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Edgewell Personal Care Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 6 lowered, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Organic sales returned to growth: Organic net sales rose 1.1%, with North America's return to growth partly offset by lower international sales. Reported net sales rose 1.7%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS flat year on year: Adjusted EPS was $0.72, flat against the prior year, with a $0.04 favorable currency effect included. Source
  • Wet Shave net sales slipped: Wet Shave net sales fell $4.2 million, or 1.3%, to $312.8 million; segment profit fell $9.2 million, or 20.9%. Source
  • North America returned to growth: North America organic sales rose 3.0%, on volume growth across Sun, Skin Care and Grooming, with added distribution. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin down 30 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 44.5%, against 44.8% a year earlier; productivity gains were offset by core inflation, tariffs and mix. Source
  • Cash and revolver capacity: Cash was $397.1 million at quarter end, with $418.8 million more available under the U.S. revolver; adjusted net debt leverage was 3.7x. Source

“Our third quarter results represent an important step forward in our fiscal 2026 progression, with organic net sales returning to growth, meaningful improvement in North America”

Rod Little, Edgewell’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported net sales growth SourceFiscal 20261.3% to 1.8%Lowered from 0.8% to 3.8%
Organic net sales growth SourceFiscal 2026flat to 0.5%Lowered from 1.0% decrease to 2.0% increase
GAAP EPS SourceFiscal 2026flat to $0.20Lowered from flat to $0.40
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$1.80 to $2.00Kept
Adjusted gross margin change SourceFiscal 2026increase approximately 20-basis pointsLowered from increase 50-basis points
Adjusted operating margin change SourceFiscal 2026decrease approximately 80-basis pointsLowered from decrease 60-basis points
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2026$250 to $260 millionKept
Other income/expense, net SourceFiscal 2026approximately $26 million incomeRaised from approximately $21 million income
Interest expense associated with debt SourceFiscal 2026approximately $70 millionKept
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 202622% to 23%Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 20263.0% to 3.5% of net salesKept
Adjusted free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026$80 to $110 millionKept
Adjusted net debt leverage at fiscal year end SourceFiscal year end 20263.3x to 3.4xLowered from 3.3x to 3.5x
Pre-tax restructuring and related charges SourceFiscal 2026approximately $92 millionRaised from approximately $90 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Reported net sales growth range narrowed to 1.3% to 1.8%, with the top end lowered from 3.8%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Organic net sales growth range narrowed to flat to 0.5%, with the top end lowered from 2.0%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP EPS range top end lowered from $0.40 to $0.20. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected full-year adjusted gross margin increase reduced to about 20 basis points. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected full-year pre-tax charges raised to about $92 million from about $90 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Expected full-year other income raised to about $26 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA midpoints unchanged; ranges narrowed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Organic sales returned to growth: Organic net sales rose 1.1%, with North America's return to growth partly offset by lower international sales. Reported net sales rose 1.7%. Source
  • Currency added to reported sales: Net sales reached $570.1 million, up $9.7 million, including a $3.6 million benefit from currency movements. Source
  • Adjusted EPS flat year on year: Adjusted EPS was $0.72, flat against the prior year, with a $0.04 favorable currency effect included. Source
  • GAAP EPS lower on restructuring: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.26 against $0.46, with restructuring and related costs of $24.5 million pre-tax in the quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Wet Shave net sales slipped: Wet Shave net sales fell $4.2 million, or 1.3%, to $312.8 million; segment profit fell $9.2 million, or 20.9%. Source
  • Wet Shave profit hit by SG&A: Organic Wet Shave segment profit fell 24.7%, which management tied to higher SG&A and marketing expenses. Source
  • Sun and Skin Care sales grew: Sun and Skin Care net sales rose 5.7% to $257.3 million; organic growth came mainly from mid-single digit Sun Care growth in North America. Source
  • Sun and Skin Care profit flat: Segment profit rose 0.4% to $46.2 million including currency; organic segment profit fell 1.6% on higher marketing and SG&A. Source
  • North America returned to growth: North America organic sales rose 3.0%, on volume growth across Sun, Skin Care and Grooming, with added distribution. Source

“We are increasingly confident in the trajectory of the business and the foundation we are building for future growth and value creation.”

Rod Little, Edgewell’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Adjusted gross margin down 30 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 44.5%, against 44.8% a year earlier; productivity gains were offset by core inflation, tariffs and mix. Source
  • A&P spending rose: A&P expense rose $7.2 million to 14.6% of net sales, up from 13.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Reported SG&A rose: Reported SG&A was 19.0% of net sales against 18.0%; adjusted SG&A rose on higher incentive compensation and currency. Source
  • Operating margin lower: GAAP operating income was $25.0 million, or 4.4% of net sales, against $45.0 million, or 8.0%; adjusted operating income was 9.3% of net sales. Source
  • Lower interest expense: Interest expense fell to $16.7 million from $19.4 million after revolver paydown from Feminine Care proceeds; other income was $9.7 million. Source

Demand, customers and promotions

  • Private label sales fell: Private label sales declined on temporary supply constraints in North America and certain international markets. Source
  • Promotions and mix cut margin: Unfavorable mix and promotional levels, net of pricing, reduced adjusted gross margin by 110 basis points in the quarter. Source
  • International sales declined: International organic sales fell 1.4%, mainly from temporary disruption tied to the Middle East conflict. Source

Cash, debt and capital returns

  • Cash and revolver capacity: Cash was $397.1 million at quarter end, with $418.8 million more available under the U.S. revolver; adjusted net debt leverage was 3.7x. Source
  • Operating cash flow up on working capital: Consolidated operating cash flow for nine months was $47.1 million, against $44.3 million, mainly from working capital changes. Source
  • Dividends paid in quarter: Dividends of $7.0 million were paid in the quarter; a $0.15 per share dividend was declared for the third fiscal quarter. Source
  • Buyback capacity remains: About $85 million remained available for share repurchase under the 2025 authorization as of June 30, 2026. Source

Portfolio, priorities and restructuring

  • Priority brands gaining traction: Management said priority brands continue to gain traction and that recent investments are strengthening capabilities and business performance. Source
  • Operating model simplification continues: Actions to strengthen the operating model and improve manufacturing and supply chain efficiency are under way in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Feminine Care excluded from results: Reported results are on continuing operations, excluding the Feminine Care business, which is treated as discontinued operations. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Dividend payment date set: The $0.15 per share dividend is payable October 8, 2026, to holders of record on September 9, 2026. Source
  • Wet Shave consolidation continues: Further consolidation of Wet Shave operations is part of the fiscal 2026 restructuring actions. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Short-term supply chain impacts from the Wet Shave manufacturing consolidation were cited as affecting results in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Legal matters are named among items in the GAAP EPS guidance, alongside restructuring and Sun Care reformulation costs. Source
  • Financial: Higher incentive compensation and unfavorable currency raised adjusted SG&A to 18.4% of net sales from 17.6%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said fiscal 2026 was anticipated as a back-half story and that it remains on track to deliver on that commitment. Source
  • Ahead: Management described adjusted EPS and adjusted EBITDA as ahead of expectations, alongside organic growth and North America improvement. Source
  • Not stated: Management said underlying expectations remain intact, including stronger fourth quarter performance. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said management was committed to executing against four strategic priorities.

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.