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Energizer Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 2 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Acquisition lifted sales; organic fell: Net sales rose 6.5% to $778.9 million from $731.7 million; organic net sales fell 4.3%, and currency added 2.0%. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin down 510 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 34.9% against 40.0%; reported gross margin was 32.9% against 36.8%, after current-year restructuring costs. Source
  • Network rebalancing and tariffs weighed: Margin fell on production inefficiencies from network rebalancing, higher tariff costs, unfavorable product mix and the lower-margin APS business. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell to $0.31: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.31 against $0.67, or $0.26 on a currency neutral basis. Source
  • Free cash flow of $124.2 million: Operating cash flow was $149.5 million; free cash flow was $124.2 million, or 15.9% of net sales, against $42.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Fiscal 2026 organic sales, adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA ranges were reaffirmed, with gross margin still expected to decline modestly. Source
  • Second-quarter organic sales to fall: Second-quarter organic net sales are expected to decline 4% to 5%, with adjusted EPS in a range of $0.40 to $0.50. Source
  • APS integration and footprint actions completed: Management says the APS integration, manufacturing footprint re-alignment and efficiency initiatives have been completed, setting up margin and earnings progress. Source

“Energizer’s strategic priorities in Fiscal 2026 are grounded in simple principles - restore growth, rebuild margins impacted by tariffs, and return to our long‑term historical cash flow profile.”

Mark LaVigne, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic net sales SourceFiscal 2026flat to slightly up in Batteries & Lights and Auto CareKept
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$3.30 to $3.60Kept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$580 to $610 millionKept
Adjusted net earnings SourceFiscal 2026$229 to $254 millionLowered from $231 to $254
GAAP EPS SourceFiscal 2026$2.10 to $2.67Lowered from $2.45 to $2.94
Organic net sales SourceSecond fiscal quarter of 2026decline 4% to 5%New
Adjusted EPS SourceSecond fiscal quarter of 2026$0.40 to $0.50New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: GAAP EPS range for fiscal 2026 moved to $2.10 to $2.67 from $2.45 to $2.94; the reconciliation adds restructuring, acquisition, debt and pension items. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 adjusted net earnings range shown at $229 to $254 million, from $231 to $254 million; adjusted EPS range kept at $3.30 to $3.60. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year adjusted EPS of $3.30 to $3.60 and adjusted EBITDA of $580 to $610 million kept from the prior release. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter organic net sales decline and adjusted EPS range given for the first time in these documents. Source
  • New: UK pension plan buy-out completed on January 28, 2026. Source
  • Ended: APS branded businesses transitioned to legacy brands by December 31, 2025. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Acquisition lifted sales; organic fell: Net sales rose 6.5% to $778.9 million from $731.7 million; organic net sales fell 4.3%, and currency added 2.0%. Source
  • Volumes fell on softer U.S. demand: Volumes declined 4.5%, reflecting softer U.S. consumer demand across both segments and higher prior-year storm activity, partly offset by Batteries & Lights distribution gains and ecommerce growth. Source
  • Pricing offset part of volume decline: Pricing rose 0.2%, driven by tariffs and innovation, mainly in Batteries & Lights, partially offsetting the volume decline. Source
  • APS acquisition contributed sales: The APS acquisition, completed May 2, 2025, contributed $64.6 million to net sales in the quarter, shown on the acquisition line of the sales bridge. Source

Segments and brands

  • Batteries & Lights sales rose 8.3%: Batteries & Lights net sales were $685.2 million, up 8.3%; organic fell 3.8%, while the acquisition added 10.2% and currency 1.9%. Source
  • Auto Care sales and profit fell: Auto Care net sales were $93.7 million, down 5.6%, with organic down 6.9%; segment profit fell to $9.1 million from $20.5 million. Source
  • Batteries & Lights profit fell 11.4%: Batteries & Lights segment profit was $105.7 million against $119.3 million, a decline of 11.4%. Source
  • Total segment profit declined 17.9%: Total segment profit was $114.8 million against $139.8 million; organic segment profit fell 25.1%, with the acquisition adding $5.3 million. Source

“Strong cash generation was a highlight, with $124.2 million of free cash flow enabling us to pay down more than $100 million of debt while returning nearly $28 million to shareholders.”

