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Avery Dennison Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose 19.4%: Adjusted EPS was $2.89 against $2.42, up 19.4%; reported EPS was $2.67 against $2.41, up 10.8%, with management citing stronger-than-anticipated sales growth. Source
  • Sales grew 10.9% reported: Net sales were $2,462.9 million, up 10.9%; sales rose 8.9% excluding currency and 7.6% organically, with acquisitions adding about 1.3 points. Source
  • Solutions margin up 150 basis points: Solutions adjusted operating margin was 11.5%, up 150 basis points from 10.0%, after the first-quarter margin was down 120 basis points; reported operating margin was 8.9%. Source
  • Volume and mix drove Materials: Materials organic sales growth of 9.7% came from volume and mix up high single digits, with price up low single digits. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Quarterly adjusted free cash flow was $365.4 million against $188.9 million; year-to-date it was $469.8 million against $135.8 million. Source
  • $347 million returned in first half: Share repurchases and dividends together made up the $347 million returned to shareholders in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Full-year reported EPS range set: Full-year 2026 reported EPS is expected at $9.40 to $9.70, based on listed factors and other assumptions. Source

“We delivered very strong second quarter results, marked by stronger-than-anticipated sales growth, solid margin expansion and adjusted EPS of $2.89, reflecting the strength of our portfolio and our team’s execution excellence,”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported EPS Sourcefull year 2026$9.40 to $9.70New
Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) Sourcefull year 2026$10.00 to $10.30New
Other items and restructuring charges, EPS impact Sourcefull year 2026$0.60 per shareNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 reported and adjusted EPS guidance was given; the prior release gave only second-quarter guidance. Source
  • Ended: Second-quarter 2026 EPS ranges from the prior release are not restated; the quarter is now reported.

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted EPS rose 19.4%: Adjusted EPS was $2.89 against $2.42, up 19.4%; reported EPS was $2.67 against $2.41, up 10.8%, with management citing stronger-than-anticipated sales growth. Source
  • Sales grew 10.9% reported: Net sales were $2,462.9 million, up 10.9%; sales rose 8.9% excluding currency and 7.6% organically, with acquisitions adding about 1.3 points. Source
  • First-half EPS and sales rose: Six-month net sales were $4,761.4 million, up 9.0%; reported EPS was $4.85 against $4.50 and adjusted EPS $5.36 against $4.72. Source
  • Net income rose 8.0%: Net income was $204.1 million against $189.0 million; adjusted net income was $220.5 million against $189.5 million, up 16.4%. Source

Segment results

  • Materials sales up 15.9%: Materials Group sales were $1,796.1 million, up 15.9% reported, 11.5% ex. currency and 9.7% organic, against $1,550.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Materials margin up 20 basis points: Materials adjusted operating margin was 15.8%, against 15.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Solutions sales slightly lower reported: Solutions Group sales were $666.8 million, down 0.5% reported and up 2.6% ex. currency and organically; the company reported a 3.8% reclassification into the segment. Source
  • Solutions margin up 150 basis points: Solutions adjusted operating margin was 11.5%, up 150 basis points from 10.0%, after the first-quarter margin was down 120 basis points; reported operating margin was 8.9%. Source

“We continue to leverage our productivity playbook to expand margins and improve earnings growth while returning capital to shareholders.”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Products, categories and demand

  • Volume and mix drove Materials: Materials organic sales growth of 9.7% came from volume and mix up high single digits, with price up low single digits. Source
  • Materials high-value and base categories: In Materials, high-value categories rose mid-single digits and base categories rose low double digits. Source
  • Solutions categories rose low single digits: In Solutions, high-value and base categories each rose low single digits, and overall apparel categories rose high single digits. Source

Margins, costs and pricing

  • Consolidated adjusted margin rose: Adjusted operating margin was 13.6% against 12.9%; adjusted EBITDA was $421.0 million, 17.1% of net sales against 16.6%. Source
  • Materials costs and mix offset gains: Materials adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.0%, up 20 basis points; volume, productivity, pricing and raw material benefits were partly offset by mix and employee costs. Source
  • Restructuring savings and charges match: First-half restructuring actions produced about $34 million of pre-tax savings and incurred about $34 million of pre-tax charges. Source

“I am proud of our global team. Their agility and operational excellence continue to deliver strong performance”

Deon Stander, president and CEO

Cash flow, capital and returns

  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Quarterly adjusted free cash flow was $365.4 million against $188.9 million; year-to-date it was $469.8 million against $135.8 million. Source
  • $347 million returned in first half: Share repurchases and dividends together made up the $347 million returned to shareholders in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Share repurchases of $198 million: The company bought back 1.2 million shares in the first half, with share purchase payments of $198 million. Source
  • Share count down 2.1 million: Net of dilution from long-term incentive awards, the share count at quarter end was down 2.1 million year over year. Source

Balance sheet and tax rates

  • Net debt ratio at 2.3x: Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 2.3x, against 2.4x at the end of the first quarter. Source
  • Tax rates for the quarter: Reported effective tax rate was 27.8% for the quarter and 28.8% for six months; adjusted rate was 27.4% and 26.8%, including about $4.7 of net tax expense from foreign tax law changes in six months. Source
  • Total and net debt at quarter end: Total debt including finance leases was $3,678.2 million and net debt $3,450.9 million after $227.3 million of cash. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Full-year reported EPS range set: Full-year 2026 reported EPS is expected at $9.40 to $9.70, based on listed factors and other assumptions. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range excludes items: Adjusted full-year EPS is $10.00 to $10.30, excluding an estimated $0.60 per share of other items and restructuring charges. Source
  • Guidance rests on listed factors: Guidance is based on a list of factors in the supplemental presentation Second Quarter 2026 Financial Review and Analysis, and other assumptions. Source

Strategy, productivity and team

  • Productivity playbook drives margins: Management said it continues to use its productivity playbook to expand margins and improve earnings growth while returning capital. Source
  • Innovation and service underpin growth: Organic growth in both high-value and base categories was attributed to innovation and service-led differentiation. Source
  • Global team credited with execution: Management credited the agility and operational excellence of the global team for the quarter's performance. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Build on momentum through 2026: Management said it will build on the quarter's momentum for the remainder of 2026 and beyond. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Materials margin gains were partly offset by mix and higher employee-related costs. Source
  • Operational: Solutions Group productivity gains were partly offset by higher employee-related costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said capital is deployed in a disciplined manner under its long-term capital allocation strategy. Source
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said management was executing a clear strategy for earnings growth; no status is given in this release.

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.