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Kraft Heinz Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 3 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 1.4% year over year: Net sales were $6.3 billion, down 1.4%. Currency added 0.5 points and divestitures removed 0.6 points; organic net sales fell 1.3%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income down 18.4%: Adjusted operating income fell to $1.0 billion. Higher advertising and lower volume/mix were the main causes, per management. Source
  • Emerging Markets led growth: Emerging Markets net sales rose 10.4% to $771 million, with organic growth of 8.5% and segment adjusted operating income of $107 million. Source
  • Meats and spoonables volumes declined: Management said volume/mix was primarily driven by declines in meats and spoonables. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 18.8%: Adjusted EPS was $0.56, mainly reflecting lower adjusted operating income, partly offset by lower taxes on adjusted earnings. Source
  • Impairments drove operating loss: The operating loss of $6.4 billion reflected $7.4 billion of non-cash impairment losses. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow up: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $2.1 billion and free cash flow was $1.7 billion. Working capital, mainly payables and improved payment terms, drove the increase. Source

“We delivered another solid quarter, with results that exceeded our expectations across U.S. Retail, Global Away From Home, and Emerging Markets”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic Net Sales Sourcefiscal year 2026down 0.5 percent to down 2.0 percentRaised from down 1.5 percent to down 3.5 percent
Constant Currency Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefiscal year 2026down 16 percent to down 18 percentLowered from down 14 percent to down 18 percent
Adjusted Gross Profit Margin change Sourcefiscal year 2026down 10 basis points to down 50 basis pointsRaised from down 75 basis points to down 25 basis points
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$2.03 to $2.09Raised from $1.98 to $2.10
Effective tax rate on Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 24.5 percentLowered from approximately 25 percent
Interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $890 millionLowered from approximately $920 million
Other expense/(income) Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $200 million of incomeKept
Free Cash Flow Conversion Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 110 percentRaised from approximately 100 percent
Incremental investments Sourcefiscal year 2026, compared with 2025approximately $700 millionRaised from approximately $600 million
Headwind from lapping lower incentive compensation Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 500 basis pointsRaised from approximately 300 basis points

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Organic net sales range raised, from down 1.5% to down 3.5% to down 0.5% to down 2.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Incremental 2026 investment increased by $100 million to about $700 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted gross profit margin range moved to down 10 to down 50 basis points from down 25 to down 75. Source
  • Guidance raised: Free cash flow conversion expected at about 110%, up from about 100%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS range narrowed to $2.03 to $2.09 from $1.98 to $2.10; midpoint up about 2 cents. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Constant currency adjusted operating income range narrowed to down 16% to down 18%, from down 14% to down 18%; top end lower. Source

Second-quarter results and drivers

  • Net sales fell 1.4% year over year: Net sales were $6.3 billion, down 1.4%. Currency added 0.5 points and divestitures removed 0.6 points; organic net sales fell 1.3%. Source
  • Easter timing and inventory pull-forward: Management said a shift in Easter timing cut volume/mix by about 100 basis points, partly offset by roughly 80 basis points from inventory pulled into the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted operating income down 18.4%: Adjusted operating income fell to $1.0 billion. Higher advertising and lower volume/mix were the main causes, per management. Source

Segments and regions

  • Emerging Markets led growth: Emerging Markets net sales rose 10.4% to $771 million, with organic growth of 8.5% and segment adjusted operating income of $107 million. Source
  • North America sales declined: North America net sales fell 2.7% to $4.6 billion, with organic net sales also down 2.7%. Segment adjusted operating income fell to $988 million. Source
  • International Developed Markets sales eased: International Developed Markets net sales fell 3.5% to $865 million, with organic sales down 0.7%. Segment adjusted operating income was $124 million. Source

“Our brands are resonating with consumers, and our share performance is improving.”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Products and categories

  • Meats and spoonables volumes declined: Management said volume/mix was primarily driven by declines in meats and spoonables. Source
  • Coffee and ready-to-drink pricing: Pricing was taken in certain categories to mitigate higher input costs, mainly coffee and ready-to-drink beverages. Source
  • Price rose in every segment: Price added 1.3 points versus the prior year, with increases in each of the three segments. Source

Costs, margins and earnings per share

  • Adjusted gross margin flat at 34.1%: Adjusted gross profit margin was flat at 34.1%, while reported gross profit margin fell 200 basis points to 32.4%. Source
  • Logistics and bonus costs rose: Management cited inflation in manufacturing and logistics costs and higher variable compensation, which outweighed efficiency initiatives and higher price. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 18.8%: Adjusted EPS was $0.56, mainly reflecting lower adjusted operating income, partly offset by lower taxes on adjusted earnings. Source

“I am proud of the progress our team has made.”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Non-cash impairments and reported loss

  • Impairments drove operating loss: The operating loss of $6.4 billion reflected $7.4 billion of non-cash impairment losses. Source
  • Impairments below prior-year level: Impairment losses were $1.9 billion lower than the prior-year quarter, which management cited as the main reason the operating loss improved. Source
  • Diluted EPS loss of $4.60: Diluted EPS was $(4.60) against $(6.60) a year earlier, mainly from the favorable change in operating income. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Operating and free cash flow up: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $2.1 billion and free cash flow was $1.7 billion. Working capital, mainly payables and improved payment terms, drove the increase. Source
  • Free cash flow conversion rose: Year-to-date free cash flow conversion increased to 123% from 96% a year earlier. Source
  • No buybacks, dividends continued: Year-to-date dividends paid were $949 million. No shares were repurchased under the publicly announced program. Source
  • Capital allocation priorities stated: Management said cash flow supports investing in the business, sustaining the dividend, and reducing debt, which it views as a competitive advantage. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Brands respond to investment: Management said its brands respond well when the company invests behind them, and it is accelerating that spending this year. Source
  • Goal of volume-led growth: Management stated its ultimate goal is a return to volume-led, sustainable and profitable growth for the company. Source
  • Investment step-up of $100 million: Management said it is adding $100 million to 2026 incremental investment, building on the quarter's momentum. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 August 2026

  • Positioned for 2027: Management said accelerating these investments positions the business more favorably as it enters 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix, Kraft Heinz Sourcedown 2.6 percentage points
Emerging Markets volume/mix Sourceup 4.0 percentage points

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management cited an incremental SNAP headwind of about 100 basis points in its full-year organic net sales view. Source
  • Operational: Management cited manufacturing and logistics cost inflation as a drag on adjusted operating income this quarter. Source
  • Demand: Volume declines in meats and spoonables weighed on volume/mix this quarter. Source
  • Financial: Non-cash impairment charges produced the reported operating loss this quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the company is ahead of plan on its goal of volume-led, sustainable and profitable growth. 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.