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Avery Dennison Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose 7.4%: Reported EPS was $2.18 against $2.09 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $2.47 against $2.30, up 7.4%, on 77.0 million diluted shares against 79.4 million. Source
  • Net sales up 7.0% reported: Net sales were $2.3 billion, up 7.0% as reported, up 2.3% excluding currency, and up 1.1% on an organic basis. Source
  • Materials Group sales up 11.4%: Materials Group reported sales of $1.6 billion, up 11.4%, with organic sales up 1.9%. Source
  • Solutions Group sales down 2.8%: Solutions Group reported sales of $649 million, down 2.8%, with organic sales down 0.9%. Source
  • Solutions margins down 120 basis points: Solutions adjusted operating margin was 9.0%, down 120 basis points; reported operating margin was 7.5% against 8.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 16.4%, down 80 basis points. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow of $104.4 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $104.4 million, against negative $53.1 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $136.5 million, against negative $16.3 million. Source
  • $133 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $133 million through dividends and share repurchases. It repurchased 0.3 million shares for $61 million. Source

“We are executing a clear strategy to drive earnings growth.”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$2.21 to $2.31New
Adjusted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$2.43 to $2.53New
Items excluded from adjusted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026~$0.22 per shareNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 reported and adjusted EPS guidance appear in this release for the first time. Source
  • Ended: First-quarter 2026 guidance from the prior release has been replaced. Prior ranges were reported EPS $2.27 to $2.33 and adjusted EPS $2.40 to $2.46; reported Q1 EPS was $2.18 and adjusted $2.47.

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose 7.4%: Reported EPS was $2.18 against $2.09 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $2.47 against $2.30, up 7.4%, on 77.0 million diluted shares against 79.4 million. Source
  • Net sales up 7.0% reported: Net sales were $2.3 billion, up 7.0% as reported, up 2.3% excluding currency, and up 1.1% on an organic basis. Source
  • Currency and acquisitions explain gap: The reconciliation removes 4.7 points of currency translation and 1.2 points of acquisitions from the 7.0% reported change, leaving 1.1% organic growth. Source
  • Net income up 1.1%: Net income was $168.1 million against $166.3 million, up 1.1%. Adjusted net income was $190.5 million against $182.6 million, up 4.3%. Source

Segments and product categories

  • Materials Group sales up 11.4%: Materials Group reported sales of $1.6 billion, up 11.4%, with organic sales up 1.9%. Source
  • Materials high-value categories declined: Base categories rose mid-single digits while high-value categories fell low-single digits. The prior release had high-value categories up low single digits. Source
  • Solutions Group sales down 2.8%: Solutions Group reported sales of $649 million, down 2.8%, with organic sales down 0.9%. Source
  • Embelex and Vestcom grew: Within Solutions, Embelex and Vestcom sales rose mid-single digits, while Intelligent Labels fell low-single digits. High-value categories rose low-single digits. Source

“This playbook allows us to deliver value for our customers, while offsetting inflationary pressures and maintaining supply continuity.”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Margins and costs

  • Materials margin slightly lower: Materials adjusted operating margin was 15.4%, down 20 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.8%, up 10 basis points. Source
  • Solutions margins down 120 basis points: Solutions adjusted operating margin was 9.0%, down 120 basis points; reported operating margin was 7.5% against 8.7%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 16.4%, down 80 basis points. Source
  • Restructuring savings and charges: The company realized about $17 million of pre-tax savings from restructuring actions and incurred about $16 million of pre-tax restructuring charges in the quarter. Source

Demand, pricing and volume

  • Materials volume gains offset by price cuts: Materials volume and mix grew in the mid-single digits, partly offset by price reductions tied to deflation. Source
  • Solutions base categories and apparel: Solutions base categories fell mid-single digits, while overall apparel categories were flat against the prior year. Source
  • Pricing and raw materials offset mix and costs: Materials productivity, pricing, and raw material costs, including raw material re-engineering, were partly offset by mix and higher employee-related costs. Source

“I want to again extend my gratitude to our entire team.”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Adjusted free cash flow of $104.4 million: Adjusted free cash flow was $104.4 million, against negative $53.1 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $136.5 million, against negative $16.3 million. Source
  • $133 million returned to shareholders: The company returned $133 million through dividends and share repurchases. It repurchased 0.3 million shares for $61 million. Source
  • Share count down 1.9 million: The share count was down 1.9 million year over year after dilution from long-term incentive awards. Source

Balance sheet, taxes and strategy

  • Leverage at 2.4 times: Net debt was $3,535.0 million, calculated as total debt of $3,790.1 million less cash of $255.1 million. Source
  • Reported tax rate 30.1%: The reported effective tax rate for the quarter was 30.1%. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate 26.2%: The adjusted tax rate was 26.2% against 26.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Playbook aims at share gains: Management described its playbook of innovation, commercial excellence and service-led differentiation, used to gain share alongside productivity and cost programs. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix growth, Materials Group SourceMid-single digit

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: A tax law change in a foreign jurisdiction added about $6.0 million of net tax expense in the quarter, excluded from the adjusted figures. Source
  • Operational: In Solutions, higher employee-related costs and investments more than offset productivity and pricing gains, reducing adjusted operating margin. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The company says it continues to deploy capital in a disciplined manner under its long-term capital allocation strategy. Source
  • Not stated: The CEO says the team will continue to execute strategic priorities and deliver results in 2026 and beyond. 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.