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Dole plc: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 2.9% on the quarter: Revenue was $2,499.4 million against $2,428.4 million, up $71.0 million. Currency translation added $30.3 million; like-for-like revenue rose 1.7%. Source
  • Operating income fell on legal and restructuring charge: Operating income fell $55.7 million to $47.5 million. Lower gross profit, higher SG&A including a $23.1 million legal and restructuring charge, and prior-year Hawaii land-sale gains all contributed. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 14.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $116.8 million against $137.1 million, down $20.4 million, mainly on Fresh Fruit sourcing costs. Currency translation added $1.4 million. Source
  • Fresh Fruit EBITDA fell 30.9%: Fresh Fruit revenue was $972.8 million, in line with the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $50.3 million against $72.8 million. Source
  • Free cash outflow narrowed sharply: Free cash flow from continuing operations was an outflow of $51.0 million for six months, against $132.6 million a year earlier, on lower working capital and capex. Source
  • Net debt rose to $746.1 million: Net debt was $746.1 million and net leverage 2.0x, against $657.1 million and 1.7x at March 31. Net debt was affected by the first step of the port sale. Source
  • Cost increases seen moderating: Management said some sharp second-quarter cost increases appear to be moderating, but the operating environment remains complex. Source

“The successful completion of the Ecuador port sale post quarter end for net proceeds of approximately $95 million supports our continued investment in growth opportunities, including recent acquisitions in EMEA.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026approximately $400 millionKept
Routine capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $100 millionKept
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026approximately $58 millionKept
Ecuador port sale net proceeds Sourcecumulative, Ecuador port sale transactionapproximately $95.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EBITDA target figure unchanged at approximately $400 million; the qualifier moved from at least in the prior release to approximately. Source
  • New: Company completed acquisition of the Greenfood Fresh Produce division in Scandinavia after quarter end. Source
  • Ended: Second and final step of the Ecuador port sale closed on July 1, 2026, ending Dole's ownership of the port business. Source
  • New: In May the company completed a pre-closing restructuring, acquiring the remaining minority interest in the port business. Source
  • New guidance: Expected net cash proceeds from the Ecuador port sale given as approximately $95.0 million; the prior release gave no proceeds figure. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 2.9% on the quarter: Revenue was $2,499.4 million against $2,428.4 million, up $71.0 million. Currency translation added $30.3 million; like-for-like revenue rose 1.7%. Source
  • Operating income fell on legal and restructuring charge: Operating income fell $55.7 million to $47.5 million. Lower gross profit, higher SG&A including a $23.1 million legal and restructuring charge, and prior-year Hawaii land-sale gains all contributed. Source
  • Net income up on prior-year discontinued loss: Net income was $35.1 million against $18.0 million. The prior year included a $35.0 million loss from discontinued Fresh Vegetables operations. Diluted EPS was $0.27 against $0.10. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 14.8%: Adjusted EBITDA was $116.8 million against $137.1 million, down $20.4 million, mainly on Fresh Fruit sourcing costs. Currency translation added $1.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down to $0.46: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.46 against $0.55 a year earlier. Adjusted Net Income fell 17.7%, or $9.4 million, mainly on lower Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Segments and regions

  • Fresh Fruit EBITDA fell 30.9%: Fresh Fruit revenue was $972.8 million, in line with the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was $50.3 million against $72.8 million. Source
  • Pineapple volumes lower in all markets: Pineapple volumes were lower in all markets because adverse weather affected fruit availability. Source
  • EMEA revenue up on currency: EMEA revenue was $1,111.4 million, up 1.0%. Currency translation added $29.9 million; on a like-for-like basis revenue fell 1.7%. Source
  • EMEA Adjusted EBITDA down 6.2%: EMEA Adjusted EBITDA was $45.9 million against $49.0 million. Scandinavia partly offset lower results in South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain. Source
  • Americas and ROW EBITDA up 33.8%: Americas and ROW revenue rose 13.9% to $440.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 33.8% to $20.6 million on North American results. Source