Energizer Holdings, Inc., press release

Gross margin and cost lines

  • Adjusted gross margin down 510 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 34.9% against 40.0%; reported gross margin was 32.9% against 36.8%, after current-year restructuring costs. Source
  • Network rebalancing and tariffs weighed: Margin fell on production inefficiencies from network rebalancing, higher tariff costs, unfavorable product mix and the lower-margin APS business. Source
  • Production credit and pricing offset: A $9.7 million production tax credit and price increases taken to offset tariffs partly offset the margin declines. Source
  • Higher SG&A from APS and spending: Adjusted SG&A rose to 17.1% of net sales from 16.3%, with APS adding $6.8 million and higher digital, legal, recycling and stock compensation costs. Source
  • Project Momentum savings of about $2 million: Project Momentum delivered about $2 million of savings in the quarter, partly offsetting the SG&A increases. Source
  • A&P spend fell to 6.3% of sales: Advertising and promotion expense fell $4.2 million to 6.3% of net sales from 7.3% in the prior year. Source

Earnings and adjusted measures

  • Net loss of $3.4 million: Net loss was $3.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, against net earnings of $22.3 million, or $0.30, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell to $0.31: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.31 against $0.67, or $0.26 on a currency neutral basis. Source
  • Higher interest expense weighed on EPS: Higher interest expense from a larger average debt balance further reduced adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell to $106.9 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $106.9 million against $140.7 million, or $102.4 million currency neutral; the decline reflected gross margin, SG&A and currency. Source

“These actions have been successfully completed, which set the stage for sequential gross margin improvement and meaningful earnings growth in the back half of the year.”

Energizer Holdings, Inc., press release

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow of $124.2 million: Operating cash flow was $149.5 million; free cash flow was $124.2 million, or 15.9% of net sales, against $42.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Term loan and borrowings repaid: The company paid down $92.5 million on the term loan and $13.3 million of international borrowings in the quarter. Source
  • Share buybacks of about 245,000 shares: About 245,000 shares were repurchased for $4.5 million, at $18.26 per share, during the quarter. Source
  • Dividends of about $23 million: Dividend payments were about $23 million, or $0.30 per common share, in the quarter. Source
  • Capital spending fell to $25.3 million: Capital expenditures were $25.3 million, down from $34.6 million a year earlier; there were no acquisitions in the quarter. Source

Fiscal 2026 and second-quarter guidance

  • Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Fiscal 2026 organic sales, adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA ranges were reaffirmed, with gross margin still expected to decline modestly. Source
  • Second-quarter organic sales to fall: Second-quarter organic net sales are expected to decline 4% to 5%, with adjusted EPS in a range of $0.40 to $0.50. Source
  • Winter storm not in guidance: Guidance excludes any effect from recent winter storm activity. Source

Integration, restructuring and footprint

  • APS integration and footprint actions completed: Management says the APS integration, manufacturing footprint re-alignment and efficiency initiatives have been completed, setting up margin and earnings progress. Source
  • Restructuring costs of $30.9 million: Restructuring and related costs were $30.9 million, including $6.1 million for the U.S. operating efficiency project in cost of products sold. Source
  • UK pension buy-out completed in January: The UK pension plan buy-out was completed on January 28, 2026; the resulting non-cash settlement loss is excluded from adjusted measures. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Pension settlement charge in Q2: A non-cash settlement loss on the UK pension plan termination will be recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Back-half earnings growth expected: Management expects sequential gross margin improvement and meaningful earnings growth in the back half of the year. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Softer U.S. consumer demand reduced volumes across both segments in the quarter. Source
  • Operational: Production inefficiencies from rebalancing the network raised input costs and reduced adjusted gross margin. Source
  • External: Tariff costs weighed on margin; price increases and a production tax credit offset part of them. Source
  • Financial: Higher average debt balance increased interest expense, further reducing adjusted net earnings and adjusted EPS. Source
  • External: Unfavorable currency impacts reduced adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS in the quarter. Source
  • External: Second-quarter guidance excludes any effect from recent winter storm activity. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the previous fiscal 2026 guidance ranges. Source
  • Met: Management described the integration, footprint re-alignment and efficiency actions as completed. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release set first-quarter ranges for organic net sales and adjusted EPS; this release does not state whether they were met.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected double-digit adjusted EPS growth over the remainder of the year after the first quarter.

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.