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Kraft Heinz Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year net sales declined 3.5 percent: Full-year net sales were $24.9 billion, down 3.5 percent, with an unfavorable 0.1 point currency effect; organic net sales fell 3.4 percent. Source
  • Impairments produced full-year operating loss: The full-year operating loss of $4.7 billion reflects $9.3 billion of non-cash impairment losses, $5.6 billion more than the prior year. Source
  • Adjusted operating income down 11.5 percent: Full-year adjusted operating income was $4.7 billion, down 11.5 percent. Adjusted EPS was $2.60, down 15.0 percent, as lower operating income, higher taxes and higher interest more than offset fewer shares. Source
  • Cost inflation outpaced efficiency gains: Commodity and manufacturing costs rose faster than efficiency initiatives; lower volume/mix, higher advertising, higher R&D and unfavorable currency were also cited for the full year. Source
  • Free cash flow rose 15.9 percent: Operating cash flow was $4.5 billion, up 6.6 percent, and free cash flow was $3.7 billion, up 15.9 percent, helped by lower capital expenditures. Source
  • Separation work paused for now: Work on the separation into two companies is paused, and the company says it will no longer incur related dis-synergies this year. Source

“Thanks to disciplined financial stewardship, our balance sheet is strong and our Free Cash Flow capabilities, robust - positioning us well to fund these investments and execute on the plan, while still generating excess cash.”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic Net Sales Sourcefiscal year 2026down 1.5% to down 3.5%New
Constant Currency Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefiscal year 2026down 14% to down 18%New
Incremental investment Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $600 millionNew
Adjusted Gross Profit Margin Sourcefiscal year 2026down 25 to down 75 basis pointsNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$1.98 to $2.10New
Effective tax rate on Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 25.5%New
Interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $940 millionNew
Other expense/(income) Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $200 million of incomeNew
Free Cash Flow Conversion Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 100%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First fiscal 2026 guidance given, covering organic sales, constant currency operating income, margin, EPS, tax, interest and cash conversion. Source
  • New: New $600 million investment program across marketing, sales, R&D, product superiority and select pricing. Source
  • Ended: The separation into two companies, which the prior release said was on track for the second half of 2026, is paused. Source
  • New: Steve Cahillane is named CEO; the prior release named Carlos Abrams-Rivera as CEO. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year net sales declined 3.5 percent: Full-year net sales were $24.9 billion, down 3.5 percent, with an unfavorable 0.1 point currency effect; organic net sales fell 3.4 percent. Source
  • Impairments produced full-year operating loss: The full-year operating loss of $4.7 billion reflects $9.3 billion of non-cash impairment losses, $5.6 billion more than the prior year. Source
  • Adjusted operating income down 11.5 percent: Full-year adjusted operating income was $4.7 billion, down 11.5 percent. Adjusted EPS was $2.60, down 15.0 percent, as lower operating income, higher taxes and higher interest more than offset fewer shares. Source
  • Fourth-quarter operating income turned positive: Fourth-quarter operating income was $1.1 billion, against a $40 million loss a year earlier. Fourth-quarter adjusted operating income was $1.2 billion, down 15.9 percent. Source
  • Fourth-quarter diluted EPS fell on prior tax benefit: Fourth-quarter diluted EPS was $0.55, down 68.8 percent, against a prior-year quarter that included a $3.0 billion non-U.S. deferred tax asset. Adjusted EPS was $0.67, down 20.2 percent. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales fell in fourth quarter: North America net sales were $4.7 billion in the fourth quarter, down 5.4 percent, with flat price; full-year sales were $18.6 billion, down 4.9 percent. Source
  • North America profit fell: North America adjusted operating income was $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter, down 16.8 percent, and $4.4 billion for the year, down 14.1 percent. Source
  • International Developed Markets profit rose: International Developed Markets net sales rose 1.8 percent to $930 million in the fourth quarter, with organic sales down 2.4 percent; segment adjusted operating income rose 6.6 percent to $150 million. Source
  • Emerging Markets sales grew on price: Emerging Markets net sales rose 1.8 percent for the year, with organic growth of 4.6 percent; fourth-quarter adjusted operating income fell 28.8 percent to $63 million. Source

“We are confident that our decision to pause the work related to the separation and fully focusing our resources in service of growth is the right move at this time.”

