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Darling Ingredients Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income rose to $387.3 million: Net income attributable to Darling was $387.3 million, or $2.41 per GAAP diluted share, against $12.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Combined Adjusted EBITDA reached $741.7 million: Combined Adjusted EBITDA was $741.7 million, compared with $249.5 million a year earlier. The measure is non-GAAP and combines Adjusted EBITDA with Darling's share of DGD. Source
  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose in Feed and Food: Feed $240.5 million against $135.9 million; Food $108.5 million against $69.9 million; Fuel excluding DGD $26.0 million against $18.6 million; Corporate $(22.4) million against $(17.6) million. Source
  • Darling's share of DGD EBITDA: Darling's share of DGD Adjusted EBITDA was $389.2 million, against $42.6 million. For six months it was $540.4 million, against $48.7 million. Source
  • Leverage ratio fell to 2.3X: The preliminary bank covenant leverage ratio was 2.3X at July 4, 2026, down from 3.17X at April 4, 2026, as reported in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Capex estimate raised to $450 million: Fiscal 2026 capital expenditures are estimated at about $450.0 million, up from $400.0 million in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Core ingredients Q3 Adjusted EBITDA estimate: Guidance now covers the core ingredients business only, excluding DGD. The third-quarter estimate is $325-340 million, following a $260-275 million second-quarter estimate in the prior release. Source

“Momentum continues to build across our business, which is reflected in our strong second quarter performance,”

Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Core ingredients Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter 2026$325-340 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $450.0 millionRaised from $400.0 million
Net debt Sourceend of fiscal year 2026at or below $3 billionNew
Bank leverage ratio Sourceend of fiscal year 2026below 2XNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 capital expenditure estimate raised from about $400.0 million to about $450.0 million. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 core ingredients Adjusted EBITDA estimate of $325-340 million added; the prior release gave a second-quarter estimate. Source
  • New guidance: Year-end targets added for net debt at or below $3 billion and bank leverage ratio below 2X. Source
  • New: Closed acquisition of three rendering facilities from the Patense Group in Brazil for about $122 million during the quarter. Source
  • Ended: Majority of the non-core grease trap environmental services business sold on July 22, 2026, for about $90.0 million. Source

Earnings and net sales

  • Net income rose to $387.3 million: Net income attributable to Darling was $387.3 million, or $2.41 per GAAP diluted share, against $12.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Net sales rose to $1.7 billion: Total net sales were $1.7 billion, against $1.5 billion a year earlier. Sales to Diamond Green Diesel were $413.5 million, against $291.5 million. Source
  • Combined Adjusted EBITDA reached $741.7 million: Combined Adjusted EBITDA was $741.7 million, compared with $249.5 million a year earlier. The measure is non-GAAP and combines Adjusted EBITDA with Darling's share of DGD. Source
  • Six-month combined EBITDA reached $1.15 billion: For the six months to July 4, 2026, combined Adjusted EBITDA was $1.15 billion, against $445.3 million for the same period of 2025. Source

Segment results

  • Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose in Feed and Food: Feed $240.5 million against $135.9 million; Food $108.5 million against $69.9 million; Fuel excluding DGD $26.0 million against $18.6 million; Corporate $(22.4) million against $(17.6) million. Source
  • Feed net sales rose to $1.15 billion: Feed Ingredients net sales were $1,149.5 million, against $936.5 million a year earlier, and segment depreciation and amortization was $89.8 million. Source
  • Food gross margin increased to $148.3 million: Food Ingredients net sales were $408.5 million, against $386.1 million, and cost of sales and operating expenses were $260.2 million. A $3.9 million restructuring charge was recorded. Source
  • Fuel Ingredients gross margin increased: Fuel Ingredients gross margin, excluding DGD, was $35.1 million, against $27.6 million, on net sales of $166.1 million, against $158.8 million. Source
  • Corporate acquisition costs increased: Corporate acquisition and integration costs were $13.2 million, against $3.4 million a year earlier. Source

“We stayed focused on the things we can control, including strong operational execution and margin management, which enabled us to generate strong cash flow, pay down debt, repurchase shares and further strengthen our financial position.”

Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Diamond Green Diesel joint venture

  • DGD net income reached $706.9 million: DGD net income was $706.9 million, against $16.3 million a year earlier. Six-month DGD net income was $929.0 million, against a loss of $43.0 million. Source
  • Darling's share of DGD EBITDA: Darling's share of DGD Adjusted EBITDA was $389.2 million, against $42.6 million. For six months it was $540.4 million, against $48.7 million. Source
  • DGD operating revenues rose to $2.68 billion: DGD operating revenues were $2.68 billion for the quarter, against $1.10 billion, and $4.10 billion for six months, against $2.00 billion. Source
  • Equity income from DGD increased: Equity in net income of DGD was $350.0 million, against $6.0 million a year earlier, and $457.4 million for six months. Source

Margins and cost lines

  • Gross margin rose to $503.4 million: Gross margin was $503.4 million, against $345.9 million a year earlier. Cost of sales and operating expenses were $1,220.7 million, against $1,135.6 million. Source
  • Cost of sales rose to $1.22 billion: Cost of sales and operating expenses rose by $85.1 million compared with the second quarter of 2025, across the Feed, Food and Fuel segments and corporate lines. Source
  • SG&A and D&A increased: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $151.0 million, against $138.1 million. Depreciation and amortization was $130.2 million, against $121.1 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose to $110.6 million: Income tax expense was $110.6 million, against $4.1 million a year earlier, and $149.3 million for six months, against $2.9 million. Source
  • Interest expense was $55.5 million: Interest expense was $55.5 million, against $51.9 million a year earlier. Source

“Importantly, we believe the opportunities we outlined at Investor Day remain ahead of us, and our second-quarter performance demonstrates meaningful progress toward capturing that value.”

Randall C. Stuewe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Leverage ratio fell to 2.3X: The preliminary bank covenant leverage ratio was 2.3X at July 4, 2026, down from 3.17X at April 4, 2026, as reported in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Total debt stood at $3.9 billion: Total debt was $3.9 billion at July 4, 2026, against $4.1 billion at April 4, 2026. Net debt was reduced by $223.0 million during the quarter. Source
  • Cash and revolver availability: Cash and cash equivalents were $160.7 million, and $1.3 billion was available under the committed revolving credit agreement. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $73.0 million: The company repurchased $73.0 million of common stock during the quarter, which management linked to operational execution and margin management. Source
  • Year-end net debt target set: Management expects to keep reducing debt and anticipates net debt at or below $3 billion and a bank leverage ratio below 2X by the end of fiscal 2026. Source

Capital spending and acquisitions

  • Capex estimate raised to $450 million: Fiscal 2026 capital expenditures are estimated at about $450.0 million, up from $400.0 million in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Year-to-date capex reached $224.0 million: Year-to-date capital expenditures were about $224.0 million, against $94.8 million reported for the first quarter. Source
  • Patense rendering facilities acquired in Brazil: Three rendering facilities were acquired from the Patense Group in Brazil during the quarter for about $122 million. Source
  • Majority of grease trap business sold: A majority of the non-core grease trap environmental services business was sold on July 22, 2026, for about $90.0 million. Source

Guidance and strategy

  • Core ingredients Q3 Adjusted EBITDA estimate: Guidance now covers the core ingredients business only, excluding DGD. The third-quarter estimate is $325-340 million, following a $260-275 million second-quarter estimate in the prior release. Source
  • Investor Day plans still ahead: Management said the Investor Day opportunities remain ahead and that second-quarter performance shows progress toward capturing that value. Source
  • Confidence in 2026 balance and 2027: Management said it feels very good about the remainder of 2026 and the view for 2027. No figures were given for either period. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Call transcript to be posted: A transcript of the July 30, 2026 call will be posted on the investor website within 24 hours. Source
  • Year-end 2026 debt targets: Management expects net debt at or below $3 billion and a bank leverage ratio below 2X at the end of fiscal 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
DGD renewable fuels sold, three months ended June 30, 2026 Source348.8 million gallons at an average of $2.23 per gallon EBITDA
DGD renewable fuels sold, first six months of 2026 Source621.2 million gallons at an average of $1.74 per gallon EBITDA

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said financial guidance is given only for the core ingredients business, excluding DGD, as previously announced. Source
  • Not stated: Management refers to opportunities outlined at Investor Day and says they remain ahead of the company. No status is given. 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.