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Dole plc: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 11.6%: Revenue was $2,342.2 million, up $242.8 million, with higher worldwide Fresh Fruit pricing as the main driver across all segments. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA slipped 4.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $100.3 million. Higher Fresh Fruit sourcing costs were the main drag, partly offset by the Americas and ROW segment. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA target kept: Management said it maintains its full-year Adjusted EBITDA target of at least $400 million, the same target set in February. Source
  • Fresh Fruit earnings fell 17%: Fresh Fruit revenue rose 6.8% to $937.7 million on higher banana, pineapple and plantain pricing, while Adjusted EBITDA fell to $52.6 million. Source
  • Shipping and fuel costs to rise: Management expects shipping and fuel costs to increase in the second quarter, with Fresh Fruit most affected. Source
  • Middle East conflict complicates operations: Management said the conflict in the Middle East is making the operating environment more complex and affecting the cost base. Source
  • Net leverage rose to 1.7x: Net debt was $657.1 million at March 31, 2026, up from $606.5 million at December 31, 2025. LTM Adjusted EBITDA was $390.9 million. Source
  • Ecuador port sale cleared regulators: Regulatory approval for the Ecuador port sale, first announced in February with expected net proceeds of about $75 million, was received after quarter end. Source

“We are pleased with our solid start to the year.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFull year 2026at least $400 millionKept
Routine capex SourceFull year 2026approximately $100 millionKept
Interest expense SourceFull year 2026approximately $58 millionLowered from approximately $60 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year interest expense guidance lowered to approximately $58 million from approximately $60 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 11.6%: Revenue was $2,342.2 million, up $242.8 million, with higher worldwide Fresh Fruit pricing as the main driver across all segments. Source
  • Like-for-like revenue up 7.0%: Excluding currency translation and acquisitions and divestitures, revenue rose $146.6 million, or 7.0%, in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA slipped 4.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was $100.3 million. Higher Fresh Fruit sourcing costs were the main drag, partly offset by the Americas and ROW segment. Source
  • Net income fell to $37.7 million: Diluted EPS was $0.33 against $0.41, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.33 against $0.35. The prior year included a non-cash $6.9 million equity-investment gain. Source
  • Operating income declined $5.9 million: Operating income was $62.0 million. Higher SMG&A expenses and the prior year's Hawaii land-sale gains account for the decline. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA target kept: Management said it maintains its full-year Adjusted EBITDA target of at least $400 million, the same target set in February. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fresh Fruit earnings fell 17%: Fresh Fruit revenue rose 6.8% to $937.7 million on higher banana, pineapple and plantain pricing, while Adjusted EBITDA fell to $52.6 million. Source
  • EMEA revenue lifted by currency: Diversified Fresh Produce - EMEA revenue rose 14.6% to $1,022.3 million, 4.0% like-for-like. Adjusted EBITDA rose 8.3% to $30.0 million, though like-for-like EBITDA fell 5.1%. Source
  • Americas and ROW earnings up 28.7%: Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW revenue rose 15.6% to $420.0 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $17.8 million, partly supported by a fourth-quarter 2025 restructuring. Source

“While we are experiencing complexity in the operating environment due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, we believe the strength of our broad and resilient business model positions us well to manage these evolving conditions.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit rose $2.8 million: Gross profit reached $185.0 million. Higher revenue was partly offset by higher cost of sales, which management tied to fruit sourcing costs. Source
  • Shipping and fuel costs to rise: Management expects shipping and fuel costs to increase in the second quarter, with Fresh Fruit most affected. Source
  • Price benefits expected later in year: Management expects contract price adjustments and its dynamic pricing strategy in the diversified divisions to benefit results as the year progresses. Source

Demand and operating environment

  • Consumer demand described as robust: Management attributes demand across key markets to evolving dietary preferences, GLP-1 adoption, and broader health and wellness trends. Source
  • Middle East conflict complicates operations: Management said the conflict in the Middle East is making the operating environment more complex and affecting the cost base. Source
  • Avocado pricing lower in Americas: Revenue growth in the Americas and ROW segment came from southern hemisphere exports and North America import volumes, partly offset by lower avocado pricing. Source

“We continue to target full year Adjusted EBITDA of at least $400 million.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Capital, cash and returns

  • Free cash outflow narrowed: Free cash flow from continuing operations was an outflow of $40.2 million, against $131.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net leverage rose to 1.7x: Net debt was $657.1 million at March 31, 2026, up from $606.5 million at December 31, 2025. LTM Adjusted EBITDA was $390.9 million. Source
  • Capital spending of $17.8 million: Spending went to farming, warehouse ripening rooms in France and the U.K., and blueberry and avocado packing equipment in Europe. Source
  • Share repurchases of $4.6 million: The company bought back 306,570 shares at an average of $15.13, leaving $95.4 million under the repurchase program. Source

Strategy and portfolio changes

  • Ecuador port sale cleared regulators: Regulatory approval for the Ecuador port sale, first announced in February with expected net proceeds of about $75 million, was received after quarter end. Source
  • Development options under exploration: Management said it is exploring a range of development options that would strengthen the business and drive growth in later years. Source
  • Returns from recent investments expected: Management anticipates returns from its recent investments and remains committed to advancing its development pipeline. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 May 2026

  • Dividend payable July 8: The $0.085 per share first-quarter 2026 dividend is payable July 8, 2026 to shareholders of record on June 17, 2026. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said the Middle East conflict is making operations more complex and directly affecting the cost base. Source
  • Operational: Shipping and fuel costs are expected to rise in the second quarter, mainly in Fresh Fruit. Source
  • Operational: Higher market sourcing costs for bananas reduced Fresh Fruit Adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • External: A stronger Costa Rican colón against the U.S. dollar raised pineapple sourcing costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continues to target at least $400 million, the same target set in February. Source
  • Not stated: Management maintained its routine capex guidance. Source
  • On track: Management said Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was in line with its expectations. 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.