greeksoup/ stock research

Clorox Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 lowered, 4 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales flat, organic sales down 1%: Organic sales, which exclude foreign exchange and acquisitions or divestitures, decreased 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 13% to $1.64: Adjusted EPS excludes acquisition costs of $0.04 and digital investment costs of $0.06 per share. Management attributed the increase to cost savings, lower advertising and lower selling and administrative expenses, partly offset by manufacturing and logistics costs. Source
  • Gross margin down 140 basis points: Gross margin fell to 43.2% from 44.6%. Management cited higher manufacturing and logistics costs and unfavorable mix, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range lowered: Prior adjusted EPS range was $5.95 to $6.30. The range now includes about 2 to 4 cents of GOJO dilution from one quarter of contribution and higher interest expense. Source
  • Organic sales decline widened to 9%: The prior expectation was about a 5% decline at the low end of the range. The organic figure still includes about 7.5 points from reversal of prior-year ERP-related shipments. Source
  • GOJO margin profile differs from Clorox: Management said GOJO is EBITDA-margin neutral for Clorox but has a different gross margin and operating expense profile, which the updated guidance reflects. Source
  • Operating cash flow down 59%: Management attributed the year-to-date decline primarily to the Glad joint venture agreement termination payment. Source

“Our third-quarter results were mixed, with continued momentum in some parts of our portfolio and slower-than-anticipated market share recovery in others,”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal year 2026down about 6%
Organic sales Sourcefiscal year 2026decrease about 9%Lowered from decrease about 5% (low end of 5% to 9%)
Net sales from GOJO Sourcefiscal year 2026slightly less than 3 points positiveNew
VMS divestiture and foreign exchange on net sales Sourcefiscal year 2026less than 1 point negative (VMS); less than 1 point positive (foreign exchange)
Gross margin Sourcefiscal year 2026down 250 to 300 basis pointsLowered from down 50 to 100 basis points
Gross margin, GOJO impact Sourcefiscal year 2026about 60 basis points of headwindsNew
Gross margin, prior-year ERP shipment reversal Sourcefiscal year 2026about 100 basis points of headwindsKept
Net sales, ERP inventory draw-down Sourcefiscal year 2026about 7.5 points of declineKept
Diluted EPS, ERP inventory draw-down Sourcefiscal year 2026about 90 centsKept
Diluted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$4.78 to $4.98Lowered from $5.60 to $5.95
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$5.45 to $5.65Lowered from $5.95 to $6.30
Adjusted EPS, GOJO dilution Sourcefiscal year 20262 to 4 cents dilutionNew
Selling and administrative expenses Sourcefiscal year 2026about 16% of net salesKept
Advertising and sales promotion Sourcefiscal year 202611% of net salesKept
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal year 2026about 24%Kept
Acquisition and integration costs Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $53 ($40 after tax)New
Digital investment, excluded from adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026about 37 cents per share (about 30 cents GOJO transaction costs)Raised from about 35 cents

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Gross margin guidance changed to a 250 to 300 basis point decline, from a 50 to 100 basis point decline. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Organic sales decline guidance changed to about 9%, from the low end of 5% to 9%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Diluted EPS guidance changed to $4.78 to $4.98, from $5.60 to $5.95. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS guidance changed to $5.45 to $5.65, from $5.95 to $6.30. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year guidance now includes GOJO contribution to net sales and adjusted EPS, which the prior guidance did not include. Source
  • New: GOJO Industries acquisition closed April 1, 2026, adding the Purell brand to the portfolio. Source
  • New: Gross margin guidance now includes headwinds from higher energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Ended: The five-year digital capabilities and productivity investment was completed during the third quarter. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Net sales flat, organic sales down 1%: Organic sales, which exclude foreign exchange and acquisitions or divestitures, decreased 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 13% to $1.64: Adjusted EPS excludes acquisition costs of $0.04 and digital investment costs of $0.06 per share. Management attributed the increase to cost savings, lower advertising and lower selling and administrative expenses, partly offset by manufacturing and logistics costs. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 3% to $1.54: Diluted EPS includes GOJO acquisition costs and digital investment costs. The prior-year period included $0.21 per share of cyberattack insurance recoveries, which the company said it lapped. Source

