constant currency basis. Source

“We enter the second half of the fiscal year with confidence in our growth trajectory”

John Zillmer, Aramark's Chief Executive Officer

Clients, new business and retention

  • New business wins reach $1 billion: Management reported new business wins of $1 billion year to date, which it called a record, and client retention above 98% across the company. Source
  • Business & Industry grew double digits: Business & Industry grew at a double-digit rate, with significant new business, high retention, elevated catering demand and an expanded Refreshments client base. Source
  • Healthcare onboarding and calendar lift: Healthcare grew from onboarding new business. The calendar shift added about 4% to FSS United States revenue and Organic Revenue growth. Source

Costs, margins and profit drivers

  • Margins widened on productivity gains: Operating income margin was 4.5%, against 4.1% a year earlier, and AOI margin was 5.3%, against 4.8%. Management cited productivity in food and labor, supply chain efficiencies and above-unit cost management. Source
  • Calendar shift lifted profit growth: The calendar shift is cited as a benefit of about 14% to Operating Income growth and about 12% to AOI growth. Source
  • International investments offset some gains: FSS International's growth more than offset some in-country investments made during the quarter to support significant growth. Source

“We believe there is substantial growth potential with this client and other hyperscalers, combined with the existing sales momentum occurring throughout our broader portfolio.”

John Zillmer, Aramark's Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow, debt and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow up 56%: Operating cash flow was $400 million and Free Cash Flow was $305 million. Management attributed the higher inflow to stronger earnings and favorable working capital. Year-to-date operating cash flow was negative $382 million. Source
  • Debt repaid and shares bought back: About $55 million of 2030 Term Loan B was repaid and about $25 million of common stock was repurchased in the quarter. Since the program began, more than 5 million shares have been repurchased for about $194 million. Source
  • Cash availability above $1.4 billion: Cash availability at quarter-end was more than $1.4 billion. Cash and cash equivalents were $476 million at April 3, 2026. Source
  • Quarterly dividend unchanged at $0.12: The Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share, the same as the prior quarter. Dividends paid in the first half were $63 million. Source

Aramark Nexus and hyperscaler work

  • Aramark Nexus launched for AI data centers: Aramark Nexus offers hospitality and workforce support for hyperscale AI data centers and similar remote sites. Management expects margins above the company average from this suite. Source
  • Hyperscaler client expected to be largest: Management expects the hyperscaler engagement to become the company's largest client. Source
  • Hyperscaler work not yet in guidance: The hyperscaler contract is excluded from fiscal 2026 guidance. Source

Calendar shift and comparability

  • Calendar shift lifted Q2 revenue growth: The 53rd-week shift raised consolidated revenue and Organic Revenue growth by an estimated 3%, mostly in Education within FSS United States. Source
  • First-quarter shift had reduced growth: In the first quarter the same shift reduced revenue growth. Management said Organic Revenue growth would have been about 8% without it.
  • Fiscal 2025 comparisons on 52-week basis: Fiscal 2025 Organic Revenue is shown on a 52-week basis to ease growth comparisons. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 May 2026

  • Hyperscaler service set to start: Service under the newly awarded hyperscaler agreement is set to begin during fiscal 2026. Source
  • Hyperscaler updates to follow: Management will provide updates on the hyperscaler engagement as it launches, grows and scales. Source
  • Dividend payable June 3, 2026: The quarterly dividend is payable June 3, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on May 20, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Inventory Source$453.3 million at April 3, 2026, against $418.8 million at October 3, 2025

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said its capital allocation priorities are unchanged, covering investment, debt repayment, annual dividend increases and buybacks. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said the calendar shift was expected to favorably increase revenue, operating income and EPS growth in the second quarter.
  • On track: Management said it continues to expect accelerated AOI and margin expansion this fiscal year, consistent with its expectations. 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.