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Church & Dwight Co. Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose above guidance: Net sales rose 1.6% to $1,530.0 million, above guidance for a 1% decline, reflecting 2025 strategic portfolio actions. Source
  • Organic growth accelerated to 5.8%: Organic sales rose 5.8% against 3% guidance, driven by volume growth of 4.3% and price and mix of 1.5%; all three divisions grew. Source
  • Adjusted EPS above $0.88 guidance: Adjusted EPS was $0.89 against $0.88 guidance and $0.94 a year earlier, with part of the sales gain reinvested in brands. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin rose 40bps: Adjusted gross margin was 45.4%, up 40 basis points, with volume, productivity and acquisition mix offsetting part of higher inflation and transport costs. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell $28.7M: Adjusted income from operations was $287.2 million, down $28.7 million, as marketing and SG&A investments offset sales and margin gains. Source

“Our power brands continued to perform exceptionally well in a challenging macroeconomic environment, driving a second straight quarter of industry-leading organic sales growth.”

Rick Dierker, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic sales growth SourceFull year 2026approximately 4% to 5%Raised from 3% to 4%
Adjusted gross margin expansion SourceFull year 2026100 to 120 basis pointsRaised from approximately 100 basis points
Marketing expense as % of sales SourceFull year 2026at or above 11%Raised from approximately 11%
SG&A as % of sales SourceFull year 2026above 2025 levelsKept
Adjusted tax rate SourceFull year 2026approximately 21%Lowered from 21.5%
Reported EPS growth SourceFull year 2026approximately 20% to 22%Raised from 18% to 22%
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFull year 20266% to 8%Raised from 5% to 8%
Diluted EPS, reported SourceFull year 2026$3.61 to $3.68Raised from $3.57 to $3.67
Diluted EPS, adjusted (non-GAAP) SourceFull year 2026$3.74 to $3.81Raised from $3.71 to $3.81
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026approximately $130 million or 2% of salesKept
Phase II tariff refund benefits SourceSecond half 2026approximately $15 millionNew
Organic sales growth SourceThird quarter 2026approximately 3%New
Reported sales growth SourceThird quarter 2026decline of approximately 1%New
Marketing as % of sales SourceThird quarter 2026approximately 12%New
Adjusted tax rate SourceThird quarter 2026approximately 21.5%New
Adjusted EPS SourceThird quarter 2026approximately $0.89 per shareNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Reported net sales growth range raised to approximately flat to 1%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Organic sales growth range raised to approximately 4% to 5%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted gross margin expansion raised to 100 to 120 basis points. Source
  • Guidance raised: Reported EPS growth range now approximately 20% to 22%, from 18% to 22%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS growth range raised to 6% to 8%, from 5% to 8%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Cash from operations expectation raised to approximately $1.175 billion from $1.150 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted tax rate expectation lowered to approximately 21% from 21.5%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year capital expenditures kept at approximately $130 million. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter guidance given for the first time, including adjusted EPS of about $0.89. Source
  • New: Expected phase II tariff refund benefits of about $15 million in the second half, to be reinvested. Source

Second quarter results against guidance

  • Net sales rose above guidance: Net sales rose 1.6% to $1,530.0 million, above guidance for a 1% decline, reflecting 2025 strategic portfolio actions. Source
  • Organic growth accelerated to 5.8%: Organic sales rose 5.8% against 3% guidance, driven by volume growth of 4.3% and price and mix of 1.5%; all three divisions grew. Source
  • Adjusted EPS above $0.88 guidance: Adjusted EPS was $0.89 against $0.88 guidance and $0.94 a year earlier, with part of the sales gain reinvested in brands. Source
  • Reported EPS rose to $0.85: Reported diluted EPS was $0.85 in the quarter, compared with $0.78 a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Domestic organic growth of 5.1%: Consumer Domestic sales were $1,155.8 million, up 0.1% reported, with organic growth of 5.1% from household and personal care. Source
  • International organic growth of 9.1%: Consumer International sales were $297.5 million, up 7.2% reported, with THERABREATH, HERO and BATISTE named as growth drivers. Source
  • Specialty Products grew 2.8%: Specialty Products sales were $76.7 million, with organic growth split between volume of 1.3% and price and mix of 1.5%. Source

“"We are executing with excellence in a challenging environment," said Mr. Dierker.”

