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Flowers Foods Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 1.1% on pricing: Net sales rose 1.1% to $1.572 billion. Pricing/mix added 2.1% and volume declined 3.3%, with the acquisition adding further growth. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income fell 20.6% to $42.1 million, or 2.7% of sales. Diluted EPS was $0.20 against $0.25. Management attributed the decline to the consumer environment and higher interest expense. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 1.8%: Adjusted EBITDA decreased 1.8% to $159.0 million, or 10.1% of net sales. Adjusted net income fell 17.4% to $60.9 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.29 against $0.35. Source
  • Other sales fell 3.1%: Other net sales decreased 3.1% to $526.2 million. Management cited inflationary pressure on consumer spending and margin optimization strategies. Source
  • Production cost ratio rose 50 basis points: Materials, supplies, labor and other production costs were 50.6% of net sales. The rise came mostly from more outside product purchases and lower production volumes, partly offset by moderating ingredient costs. Source
  • Category demand remained challenging: Management described softer top-line results driven by ongoing challenging macroeconomic conditions affecting the category. Consolidated volume declined 3.3%. Source
  • Portfolio and supply chain review: Management said the review of the brand portfolio, supply chain and financial strategy, announced last quarter, is well underway and helping clarify how resources are allocated. Source
  • Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed 52-week fiscal 2026 guidance and said the team is focused on managing the areas of the business it can directly influence. Source

“Flowers' first quarter reflects our team’s disciplined cost management, helping us deliver financial performance in-line with expectations”

Ryals McMullian, chairman and CEO of Flowers Foods

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Source52-week fiscal 2026$5.163 billion to $5.267 billionKept
Adjusted EBITDA Source52-week fiscal 2026$465 million to $495 millionKept
Adjusted diluted EPS Source52-week fiscal 2026$0.80 to $0.90Kept
Net income per diluted share Source52-week fiscal 2026$0.71 to $0.81New
Depreciation and amortization Source52-week fiscal 2026$165 million to $170 millionKept
Net interest expense Source52-week fiscal 2026$65 million to $70 millionKept
Effective tax rate Source52-week fiscal 2026approximately 26%Kept
Weighted average diluted share count Source52-week fiscal 2026approximately 213.5 million sharesKept
Capital expenditures Source52-week fiscal 2026$115 million to $125 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Quarterly dividend reset to $0.125 per share, or $0.50 annualized, to allow meaningful debt reduction. Source
  • New: Nature's Own relaunched with simple ingredients and Non-GMO Project Verified certification. Source
  • New guidance: Capital expenditure range of $115 million to $125 million added to the full-year assumptions. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year net income per diluted share estimate of $0.71 to $0.81 added in the reconciliation. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales rose 1.1% on pricing: Net sales rose 1.1% to $1.572 billion. Pricing/mix added 2.1% and volume declined 3.3%, with the acquisition adding further growth. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income fell 20.6% to $42.1 million, or 2.7% of sales. Diluted EPS was $0.20 against $0.25. Management attributed the decline to the consumer environment and higher interest expense. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 1.8%: Adjusted EBITDA decreased 1.8% to $159.0 million, or 10.1% of net sales. Adjusted net income fell 17.4% to $60.9 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $0.29 against $0.35. Source

Segment sales

  • Branded Retail sales rose 3.4%: Branded Retail net sales rose $34.1 million, or 3.4%, to $1.045 billion. Pricing/mix and the acquisition contributed, partly offset by volume declines. Source
  • Other sales fell 3.1%: Other net sales decreased 3.1% to $526.2 million. Management cited inflationary pressure on consumer spending and margin optimization strategies. Source
  • Segment gains netted to $17.3 million: Branded Retail rose $34.1 million and Other fell $16.7 million, a combined net sales change of $17.3 million for the company. Source

“allowing us to prioritize meaningful debt reduction while continuing to invest behind the brands, innovation, and capabilities that we believe will drive sustainable above-category growth over time.”

