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Campbell'S Co.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 September 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported sales fell 8% to $2.1B: Net sales decreased 8% to $2.1 billion in fourth quarter, with organic sales down only 1% after stripping out 7-point impact from extra week in prior year. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT fell 25% in quarter: Adjusted EBIT decreased 25% to $242 million in fourth quarter, with 8% of decline attributable to extra week impact from prior year. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBIT down 21%: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBIT decreased 21% to $1.181 billion, primarily due to gross margin declines from cost inflation and supply chain costs. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 37% in quarter: Adjusted EPS decreased 37% to $0.39 per share in fourth quarter. Full year adjusted EPS decreased 27% to $2.17 per share. Source
  • Snacks sales down 12% in quarter: Snacks net sales decreased 12% to $950 million in fourth quarter with organic decline of 6%, driven primarily by unfavorable volume and mix. Source
  • Snacks earnings collapsed 34%: Snacks operating earnings decreased 34% in fourth quarter to $101 million, with full-year decline of 28% to $386 million. Source
  • Trademark impairments of $117 million: Company recognized $117 million combined impairment on Cape Cod and Kettle Brand trademarks in Snacks segment, reflecting significant brand value deterioration. Source
  • Dividend reset cuts payment 36%: Quarterly dividend reduced from $0.39 to $0.25 per share, cutting annualized payout from $1.56 to $1.00 per share, aimed at accelerating debt reduction. Source
  • New $500M program launched for FY2030: Beginning fiscal 2027, company launching new enterprise-wide cost savings program targeting $500 million cumulative savings by fiscal 2030. Source
  • Four-pronged improvement approach: Management increasing consumer focus, sharpening execution, reducing costs to support brand investment, and strengthening balance sheet including dividend reset. Source

“We are increasing our focus on the consumer, sharpening execution, reducing costs to support investment in our brands, and strengthening our balance sheet, including resetting our dividend.”

Mick Beekhuizen, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBIT Sourcefiscal 2027(12)% to (7%)New
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2027$1.65 to $1.80New
Quarterly dividend per share Sourceeffective November 2026 onward$0.25Lowered from $0.39
Cost savings program target Sourcefiscal 2027 through fiscal 2030$500 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Dividend per share cut by 36% from $0.39 quarterly to $0.25 quarterly to accelerate balance sheet deleveraging. Source
  • New: New $500 million cost savings program by fiscal 2030 launched to replace exhausted prior $375 million program. Source

Sales decline and organic weakness

  • Reported sales fell 8% to $2.1B: Net sales decreased 8% to $2.1 billion in fourth quarter, with organic sales down only 1% after stripping out 7-point impact from extra week in prior year. Source
  • Extra week created 7-point sales headwind: Prior fiscal year contained 53 weeks versus 52 in current year. The extra week accounted for estimated 7% of net sales impact in fourth quarter. Source

Earnings and margin compression

  • Adjusted EBIT fell 25% in quarter: Adjusted EBIT decreased 25% to $242 million in fourth quarter, with 8% of decline attributable to extra week impact from prior year. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBIT down 21%: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBIT decreased 21% to $1.181 billion, primarily due to gross margin declines from cost inflation and supply chain costs. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 37% in quarter: Adjusted EPS decreased 37% to $0.39 per share in fourth quarter. Full year adjusted EPS decreased 27% to $2.17 per share. Source

Snacks segment deterioration

  • Snacks sales down 12% in quarter: Snacks net sales decreased 12% to $950 million in fourth quarter with organic decline of 6%, driven primarily by unfavorable volume and mix. Source
  • Snacks earnings collapsed 34%: Snacks operating earnings decreased 34% in fourth quarter to $101 million, with full-year decline of 28% to $386 million. Source
  • Trademark impairments of $117 million: Company recognized $117 million combined impairment on Cape Cod and Kettle Brand trademarks in Snacks segment, reflecting significant brand value deterioration. Source
  • Salty snacks weakness driving declines: Organic sales declines within snacks primarily driven by salty portfolio and third-party partner brand and contract manufacturing sales. Source