Rick Dierker, Chief Executive Officer

Products, brands and channels

  • Launches expected to drive half of growth: Management expects new products launched this year to account for about half of organic growth. Source
  • THERABREATH toothpaste line expanded: The toothpaste line has four variants with an average 4.5-star rating; a new Complete rinse and portable sachets also launched. Source
  • E-commerce growth and online share: Global e-commerce grew 22.7% in the quarter, and online sales reached 25.5% of total consumer sales. Source

Margins, costs and marketing

  • Adjusted gross margin rose 40bps: Adjusted gross margin was 45.4%, up 40 basis points, with volume, productivity and acquisition mix offsetting part of higher inflation and transport costs. Source
  • Marketing spend rose 40 basis points: Marketing expense was $165.3 million, or 10.8% of sales, up $8.2 million as management continues to invest in brands and new products. Source
  • SG&A rose with Touchland costs: SG&A was $252.2 million including $6.3 million of charges on restricted stock issued for TOUCHLAND; adjusted SG&A was 15.8% of sales. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell $28.7M: Adjusted income from operations was $287.2 million, down $28.7 million, as marketing and SG&A investments offset sales and margin gains. Source
  • Tax rate fell to 20.3%: The adjusted effective tax rate was 20.3%, down from 23.8%, which management attributes to continued tax planning initiatives. Source

“The strength of our brand portfolio, combined with the strategic portfolio actions we implemented in 2025, has enhanced our focus on our growth initiatives and reinforces our confidence as we enter the second half of 2026.”

Rick Dierker, Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and capital

  • Operating cash rose 10.8% in first half: First-half cash from operations was $461.6 million, driven by higher cash earnings and working capital management. Source
  • Capital spending rose $22.8 million: First-half capital expenditures were $61.8 million, up $22.8 million, supporting sales growth. Source
  • Debt and cash at June 30: Total debt was $2.3 billion and cash on hand was $254.8 million at the end of the quarter. Source
  • Dividend per share increased: Dividends were $0.31 per share in the quarter, up from $0.30 a year earlier. Source

Acquisitions and strategy

  • TOUCHLAND amortization weighs on EPS: Adjusted EPS of $0.89 compared with $0.94 last year, as TOUCHLAND amortization and SG&A offset sales and margin gains. Source
  • Sales credited to 2025 portfolio actions: Management said reported sales growth reflects the benefits of its 2025 strategic portfolio actions. Source
  • Continued focus on acquisitions: Management will keep pursuing acquisitions that meet strict criteria, with emphasis on fast-moving consumable products. Source

Coming up, as management said on 31 July 2026

  • Tariff refunds to be invested in second half: About $15 million of phase II tariff refund benefits expected in the second half, to be invested in consumer-facing activities and to offset inflation. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total company volume growth Source4.3%
Consumer Domestic volume growth Source3.6%
Consumer International volume growth Source7.3%
Global e-commerce growth Source22.7%
Global online share of total consumer sales Source25.5%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Middle East conflict is creating some inflationary pressure, which management expects to offset. Source
  • Operational: Higher inflation and recent transportation cost increases partially offset the gross margin gain. Source
  • Demand: Management cites ongoing volatility in the macroeconomic environment alongside first-half growth. Source
  • Financial: Higher marketing and SG&A investment offset organic growth and gross margin expansion in operating income. Source
  • Financial: Other expense rose on lower interest income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Reported net sales rose 1.6%, versus guidance for a 1% decline. Source
  • Ahead: Organic sales growth was 5.8%, against 3% guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted EPS was $0.89, against $0.88 guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect capital expenditures of about $130 million for the year. 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.