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Kraft Heinz Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 2.3 percent: Net sales were $6.2 billion, down 2.3 percent, with a 0.2 point favorable currency effect. Organic net sales decreased 2.5 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 18.7 percent: Adjusted EPS was $0.61 against $0.75. Management cited lower adjusted operating income, higher taxes on adjusted earnings tied to December 2024 entity changes, and higher interest expense, partly offset by fewer shares. Source
  • Gross margin down 230 basis points: Gross profit margin was 31.9 percent, down 230 basis points. Adjusted gross profit margin was 32.3 percent, down 200 basis points. Source
  • Commodity and manufacturing costs outpaced savings: Management said commodity and manufacturing cost inflation outpaced efficiency initiatives, alongside unfavorable volume/mix and higher selling costs. Source
  • Free cash flow up 23.3 percent: Free cash flow was $2.5 billion, with conversion at 109 percent, up 34 points. Lower capital expenditures added to the increase. Source
  • Board approved two-company separation: The Board approved separating the company into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off, announced September 2, 2025. Source

“While the operating environment remains challenging, we’re seeing improvement driven in part by targeted investments we’re making to deliver superior and affordable products to our consumers.”

Carlos Abrams-Rivera, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic Net Sales Sourcefiscal year 2025down 3.0 to down 3.5 percentLowered from down 1.5 to down 3.5 percent
Constant Currency Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefiscal year 2025down 10 to down 12 percentLowered from down 5 to down 10 percent
Adjusted Gross Profit Margin Sourcefiscal year 2025down approximately 100 basis pointsLowered from lower end of down 25 to down 75 basis points
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2025$2.50 to $2.57Lowered from $2.51 to $2.67
Effective tax rate on Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2025approximately 26 percentKept
Interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2025approximately $950 millionLowered from approximately $960 million
Other expense/(income) Sourcefiscal year 2025approximately ($250) millionRaised from approximately ($230) million
Free Cash Flow Conversion Sourcefiscal year 2025at least 100 percentRaised from at least 95 percent
Net Leverage Sourcethrough the planned separationnear 3.0x

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Organic net sales expectation changed from down 1.5 to 3.5 percent to down 3.0 to 3.5 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Constant currency adjusted operating income expectation changed from down 5 to 10 percent to down 10 to 12 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted gross profit margin now expected down about 100 basis points, against the lower end of down 25 to 75 basis points previously. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS expectation changed from $2.51 to $2.67 to $2.50 to $2.57. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow expectation changed from flat to an increase versus the prior year. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow conversion expectation raised from at least 95 percent to at least 100 percent. Source
  • Guidance kept: Effective tax rate on adjusted EPS continues at about 26 percent. Source
  • New: Board approved a plan to separate the company into two public companies through a tax-free spin-off, announced September 2, 2025. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Net sales fell 2.3 percent: Net sales were $6.2 billion, down 2.3 percent, with a 0.2 point favorable currency effect. Organic net sales decreased 2.5 percent. Source
  • Price up, volume/mix down: Price added 1.0 point to organic net sales. Volume/mix subtracted 3.5 points, mainly in North America and International Developed Markets, partly offset by Emerging Markets growth. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 18.7 percent: Adjusted EPS was $0.61 against $0.75. Management cited lower adjusted operating income, higher taxes on adjusted earnings tied to December 2024 entity changes, and higher interest expense, partly offset by fewer shares. Source
  • Reported EPS rose on prior impairments: Diluted EPS was $0.52 against $(0.24) a year earlier, when the prior-year quarter carried non-cash impairment losses of $1.4 billion. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales fell 3.8 percent: North America net sales were $4,641 million against $4,826 million. Price added 0.4 points and volume/mix subtracted 4.2 points. Source
  • International developed markets grew 1.6 percent: International Developed Markets net sales were $895 million against $882 million. Price added 1.0 point and volume/mix subtracted 2.4 points. Source
  • Emerging markets sales rose 3.8 percent: Emerging Markets net sales were $701 million against $675 million. Price added 4.0 points and volume/mix added 0.7 points. Source

“Looking ahead, we are on track to separate into two companies in the second half of 2026.”

Carlos Abrams-Rivera, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Products, volume and marketing investment

  • Coffee drove price increases: Pricing rose in certain categories to offset higher input costs, mainly coffee. Source
  • Volume fell in several categories: Volume and mix declined in coffee, cold cuts, frozen snacks, certain condiments and Indonesia. Source
  • Targeted marketing and R&D investment: Management is investing in marketing and R&D to strengthen the portfolio, guided by its Brand Growth System, through product enhancements, consumer communication and execution. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin down 230 basis points: Gross profit margin was 31.9 percent, down 230 basis points. Adjusted gross profit margin was 32.3 percent, down 200 basis points. Source
  • Commodity and manufacturing costs outpaced savings: Management said commodity and manufacturing cost inflation outpaced efficiency initiatives, alongside unfavorable volume/mix and higher selling costs. Source
  • Selling costs rose on advertising: Selling, general and administrative expenses excluding impairments were $930 million against $859 million, mainly from increased advertising. Source
  • Adjusted operating income down 16.9 percent: Adjusted operating income was $1,106 million against $1,330 million. Higher pricing and a 0.1 point favorable currency effect partly offset the decline. Source

“As we navigate this transition, we remain focused on driving performance within our current business, and ultimately positioning both companies for long-term success.”

Carlos Abrams-Rivera, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow up 10.4 percent: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $3.1 billion. Working capital gains in inventory and payables and lower variable compensation outflows drove the increase. Source
  • Free cash flow up 23.3 percent: Free cash flow was $2.5 billion, with conversion at 109 percent, up 34 points. Lower capital expenditures added to the increase. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks year to date: Year to date, dividends paid were $1.4 billion and repurchases were $435 million. About $1.5 billion of buyback authorization remains. Source

Separation and strategic direction

  • Board approved two-company separation: The Board approved separating the company into two publicly traded companies through a tax-free spin-off, announced September 2, 2025. Source
  • Brands assigned to each company: Global Taste Elevation Co. would hold Heinz, Philadelphia and Kraft Mac & Cheese. North American Grocery Co. would hold Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles and Lunchables. Names are to be set later. Source
  • Closing conditions still to satisfy: Closing follows customary conditions, including final Board approval, a tax opinion on the tax-free nature of the separation, and effective SEC filings. Source
  • Separation aimed at focus: Management said the separation is designed to reduce complexity and let each company deploy resources toward its own strategic priorities. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2025

  • Separation expected to close: Management expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2026. Source
  • Debt paydown before completion: Management will actively consider using excess cash to pay down debt before the separation completes. Source
  • Names of new companies to come: The two resulting companies will be named at a later date. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management expects slower Emerging Markets growth from continued Indonesia declines and pressure in U.S. Retail. Source
  • Operational: Management cited commodity and manufacturing cost inflation running ahead of efficiency gains. Source
  • Regulatory: Management said several countries enacting global minimum tax regulations raise the effective tax rate. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense is expected at about $950 million for the full year, with no cause stated. Source
  • External: Management described the operating environment as challenging. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management says the separation remains on track for the second half of 2026. Source
  • Not stated: Management says it is maintaining its target Net Leverage ratio while returning capital. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the adjusted EPS effective tax rate near 26 percent, as previously guided. 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.