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Clorox Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 12 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell on ERP timing: Net sales fell 19% to $1.43 billion, which management said was primarily driven by lower shipments related to the ERP transition. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 54%: Adjusted EPS fell 54% to $0.85 from $1.86, which management said was primarily due to lower net sales related to its ERP transition. Source
  • Retailers held extra stock: The company shipped about two weeks of inventory ahead of consumption at the end of fiscal 2025 as retailers built stock before the ERP transition. Source
  • Health and Wellness volume fell: Health and Wellness net sales fell with 16 points of lower volume, mainly ERP-related shipments, and 3 points of unfavorable price mix. Source
  • Gross margin fell 410 basis points: Gross margin was 41.7%, down 410 basis points from 45.8%, mainly on lower volume and higher manufacturing and logistics costs, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Retailers drew down extra inventory: Lower volume reflected retailers drawing down the incremental inventory they built ahead of the ERP transition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell 58%: Year-to-date net cash provided by operations was $93 million versus $221 million, a 58% decrease that management attributed to the ERP transition. Source

“This quarter’s ERP launch marks a significant milestone in our transformation journey, empowering faster execution, greater productivity, and deeper insights”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yeardown 6% to 10%Kept
Organic sales Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yeardown 5% to 9%Kept
Gross margin change Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yeardown 50 to 100 basis pointsKept
Gross margin headwind from ERP shipment reversal Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 100 basis points of headwindsKept
Selling and administrative expenses Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 16% of net salesKept
Advertising and sales promotion Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 11% of net salesKept
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 24%Kept
Diluted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026 full year$5.60 to $5.95Kept
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026 full year$5.95 to $6.30Kept
Digital investment excluded from adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 35 centsKept
ERP inventory draw-down impact on diluted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 90 centsKept
ERP inventory draw-down impact on net sales growth Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearabout 7.5 pointsKept
Digital investment operating expenses Sourcefiscal year 2026 full yearapproximately $60 ($46 after tax)

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Company said it is maintaining its full-year guidance for net sales, gross margin and adjusted EPS, with current expectations toward the lower end of ranges. Source
  • New: Guidance now reflects slightly lower input costs and a strengthened demand creation plan aimed at share and sales growth in the second half. Source

Results and ERP shipment effect

  • Net sales fell on ERP timing: Net sales fell 19% to $1.43 billion, which management said was primarily driven by lower shipments related to the ERP transition. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell on lower sales: Diluted EPS fell to $0.65 from $0.80; management attributed the drop primarily to lower net sales, partly offset by the prior-period Better Health VMS divestiture loss. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 54%: Adjusted EPS fell 54% to $0.85 from $1.86, which management said was primarily due to lower net sales related to its ERP transition. Source
  • Organic sales declined on volume: Organic sales, a non-GAAP measure, decreased 17%, driven mainly by lower volume tied to the ERP transition. Source
  • Retailers held extra stock: The company shipped about two weeks of inventory ahead of consumption at the end of fiscal 2025 as retailers built stock before the ERP transition. Source

Segments and regions

  • Health and Wellness volume fell: Health and Wellness net sales fell with 16 points of lower volume, mainly ERP-related shipments, and 3 points of unfavorable price mix. Source
  • Health and Wellness profit fell 47%: Health and Wellness segment adjusted EBIT fell 47%, primarily due to lower net sales and higher manufacturing and logistics costs. Source
  • Household volume fell 18 points: Household net sales fell with 18 points of lower volume, primarily ERP-related shipments, and 1 point of unfavorable price mix. Source
  • Lifestyle volume fell 22 points: Lifestyle net sales fell 23%, with 22 points of lower volume driven mainly by lower ERP-related shipments and 1 point of unfavorable price mix. Source
  • International sales slipped 2%: International net sales fell 2%, mainly on lower volume from ERP-related shipments; segment adjusted EBIT fell 46% on higher manufacturing and logistics costs. Source

“As with any rollout of this scale, we experienced some temporary disruptions that affected our market share.”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin fell 410 basis points: Gross margin was 41.7%, down 410 basis points from 45.8%, mainly on lower volume and higher manufacturing and logistics costs, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Digital investment costs added back: Digital investment operating expenses were $32 million pre-tax, $25 million after tax, in the quarter and were adjusted out of adjusted EPS. Source
  • Lifestyle advertising spend lower: Lifestyle segment adjusted EBIT fell 42% on lower net sales, partly offset by lower advertising investments compared with the prior period. Source

Demand, share and customers

  • Retailers drew down extra inventory: Lower volume reflected retailers drawing down the incremental inventory they built ahead of the ERP transition in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Club channel shipments drove price mix: Unfavorable price mix in Health and Wellness was mainly attributed to shipments to the Club channel. Source
  • Consumer insights and digital tools cited: Management said it is well positioned to drive growth using consumer insights and digital tools, even as consumers face ongoing uncertainty and volatility. Source

“With the majority of the rollout now behind us, our focus is now squarely on accelerating profitable growth through innovation and strong demand-creation initiatives in the second half of this fiscal year.”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Cash flow and investment

  • Operating cash flow fell 58%: Year-to-date net cash provided by operations was $93 million versus $221 million, a 58% decrease that management attributed to the ERP transition. Source
  • Digital transformation program size: The total incremental transformational investment, planned over a five-year period, is expected to be about $580 million. Source
  • Most digital spend in operating costs: About 75% of the total digital investment is expected to be incremental operating costs, mainly in selling and administrative expenses. Source

Strategy and innovation

  • Digital transformation to add productivity: The company said it is well positioned to accelerate its digital transformation through productivity gains and better insights. Source
  • New products launched in quarter: Products inspired by emerging consumer trends were introduced, including Clorox Screen+ wipes, Glad ForceFlex Apple Cinnamon bags, Hidden Valley Ranch Dippers and Burt's Bees Lip Milk. Source
  • Clorox brand recognized for innovation: The Clorox brand received Kantar's Outstanding Innovation Award, and the company was named among America's Greatest Companies. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2025

  • Third ERP phase due this winter: Management said the third and final U.S. ERP phase is on track for completion this winter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total company volume change Source18 points lower volume

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Order fulfillment challenges earlier in the year led to consumption and market share losses, keeping expectations toward the lower end of the range. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the first two phases of the U.S. ERP implementation were completed. Source
  • Not stated: Advertising and sales promotion spending was described as reflecting an ongoing commitment to invest behind the company's brands. 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.