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Clorox Co.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell on lapped ERP shipments: Net sales fell 2% to $1.95 billion, with GOJO adding about 10 points. Organic sales fell 13%, mainly from lapping about 13.5 points of incremental ERP-transition shipments in the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Full-year sales fell 5% on lapping: Fiscal 2026 net sales fell 5% to $6.72 billion. Organic sales fell 8%, mainly from lapping about 7.5 points of ERP-related shipments. GOJO added about 3 points. Source
  • Household and Lifestyle volumes fell most: Household net sales fell 18% with segment adjusted EBIT down 56%. Lifestyle net sales fell 17% with segment adjusted EBIT down 60%, both mainly on lower volume. Source
  • Gross margin fell 520 basis points: Gross margin fell to 41.3% from 46.5%, driven by lower volume, the GOJO inventory step-up, higher commodity costs and higher manufacturing and logistics costs, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Retailers drew down pre-ERP inventory: Retailers drew down inventory built ahead of the U.S. ERP transition during fiscal 2026, lowering company shipments. Management said this reduced fiscal 2026 EPS by about 90 cents. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell 38%: Net cash provided by operations was $612 million, down 38% from $981 million. The decrease was primarily driven by the Glad Venture Agreement termination payment. Source

“Our fourth-quarter results were in line with our expectations and reflect disciplined execution in a dynamic environment,”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth (GAAP) SourceFiscal 202713% to 14%New
Organic sales growth SourceFiscal 20273.5% to 4.5%New
Gross margin SourceFiscal 2027about 42%New
Selling and administrative expenses (% of net sales) SourceFiscal 2027about 16%New
Advertising and sales promotion (% of net sales) SourceFiscal 2027about 10%New
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2027about 23%New
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$5.41 to $5.71New
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$5.70 to $6.00New
GOJO acquisition costs SourceFiscal 2027approximately $46 ($35 after tax)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Simplified operating structure implemented to streamline leadership oversight. Source
  • New: GOJO now operates as Clorox Purell, included in the Health and Wellness segment. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Net sales fell on lapped ERP shipments: Net sales fell 2% to $1.95 billion, with GOJO adding about 10 points. Organic sales fell 13%, mainly from lapping about 13.5 points of incremental ERP-transition shipments in the year-ago quarter. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell 50% on GOJO costs: Diluted EPS fell to $1.34, including GOJO transaction-related costs, mainly inventory step-up and integration costs, partly offset by lapping prior digital investment costs. Source
  • Full-year sales fell 5% on lapping: Fiscal 2026 net sales fell 5% to $6.72 billion. Organic sales fell 8%, mainly from lapping about 7.5 points of ERP-related shipments. GOJO added about 3 points. Source

Segments and regions

  • Household and Lifestyle volumes fell most: Household net sales fell 18% with segment adjusted EBIT down 56%. Lifestyle net sales fell 17% with segment adjusted EBIT down 60%, both mainly on lower volume. Source
  • Health and Wellness sales rose 16%: Health and Wellness net sales rose 16%, with GOJO contributing about 28 points. Segment adjusted EBIT fell 15%, mainly from lapping ERP-related shipments and higher advertising investment. Source
  • International sales rose on currency: International net sales rose 4%, mainly from favorable foreign exchange, with organic sales up 1%. Segment adjusted EBIT rose 17% on higher net sales and cost savings. Source

“Even so, we are starting the year from a stronger position to execute our strategy with discipline, build on the momentum we've created and deliver greater superiority across our portfolio.”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Products, portfolio and strategy

  • Innovation nearly doubled in fiscal 2026: Management said it nearly doubled innovation across the expanded portfolio, including Clorox PURE, Clorox Screen+ Sanitizing Wipes, Fresh Step Lightweight Litter and Glad ForceFlex MaxStrength LeakGuard Trash Bags. Source
  • Health and hygiene now over half of sales: The company said its global health and hygiene portfolio now represents more than half of net sales, after combining complementary brands and capabilities on its health and hygiene platform. Source
  • Digital transformation investment concluded: The total incremental transformational investment was about $580 million. About 75% of it was incremental operating cost, adjusted out of adjusted EPS. Source

Costs, margins and advertising

  • Gross margin fell 520 basis points: Gross margin fell to 41.3% from 46.5%, driven by lower volume, the GOJO inventory step-up, higher commodity costs and higher manufacturing and logistics costs, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Full-year gross margin fell 290 basis points: Fiscal 2026 gross margin fell to 42.3%, mainly on lower net sales and higher manufacturing and logistics costs. Cost savings partly offset these, and the ERP shipment comparison reduced gross margin by about 100 basis points. Source

“We are confident that the investments we've made in our brands, capabilities and products position us to deliver long-term value for shareholders.”

Chair and CEO Linda Rendle

Demand, retailers and organic growth

  • Retailers drew down pre-ERP inventory: Retailers drew down inventory built ahead of the U.S. ERP transition during fiscal 2026, lowering company shipments. Management said this reduced fiscal 2026 EPS by about 90 cents. Source
  • Management aims to return to organic growth: Management said the company will work to return to organic sales growth in a challenging operating environment, after organic sales fell 8% in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Health and Wellness organic ex-shipments would have grown: Excluding the ERP-related incremental shipments, Health and Wellness organic sales would have increased in the quarter, according to management. Reported organic sales fell 12%. Source

Capital, cash and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow fell 38%: Net cash provided by operations was $612 million, down 38% from $981 million. The decrease was primarily driven by the Glad Venture Agreement termination payment. Source
  • Notes payable and long-term debt rose: At June 30, 2026, notes and loans payable were $1,086 million, against $4 million a year earlier, and long-term debt was $3,981 million, against $2,484 million. Source
  • Cash balance slightly lower: Cash and cash equivalents were $143 million at June 30, 2026, against $167 million a year earlier. Source

People, leadership and recognition

  • Management cites improved execution: Management said the company exited the year with improved execution, a stronger innovation pipeline and a clear plan to deliver superior value across the portfolio. Source
  • Recognized by Time and Forbes: The company was recognized as one of America's Best Companies by Time Magazine, and among America's Best Employers for Company Culture and 2026 Net Zero Leaders by Forbes. Source
  • Results discussed on live webcast: The company scheduled a live Q&A audio webcast at 5 p.m. ET on results day with Chair and CEO Linda Rendle and CFO Luc Bellet. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 August 2026

  • Lap ERP drawdown in fiscal 2027: Management expects the company to lap the ERP inventory drawdown in fiscal 2027, which it expects to add more than 3.5 points to net sales growth. Source
  • GOJO integration costs still to come: Management said acquisition and integration-related costs were and will be incurred, including inventory step-up charges and efforts to integrate the acquired business into company systems. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume change, Health and Wellness Source10 points higher volume
Volume change, Household Source16 points lower volume
Volume change, Lifestyle Source14 points lower volume

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management expects the operating environment to remain challenging in fiscal 2027, with continued cost volatility and a value-seeking consumer. Source
  • Operational: Higher commodity costs and higher manufacturing and logistics costs reduced gross margin in the quarter, partly offset by cost savings. Source
  • Demand: Household volume fell partly because retailers received shipments ahead of consumption in the third quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reports the U.S. ERP implementation was completed, concluding the five-year digital transformation investment begun in fiscal 2022. Source
  • Not stated: Management had expected retailers to draw down the ERP-related inventory in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The Q4 release says the drawdown occurred during the ERP transition period.
  • Not stated: Management said it is working to return to organic sales growth as the company navigates the current operating environment. 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.