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DEL Monte Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Diluted EPS $0.21 against $0.64: Diluted EPS was $0.21 against $0.64 in the prior-year quarter; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.63 against $0.81. Source
  • Net sales down 4.9%: Net sales were $1,044.1 million. Lower fresh and value-added sales, mainly from the Mann Packing divestiture and avocado prices, were partly offset by Del Monte Foods and the euro. Source
  • Operating income fell on impairment charges: Operating income was $20.1 million against $44.9 million, mainly on $20.0 million of asset impairment and other charges. Adjusted operating income was $40.2 million. Source
  • Gross margin edged up to 8.5%: Reported gross margin was 8.5% against 8.4%; adjusted gross margin was 8.7% against 9.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Middle East shipping disruption charges: Product damages and non-recoverable inventory linked to Middle East developments and Strait of Hormuz shipping disruption were recorded as $1.7 million of other product-related charges. Source
  • Prepared foods combines Del Monte assets: The prepared foods segment combines acquired Del Monte Foods assets with the company's existing prepared foods operations. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $438.0 million: Long-term debt rose from $173.0 million at fiscal 2025 year end, largely from debt raised for the Del Monte Foods acquisition. Source

“Our first-quarter results reflect disciplined execution across a complex operating environment, with the business demonstrating resilience as we continue to strengthen and expand our portfolio,”

Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Quarterly cash dividend Sourcenext quarterly payment$0.30 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company established prepared foods as a distinct reportable segment, separate from fresh and value-added products. Source
  • New: Del Monte Foods assets were acquired, with debt incurred to fund the acquisition. Source

Results and earnings per share

  • Diluted EPS $0.21 against $0.64: Diluted EPS was $0.21 against $0.64 in the prior-year quarter; adjusted diluted EPS was $0.63 against $0.81. Source
  • Net sales down 4.9%: Net sales were $1,044.1 million. Lower fresh and value-added sales, mainly from the Mann Packing divestiture and avocado prices, were partly offset by Del Monte Foods and the euro. Source
  • Operating income fell on impairment charges: Operating income was $20.1 million against $44.9 million, mainly on $20.0 million of asset impairment and other charges. Adjusted operating income was $40.2 million. Source
  • Equity income from fund liquidation: Income from equity method investments was $6.6 million, from distributions above carrying value when a fund the company held an interest in was liquidated. Source
  • FDP net income $10.0 million: FDP net income was $10.0 million against $31.1 million; adjusted FDP net income was $29.9 million against $38.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 5.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $58.4 million against $67.0 million, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 5.6% against 6.4%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fresh and value-added margin rose: Net sales were $549.0 million against $612.3 million; gross margin was 10.9% against 9.6%, helped by the Mann Packing divestiture and higher pineapple prices. Source
  • Banana volume fell in Asia: Banana net sales were $357.1 million against $363.8 million, on lower Asian volume from lower supply and supplier changes, and on North American demand and adverse weather. Gross margin was 4.6%. Source
  • Prepared foods grew on acquisition: Prepared foods net sales were $82.5 million against $70.9 million; gross margin fell to 10.8% from 14.5% on lower European sales and higher per-unit costs. Source
  • Other products margin fell: Other products and services net sales were $55.5 million against $51.4 million, with freight higher and poultry and meats lower. Gross margin was 6.8% against 11.9%. Source

“We are encouraged by the initial performance of the Del Monte Foods business in its first week of ownership and remain focused on building on this momentum as we continue to scale the business and strengthen our overall platform.”

Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin edged up to 8.5%: Reported gross margin was 8.5% against 8.4%; adjusted gross margin was 8.7% against 9.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Middle East shipping disruption charges: Product damages and non-recoverable inventory linked to Middle East developments and Strait of Hormuz shipping disruption were recorded as $1.7 million of other product-related charges. Source
  • Banana per-unit costs rose: Banana gross profit fell to $16.5 million from $16.8 million as higher per-unit production and procurement costs outweighed higher per-unit selling prices. Source
  • Stronger colon weighed on results: A stronger Costa Rican colon had an unfavorable effect on exchange rates, which affected results across the portfolio. Source
  • Pricing offset part of cost pressure: Higher per-unit selling prices in banana and pineapple partly offset the cost and volume pressures across the portfolio. Source

Demand, supply and weather

  • Avocado prices fell on oversupply: Avocado net sales were lower because of industry-wide oversupply, which lowered per-unit selling prices. Source
  • Poultry and meats demand slowed: Poultry and meats per-unit prices fell as demand slowed, and the Middle East conflict also weighed on the business. Source
  • Weather hit North American fruit: Weather in North America reduced fresh-cut fruit sales volume and lowered melon prices. Source

Del Monte Foods and segment changes

  • Prepared foods combines Del Monte assets: The prepared foods segment combines acquired Del Monte Foods assets with the company's existing prepared foods operations. Source
  • Transaction costs of $3.5 million: Business transaction costs tied to the Del Monte Foods acquisition, including advisory, legal, consulting and accounting fees, were $3.5 million. Source
  • Right-of-use assets written down: A $16.1 million impairment covers right-of-use assets acquired with Del Monte Foods for product lines the company does not intend to operate. Source

Cash flow, debt and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow $44.1 million: Operating cash flow was $44.1 million against $46.1 million, with lower net income partly offset by non-cash items and working capital. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $438.0 million: Long-term debt rose from $173.0 million at fiscal 2025 year end, largely from debt raised for the Del Monte Foods acquisition. Source
  • Buyback of 100,000 shares: The company bought back 100,000 shares for $4.0 million at an average of $40.24; $116.2 million remains under the current plan. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Prior periods to be recast in 10-Q: Prior periods restated to the new segment composition will appear in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 27, 2026. Source
  • Scale the Del Monte Foods business: Management said it intends to keep building on early momentum and scaling the Del Monte Foods business. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Shipping delays through the Strait of Hormuz and port congestion led to customer quality claims. Source
  • External: Supply chain disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, linked to geopolitical developments, affected results across the portfolio. Source
  • Demand: Industry-wide avocado oversupply lowered per-unit selling prices and net sales in the avocado product line. Source
  • Operational: Lower availability of fruit inputs, including pineapple, reduced European net sales in canned pineapple. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The company announced the Mann Packing divestiture in the third quarter of 2025 and completed it in the fourth quarter of 2025. 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.