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Krispy Kreme, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue fell on refranchising: Net revenue was $331.0 million, down 12.8% from $379.8 million. The decline reflects refranchising and door closures completed in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Systemwide sales grew modestly: Systemwide sales were $497.3 million, up 1.1% in constant currency. Excluding prior-year McDonald’s USA doors, growth was 2.6%. Organic revenue decreased 0.3%. Source
  • U.S. revenue per door rose: U.S. average revenue per door per week rose 33.2% year-over-year to about $697 in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded: Adjusted EBITDA rose 43.2% to $28.8 million. Margin rose to 8.7% from 5.3%, from productivity initiatives, SG&A savings and removal of McDonald’s USA costs. Source
  • Year-to-date cash flow improved: Operating cash flow for the first half was $10.0 million, up $63.3 million. Free cash flow was $(6.1) million, improved $101.3 million, against the first half of 2025. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 5.4x: The net leverage ratio was 5.4x at quarter end, a 1.3x reduction from the fourth quarter of 2025. The company remains in compliance with its financial covenants. Source
  • Japan and western U.S. JV refranchised: The Japan operations and the western U.S. joint venture with WKS Restaurant Group were refranchised in March 2026. Source

“The second quarter highlighted continued significant progress on our turnaround to strengthen the balance sheet, reduce leverage, and drive sustainable, profitable growth.”

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue Sourcefiscal 2026$1.25 billion to $1.35 billionKept
Systemwide sales growth, constant currency Sourcefiscal 20262% to 4%Kept
Shop openings Sourcefiscal 2026at least 100 shopsKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal 2026$140 million to $150 millionKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026$50 million to $60 millionKept
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026more than $15 millionKept
Net leverage ratio Sourcefiscal 2026below 5.5xKept
Franchise share of systemwide sales Sourcebeginning fiscal 2027approximately 50%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The international refranchising deal goal for 2026 moved from one to two deals to two to three deals. Source
  • Guidance kept: The annual 2026 financial guidance was maintained, including net revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, capital expenditures, free cash flow and net leverage. Source
  • New: Agreements were entered for three new international franchise markets year-to-date. Estonia and Mauritius are new; the Netherlands was previously announced. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue fell on refranchising: Net revenue was $331.0 million, down 12.8% from $379.8 million. The decline reflects refranchising and door closures completed in the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Systemwide sales grew modestly: Systemwide sales were $497.3 million, up 1.1% in constant currency. Excluding prior-year McDonald’s USA doors, growth was 2.6%. Organic revenue decreased 0.3%. Source
  • Net loss narrowed from prior year: GAAP net loss was $19.8 million, against $441.1 million a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $0.12, compared with $2.55. Prior-year results included a goodwill impairment. Source
  • Organic revenue slightly declined: Organic revenue decreased 0.3%, driven by fewer global points of access and the International segment, partly offset by Market Development growth. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. revenue fell on refranchising: U.S. net revenue fell 25.0% to $172.7 million, from refranchising tied to the turnaround and strategic door closures. Organic revenue rose 0.1%, or 4.4% excluding McDonald’s USA. Source
  • International organic revenue declined: International net revenue fell 11.6% to $117.3 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA fell 22.2% to $14.2 million, driven by the Japan refranchising. Source
  • Market Development royalties grew: Market Development net revenue rose 142.3% to $41.0 million, mainly from refranchising. Organic revenue rose 14.4%, on royalties from the Middle East, Japan and Brazil. Source

“We remain confident in achieving our 2026 financial targets and are maintaining our previously issued guidance.”

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth

Fresh delivery, digital and doors

  • U.S. revenue per door rose: U.S. average revenue per door per week rose 33.2% year-over-year to about $697 in the second quarter. Source
  • Fresh delivery doors added: The company increased U.S. fresh delivery doors by 448 with strategic partners in the first half. Global points of access totaled 15,665, down 13.5%, after door closures. Source
  • Digital share of retail sales rose: Digital sales were 19.8% of retail sales, up 190 basis points from 17.9% a year earlier. Source

Margins and costs

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded: Adjusted EBITDA rose 43.2% to $28.8 million. Margin rose to 8.7% from 5.3%, from productivity initiatives, SG&A savings and removal of McDonald’s USA costs. Source
  • U.S. margin improved about 370 basis points: U.S. Adjusted EBITDA rose 38.5% to $13.8 million. U.S. margin reached 8.0%, with management citing turnaround plan initiatives. Source
  • Market Development margin declined: Market Development margin fell 560 basis points to 47.3%, reflecting a higher share of lower-margin U.S. franchised sales after refranchising. Source
  • Logistics transition costs reported: The company reported $1.3 million of second-quarter costs for the transition to third-party U.S. logistics, and $4.2 million in the first half. Source

“Demand for our fresh, iconic doughnuts across the U.S. and international markets drove systemwide sales growth of 2.6% excluding the impact of the now-ended McDonald’s USA partnership,”

Krispy Kreme CEO Josh Charlesworth

Capital, cash and leverage

  • Year-to-date cash flow improved: Operating cash flow for the first half was $10.0 million, up $63.3 million. Free cash flow was $(6.1) million, improved $101.3 million, against the first half of 2025. Source
  • Capital spending fell 70%: First-half capital expenditures were $16.1 million, or 4.9% of net revenue. Spending is mainly repairs and maintenance of existing infrastructure. Source
  • Net leverage fell to 5.4x: The net leverage ratio was 5.4x at quarter end, a 1.3x reduction from the fourth quarter of 2025. The company remains in compliance with its financial covenants. Source
  • Liquidity stood at $263.9 million: Total available liquidity was $263.9 million, including $21.8 million of cash and $242.1 million of undrawn credit facility capacity. Source
  • Diluted share count rose slightly: Diluted weighted average shares were 172.6 million, against 170.8 million a year earlier. Anti-dilutive securities of about 2.0 million were excluded because of the net loss. Source

Refranchising and turnaround plan

  • Japan and western U.S. JV refranchised: The Japan operations and the western U.S. joint venture with WKS Restaurant Group were refranchised in March 2026. Source
  • Franchised share reached 42%: About 42% of systemwide sales now come from franchised locations, up from about 25% for fiscal 2025. Source
  • 59 shops opened year-to-date: The company opened 59 doughnut shops around the world year-to-date, nearly all of them franchised. Source
  • Four-part turnaround plan continues: The turnaround plan announced in August 2025 covers refranchising, return on invested capital, margins and profitable growth, with progress reported on each. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Refranchising partner search continues: Management said it continues to evaluate additional refranchising opportunities and to seek partners in international markets and the U.S. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Systemwide sales growth, constant currency Source1.1%
Systemwide sales growth excluding McDonald’s USA Source2.6%
Digital sales as a percent of retail sales Source19.8%
Sales per hub, U.S., trailing four quarters Source$5.1 million
Sales per hub, International, trailing four quarters Source$9.5 million
Shops opened, year-to-date Source59
Global points of access Source15,665
Inventories Source$28,666 thousand

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: International organic revenue fell 5.1%, with declines in the U.K. and Australia. Growth in Canada partly offset the decline. Source
  • Financial: Market Development margin fell as the mix shifted toward lower-margin U.S. franchised sales after refranchising the western U.S. joint venture and Japan. Source
  • Financial: International segment Adjusted EBITDA fell 22.2% after the Japan refranchising, reducing segment profit contribution. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management reports the outsourcing of U.S. logistics was completed in April 2026. Source
  • Met: Management reports both refranchising transactions in the turnaround plan were completed in March 2026. 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.