Ryals McMullian, chairman and CEO of Flowers Foods

Products and customers

  • Nature's Own relaunched with simple ingredients: Management said Nature's Own was relaunched with simple ingredients and Non-GMO Project Verified certification, described as a mainstream category first. Source
  • Simple Mills contributed until cycling: Simple Mills added 3.6% to Branded Retail sales and 2.3% to consolidated net sales until it cycled on February 21, 2026. Source
  • Better-for-you presence cited: Management cited a growing presence in the better-for-you categories and an improving balance sheet as factors behind its confidence in the business. Source

Costs, margins and interest

  • Production cost ratio rose 50 basis points: Materials, supplies, labor and other production costs were 50.6% of net sales. The rise came mostly from more outside product purchases and lower production volumes, partly offset by moderating ingredient costs. Source
  • SD&A rose on workforce and legal: SD&A was 40.9% of net sales, up 10 basis points. Adjusted SD&A was 39.3%, down 20 basis points. Legal settlements and related costs were $14.4 million. Source
  • Interest expense rose on acquisition debt: Net interest expense rose $5.6 million to $19.6 million, from debt issued to fund the Simple Mills acquisition and related fees and expenses. Source
  • Prior-year bakery closure costs lapped: Plant closure costs and impairment fell $7.4 million from the prior year, which included a bakery closure. D&A was $51.8 million, or 3.3% of net sales. Source

“These factors give us confidence we are well positioned to navigate headwinds and drive long-term shareholder value.”

Ryals McMullian, chairman and CEO of Flowers Foods

Demand and volumes

  • Category demand remained challenging: Management described softer top-line results driven by ongoing challenging macroeconomic conditions affecting the category. Consolidated volume declined 3.3%. Source
  • Volume fell more in Branded: Branded Retail volume decreased 4.2%, a larger decline than the 1.9% drop in Other. Branded Retail pricing/mix rose 4.0% over the same period. Source
  • Management expects continued caution: Management said it continues to approach the rest of the year with appropriate caution given the external environment. Source

Cash flow and debt

  • Operating cash flow fell $27.8 million: Operating cash flow fell $27.8 million to $107.9 million. Capital expenditures were $20.6 million, and dividends paid were $54.4 million. Source
  • Net debt repayments of $32.0 million: Net debt repayments were $32.0 million, against net borrowings of $776.6 million a year earlier. Long-term debt including current portion was $1,723.8 million at quarter end. Source
  • Cash balance and stock repurchases: Cash and cash equivalents were $11.5 million at quarter end. Stock repurchases were $3.8 million, against $5.5 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy review and dividend

  • Portfolio and supply chain review: Management said the review of the brand portfolio, supply chain and financial strategy, announced last quarter, is well underway and helping clarify how resources are allocated. Source
  • Dividend reset supports debt reduction: Management said it expects dividends to remain an important component of shareholder value, while the reset allows debt reduction and continued investment in brands and capabilities. Source
  • 95th consecutive quarterly dividend: The declared dividend of $0.1250 per share is the 95th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by the company. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Full-year guidance reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed 52-week fiscal 2026 guidance and said the team is focused on managing the areas of the business it can directly influence. Source
  • Capital expenditure range added: The full-year assumptions now include capital expenditures of approximately $115 million to $125 million, which the prior release did not contain. Source
  • Net income per share estimate added: The full-year reconciliation shows net income per diluted share of $0.71 to $0.81 alongside adjusted diluted EPS of $0.80 to $0.90. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 May 2026

  • Dividend payable June 26, 2026: The $0.1250 quarterly dividend is payable June 26, 2026, to shareholders of record on June 12, 2026. Source
  • Pre-recorded remarks and slides posted: Pre-recorded management remarks and a supporting slide presentation will be posted on the investors page of the company website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume, consolidated Source-3.3%
Volume, Branded Retail Source-4.2%
Volume, Other Source-1.9%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited an ongoing challenging external environment and consumer conditions affecting the category as it approaches the rest of the year. Source
  • Operational: Production cost ratio rose on more outside product purchases and lower production volumes. Source
  • Financial: Higher interest expense followed debt issued to fund the Simple Mills acquisition, and it weighed on net income this quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Legal settlements and related costs of $14.4 million were recorded in SD&A this quarter, adding to SD&A as a percentage of net sales. Source
  • External: Management cited inflationary pressure on consumer spending as a factor in the decline in Other net sales. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management described the review as well underway and helping clarify resource allocation. Source
  • Not stated: Management said first-quarter financial performance was in line with expectations despite softer top-line results. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed 2026 guidance rather than updating it. 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.