“We are pleased to deliver a second quarter result in line with our expectations.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Products and customers

  • North American cherries, kiwi and avocados grew: North American revenue gained from seasonal cherry timing and from volume growth in kiwi and avocados. Source
  • Banana volumes higher in Europe: Banana volumes rose in Europe and North American banana pricing rose, partly offset by lower North American banana volumes. Source
  • Southern hemisphere export pricing adjusted: Southern hemisphere export revenue rose because of positive season-end pricing adjustments. Source

Costs, fuel and shipping

  • Shipping costs rose on higher fuel: Shipping costs rose in both Europe and North America because of higher fuel costs. Source
  • Pineapple growing costs and colón rose: Pineapple growing costs rose after adverse weather, and the Costa Rican colón's continued strengthening against the dollar added to Fresh Fruit costs. Source
  • Cost of sales rose faster than revenue: Gross profit fell $23.0 million because cost of sales rose, mainly from Fresh Fruit sourcing costs, partly offset by higher revenue. Source

“The quarter once again demonstrated the resilience of our diversified business model and our ability to navigate a challenging operating environment as we target full-year Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $400 million for 2026.”

Carl McCann, Executive Chairman

Margins and pricing

  • Gross margin narrowed to 7.8%: Reported gross margin was 7.8% against 9.0% in the prior-year quarter. Gross profit was $195.3 million against $218.3 million. Source
  • Berry restructuring benefit continued: The partial restructuring of berry operations in the fourth quarter of 2025 continued to benefit North American results. Source
  • Other income swung to gain: Other income was $3.9 million against an expense of $18.7 million, mainly on fair value adjustments on financial instruments. Source

Cash flow, net debt and buybacks

  • Free cash outflow narrowed sharply: Free cash flow from continuing operations was an outflow of $51.0 million for six months, against $132.6 million a year earlier, on lower working capital and capex. Source
  • Half-year capex was $42.5 million: Cash capital expenditures were $42.5 million for six months, covering Latin American farming, European distribution and ripening rooms, and blueberry and avocado packing equipment. Source
  • Net debt rose to $746.1 million: Net debt was $746.1 million and net leverage 2.0x, against $657.1 million and 1.7x at March 31. Net debt was affected by the first step of the port sale. Source
  • Quarterly buybacks totaled $10.0 million: The company repurchased 719,290 shares at an average $13.88 in the quarter. $85.4 million remained under the repurchase program at June 30. Source

Strategy and development pipeline

  • Development pipeline advanced: Management said the development pipeline advanced while capital allocation stayed disciplined. Source
  • Returns from recent investments expected: Management expects positive returns from recent investments and development activity. Source
  • Pipeline exploration noted in May: The prior release said the company continued to explore development opportunities, which it said would strengthen the business if executed.

Second-half operating environment

  • Cost increases seen moderating: Management said some sharp second-quarter cost increases appear to be moderating, but the operating environment remains complex. Source
  • Pricing and cost savings expected to help: Management expects benefit from contractual pricing, cost savings in Fresh Fruit and its dynamic pricing model across the Diversified businesses. Source
  • Consumer demand held up: Management said consumer demand across key markets has remained resilient, supported by long-term health and wellness trends. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 August 2026

  • Q2 dividend payable October 7: Board declared $0.085 per share for the second quarter of 2026, with a September 16 record date and October 7 payment. Source
  • Port proceeds to appear in Q3 net debt: Proceeds from the second and final port sale step will be reflected in third-quarter net debt and net leverage. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited geopolitical developments as creating uncertainty for the second half, alongside elevated fuel and shipping costs. Source
  • Operational: Adverse weather reduced pineapple fruit availability in the quarter, affecting volumes and growing costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release repeated the $400 million EBITDA target; the current release states approximately $400 million.
  • Not stated: The second and final step closed on July 1, 2026, after the second-quarter completion timing given in May.
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect routine capital expenditures of about $100 million and interest expense of about $58 million for the full year. Source
  • On track: Management described the second-quarter result as 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.