Segment and regional results

  • Health and Wellness sales flat, profit down: Volume rose 1 point, net of shipments ahead of consumption in the prior quarter, offset by unfavorable price mix. Segment adjusted EBIT fell 7% on higher manufacturing and logistics costs, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Household sales up 3%, profit up 21%: Volume gains came mainly from Cat Litter and Grilling shipments ahead of consumption. Segment adjusted EBIT rose 21%, primarily due to cost savings. Source
  • Lifestyle sales down 9%, profit flat: Lower consumption and retail inventory adjustments drove the 6-point volume decline. Segment adjusted EBIT was essentially flat, as lower advertising and selling and administrative expenses offset lower sales. Source
  • International sales up 8%, profit up 16%: Organic sales grew 2% in International. Segment adjusted EBIT rose 16% on higher net sales and cost savings, partly offset by higher manufacturing and logistics costs. Source

“Looking ahead, we recognize there is more work to do in what continues to be a challenging consumer and cost environment.”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Products and recognition

  • Broad innovation launches across portfolio: Launches included Hidden Valley Ranch variants, Kingsford Craftsmoke Pellets, Burt's Bees Lip Treats and a new skincare line, Fresh Step packaging and formulation options, and expanded scents. Source
  • Brand recognition for several innovations: Newsweek named Burt's Bees, Glad and Hidden Valley Ranch innovations Best New Products of 2026. Source

Costs and gross margin

  • Gross margin down 140 basis points: Gross margin fell to 43.2% from 44.6%. Management cited higher manufacturing and logistics costs and unfavorable mix, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Selling and advertising costs fell: Selling and administrative expenses were $229 million against $267 million, and advertising costs were $177 million against $207 million. Source
  • Cost of products sold rose: Cost of products sold rose to $948 million from $924 million on flat net sales of $1.67 billion, with gross profit at $722 million. Source

“We're focused on improving execution to accelerate market share progress in challenging areas while continuing to invest behind areas of strength.”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Full-year guidance revised lower

  • Adjusted EPS range lowered: Prior adjusted EPS range was $5.95 to $6.30. The range now includes about 2 to 4 cents of GOJO dilution from one quarter of contribution and higher interest expense. Source
  • Diluted EPS range lowered: Prior diluted EPS range was $5.60 to $5.95. Management said the range includes about 30 cents of GOJO transaction costs and about 37 cents of digital investment costs. Source
  • Organic sales decline widened to 9%: The prior expectation was about a 5% decline at the low end of the range. The organic figure still includes about 7.5 points from reversal of prior-year ERP-related shipments. Source
  • Gross margin decline range widened: Prior expectation was a 50 to 100 basis point decline. Drivers now include about 60 basis points from GOJO, mostly inventory step-up costs, and about 100 basis points from prior-year ERP shipments. Source

GOJO acquisition and integration

  • GOJO integration costs in quarter: Acquisition costs are excluded from adjusted EPS. Management said further integration costs, employee expenses and inventory step-up charges are expected in future periods. Source
  • GOJO margin profile differs from Clorox: Management said GOJO is EBITDA-margin neutral for Clorox but has a different gross margin and operating expense profile, which the updated guidance reflects. Source

Cash, borrowings and shares

  • Operating cash flow down 59%: Management attributed the year-to-date decline primarily to the Glad joint venture agreement termination payment. Source
  • Notes and loans payable rose sharply: Notes and loans payable were $1.59 billion at March 31, 2026, against $307 million at December 31, 2025 and $4 million at June 30, 2025. Cash and cash equivalents were $1.19 billion. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average shares were 121,787 thousand, against 124,066 thousand in the year-ago quarter. Source

Digital program and strategy

  • Five-year digital program completed: Of the total, about 75% was incremental operating cost, mainly in selling and administrative expenses. About 70% of those operating costs related to the ERP implementation. Source
  • Efficiencies expected from digital systems: Management expects the implementations to generate efficiencies and transform operations in supply chain, digital commerce, innovation and brand building over the long term. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Prepared remarks posted today: Clorox will post prepared management remarks on its quarterly results page at about 4:15 p.m. ET. Source
  • Purell integration and innovation pipeline: Management said it will expand the innovation pipeline and integrate the Purell brand into the portfolio. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Health and Wellness volume Source+1 point
Household volume Source+3 points
Lifestyle volume Source-6 points

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described a challenging consumer and cost environment and more work ahead. Source
  • Operational: Higher manufacturing and logistics costs reduced segment adjusted EBIT in Health and Wellness. Source
  • Financial: GOJO brings transaction costs and higher interest expense from deal financing, which management includes in guidance. Source
  • External: Gross margin guidance includes higher energy cost headwinds linked to the Middle East conflict. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said PURE velocities are exceeding its expectations following the launch. Source
  • Met: The prior release said closing was expected before fiscal year-end. The acquisition closed April 1, 2026.

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.