Meals & Beverages showing strength

  • Meals & Beverages organic sales up 3%: Meals & Beverages segment organic net sales increased 3% in fourth quarter driven by favorable volume and mix, benefiting from durable at-home cooking trends. Source
  • Meals & Beverages sales down 4% reported: Meals & Beverages net sales decreased 4% to $1.187 billion in quarter, with full-year decline of 4% due to divestitures. Source
  • Operating earnings down 12%: Meals & Beverages operating earnings decreased 12% in quarter to $181 million due to lower gross profit from cost inflation and supply chain costs. Source

Cash flow and capital allocation

  • Operating cash flow at $1.0 billion: Cash flow from operations was $1.0 billion in fiscal 2026, down from $1.1 billion in prior year despite strong cash generation amid earnings pressure. Source
  • Capital expenditures of $361 million: Capital expenditures totaled $361 million in fiscal 2026, down from $426 million prior year, reflecting capital discipline during margin pressure period. Source
  • Dividend reset cuts payment 36%: Quarterly dividend reduced from $0.39 to $0.25 per share, cutting annualized payout from $1.56 to $1.00 per share, aimed at accelerating debt reduction. Source
  • Total dividends paid $496 million: Shareholders received $496 million in cash dividends during fiscal 2026 before dividend reset announcement. Source

New cost savings and restructuring

  • Prior program delivered $225 million savings: Through fourth quarter, company achieved $225 million of $375 million fiscal 2028 cost savings target, or 60% of program. Source
  • New $500M program launched for FY2030: Beginning fiscal 2027, company launching new enterprise-wide cost savings program targeting $500 million cumulative savings by fiscal 2030. Source
  • Plant closures and workforce reductions: Several cost savings actions already underway, including plant closures and recently completed workforce reductions. Source

Management actions and strategic view

  • Four-pronged improvement approach: Management increasing consumer focus, sharpening execution, reducing costs to support brand investment, and strengthening balance sheet including dividend reset. Source
  • Leading brands positioned for recovery: Company enters fiscal 2027 with leading brands Campbell's, Rao's, Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm, with Meals & Beverages division benefiting from durable at-home cooking trends. Source
  • Actions designed for sustainable value creation: Steps taken designed to improve growth, expand margins, reduce leverage, and position Campbell's for sustainable long-term value creation. Source

Coming up, per management

  • La Regina to contribute modestly: La Regina acquisition, completed May 4, 2026, expected to provide modest sales benefit and be neutral to adjusted EPS during fiscal 2027. Source
  • New cost savings program execution: New $500 million cost savings program launching in fiscal 2027 targeting cumulative savings by fiscal 2030, with actions already underway including plant closures. Source
  • Benefits expected to build through FY2027: Management expects several longer-term benefits from cost savings and operational improvements to build through fiscal 2027 to increasingly support margins. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Cost inflation and tariffs pressuring margins. Gross margin fell 310 basis points driven by cost inflation and supply chain costs including tariff impact, only partially offset by productivity gains. Source
  • Demand: Unfavorable volume and mix declines across company. Fourth quarter organic sales down 1%, full year down 2%, with snacks particularly weak at 6% organic decline. Source
  • Demand: Snacks segment weakness in salty portfolio and third-party partner brands creating drag, with segment earnings down 34% in quarter and 28% full year. Source
  • Operational: Snacks trademark impairments of $117 million on Cape Cod and Kettle Brand reflect deterioration in brand equity and execution challenges in division. Source
  • External: External environment expected to remain volatile with elevated inflation continuing through fiscal 2027, creating pressure on pricing, costs and consumer demand. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Program has delivered $225 million in cumulative savings through Q4 FY2026, representing 60% of target with continuation expected. Source
  • Met: Company met organic net sales guidance of (2)% to (1%), achieved (2%) decline. Adjusted EPS of $2.15-$2.25 was met at $2.17. Adjusted EBIT guidance of (20)% to (17%) slightly missed at (21%).

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point carries a quote that is checked word for word against the filing; a point whose quote is not found is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.