John T. Cahill, Chair of Kraft Heinz’s Board

Products and categories

  • Fourth-quarter price rose on certain categories: Fourth-quarter price rose 0.5 points, driven by International Developed Markets and Emerging Markets, with pricing in certain categories to mitigate input costs. Source
  • Full-year price increases led by coffee: Full-year price rose 0.7 points, with pricing taken in certain categories to offset higher input costs, primarily in coffee. Source
  • Taste Elevation momentum cited: Management said it already sees momentum in its Taste Elevation portfolio and aims to build on it and drive recovery in the U.S. business. Source
  • Fourth-quarter volume declines by category: Fourth-quarter volume/mix declines were led by coffee, cold cuts, Indonesia, bacon and Ore-Ida. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Fourth-quarter adjusted gross margin fell 130 basis points: Fourth-quarter adjusted gross profit margin was 33.1 percent, down 130 basis points; full-year adjusted gross margin was 33.5 percent, down 120 basis points. Source
  • Cost inflation outpaced efficiency gains: Commodity and manufacturing costs rose faster than efficiency initiatives; lower volume/mix, higher advertising, higher R&D and unfavorable currency were also cited for the full year. Source
  • Pricing and lower corporate costs offset: Higher pricing and lower general corporate expenses were outweighed by the unfavorable impacts; general corporate expenses were $528 million, down from $609 million. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow rose 15.9 percent: Operating cash flow was $4.5 billion, up 6.6 percent, and free cash flow was $3.7 billion, up 15.9 percent, helped by lower capital expenditures. Source
  • Inventory reduction drove operating cash gains: Operating cash gains came mainly from inventory and working capital, with lower income taxes paid, smaller variable compensation outflows, and conversion of certain U.S. postretirement plan assets to cash. Source
  • Capital returns totaled $2.3 billion: The company paid $1.9 billion in cash dividends and repurchased $436 million of stock, about $400 million under the public program; about $1.5 billion of authorization remains. Source
  • Free cash flow conversion reached 119 percent: Free cash flow conversion was 119 percent for the year, against 85 percent a year earlier. Source

Balance sheet and impairments

  • Goodwill and intangibles written down: Goodwill impairment losses were $6.7 billion and intangible asset impairment losses $2.6 billion for the year; goodwill fell to $22.2 billion from $28.7 billion. Source
  • Total assets and equity declined: Total assets were $81.8 billion against $88.3 billion a year earlier; total equity was $41.8 billion against $49.3 billion. Source
  • Cash rose while debt grew: Cash and cash equivalents were $2.6 billion against $1.3 billion, plus $1.1 billion of marketable securities; current and long-term debt totaled $21.2 billion. Source

Strategy, separation and leadership

  • Full focus on the operating plan: Management said returning the business to profitable growth requires all resources focused on executing the operating plan. Source
  • Separation work paused for now: Work on the separation into two companies is paused, and the company says it will no longer incur related dis-synergies this year. Source
  • New chief executive brought fresh view: Board chair said Steve Cahillane brought a consumer-first view from day one; the prior release named Carlos Abrams-Rivera as CEO. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • 2026 investment in operating income: The 2026 guidance includes the $600 million of incremental investment within constant currency adjusted operating income. Source
  • Road ahead after separation pause: The board chair says the company remains excited about the road ahead following the pause in separation work. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix, fourth quarter Source-4.7 percentage points

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Incremental SNAP headwinds are expected to reduce organic net sales by about 100 basis points in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Demand: Volume/mix declines over the year were concentrated in cold cuts, coffee, frozen meals and snacks, certain condiments, bacon, spoonables and Indonesia. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release said the separation was on track; this release says work on it is paused and does not restate the close timing.

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.