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Kraft Heinz Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 lowered, 1 narrowed, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales declined modestly: Organic Net Sales fell 1.1 percent. Price was flat and volume/mix fell 1.1 points. Currency reduced sales by 0.3 points and divestitures by 0.6 points. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell: Adjusted Operating Income declined to $939 million. Reported operating income was $875 million, down 14.6 percent, after impairment losses $37 million higher. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down on lower profit: Adjusted EPS was $0.53 against $0.61. Diluted EPS was $0.46 against $0.52. Lower interest expense and taxes partly offset lower Adjusted Operating Income. Source
  • North America sales and profit fell: North America net sales were $4,485 million, down 3.4 percent, with volume/mix down 2.4 points. Segment Adjusted Operating Income fell 10.5 percent to $911 million. Source
  • Gross margin rose, adjusted fell: Reported gross profit margin rose 60 basis points to 32.5 percent, while Adjusted Gross Profit Margin fell 40 basis points to 31.9 percent. Source
  • Free cash flow and conversion rose: Free Cash Flow was $2.4 billion, down 5.2 percent. Free Cash Flow Conversion rose to 120 percent from 109 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Turnaround plan on track: Management said the 2026 operating plan to turn around the U.S. business and accelerate international growth is on track. Source
  • Low end of sales range raised: Management said it raised the low end of the Organic Net Sales range, reflecting momentum built; the high end remains down 0.5 percent. Source

“Our 2026 operating plan to turn around the U.S. business and accelerate growth internationally is on track”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic Net Sales Sourcefiscal year 2026down 0.5 percent to down 1.25 percentNarrowed, low end up from down 0.5 percent to down 2.0 percent
Constant Currency Adjusted Operating Income Sourcefiscal year 2026down 16 percent to down 18 percentKept
Adjusted Gross Profit Margin Sourcefiscal year 2026at the low end of down 10 basis points to down 50 basis pointsLowered from down 10 basis points to down 50 basis points
Incremental investments Sourcefiscal year 2026 compared to 2025approximately $700 millionKept
Lapping lower incentive compensation Sourcefiscal year 2026approximate 500 basis point headwindKept
SNAP headwind within Organic Net Sales Sourcefiscal year 2026approximate 100 basis point impactKept
Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026$2.07 to $2.13Raised from $2.03 to $2.09
Effective tax rate on Adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 23.5%Lowered from approximately 24.5%
Interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $890 millionKept
Other expense/(income) Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately $210 million of incomeRaised from approximately $200 million of income
Free Cash Flow Conversion Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 110 percentKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Low end of the Organic Net Sales range raised from down 2.0 percent to down 1.25 percent; high end unchanged at down 0.5 percent. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EPS range moved to $2.07 to $2.13 from $2.03 to $2.09. Source
  • Guidance raised: Other income for the full year now about $210 million, from about $200 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted Gross Profit Margin now expected at the low end of the prior range of down 10 to down 50 basis points. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected effective tax rate on Adjusted EPS now about 23.5 percent, from about 24.5 percent. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales declined modestly: Organic Net Sales fell 1.1 percent. Price was flat and volume/mix fell 1.1 points. Currency reduced sales by 0.3 points and divestitures by 0.6 points. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell: Adjusted Operating Income declined to $939 million. Reported operating income was $875 million, down 14.6 percent, after impairment losses $37 million higher. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down on lower profit: Adjusted EPS was $0.53 against $0.61. Diluted EPS was $0.46 against $0.52. Lower interest expense and taxes partly offset lower Adjusted Operating Income. Source
  • Nine-month impairments drove loss: Nine-month goodwill and intangible impairment losses were $7.4 billion, against $9.3 billion a year earlier, producing a nine-month operating loss of $4.4 billion. Source

Segments and regions

  • North America sales and profit fell: North America net sales were $4,485 million, down 3.4 percent, with volume/mix down 2.4 points. Segment Adjusted Operating Income fell 10.5 percent to $911 million. Source
  • Emerging Markets grew strongly: Emerging Markets net sales rose 13.8 percent to $720 million. Price added 7.2 points and volume/mix 8.4 points. Segment Adjusted Operating Income rose 22.5 percent to $81 million. Source
  • Europe and Pacific sales declined: Europe and Pacific Developed Markets net sales fell 5.6 percent to $910 million, with organic sales down 1.3 percent. Segment Adjusted Operating Income fell to $96 million. Source

“Relative to last year, our market share, sales, and volume trends are improving in every region.”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Volume, price and demand

  • Price flat, volume lower: Positive price in Emerging Markets offset negative price in North America and Europe and Pacific Developed Markets, leaving company price flat for the quarter. Source
  • Inventory pull forward affected quarter: Volume/mix carried an approximate 80 basis point headwind from inventory pulled forward into the second quarter. Source
  • Share and volume trends improving: Management said market share, sales and volume trends are improving in every region relative to last year. Source

Costs, margins and investment

  • Gross margin rose, adjusted fell: Reported gross profit margin rose 60 basis points to 32.5 percent, while Adjusted Gross Profit Margin fell 40 basis points to 31.9 percent. Source
  • Procurement and logistics inflation weighed: Management attributed the Adjusted Operating Income decline mainly to procurement and logistics inflation, higher variable compensation, lower volume/mix and advertising, partly offset by efficiency initiatives. Source
  • Impairments higher in the quarter: Non-cash impairment losses were higher in the current quarter than a year earlier, which contributed to the decline in reported operating income. Source
  • Investment step-up continues: Management said incremental investments in 2026 are about $700 million compared with 2025, and advertising expense increased in the quarter. Source

“As we approach the end of the year, we are raising the low end of our Organic Net Sales outlook, reflecting the momentum we have built.”

Steve Cahillane, CEO of Kraft Heinz

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell 4.1 percent: Year-to-date operating cash flow was $3.0 billion. Lower Adjusted Operating Income was partly offset by favorable working capital, mainly accounts payable. Source
  • Free cash flow and conversion rose: Free Cash Flow was $2.4 billion, down 5.2 percent. Free Cash Flow Conversion rose to 120 percent from 109 percent a year earlier. Source
  • No share repurchases in quarter: Year-to-date dividends paid were $1.4 billion. The company did not repurchase any shares under its share repurchase program. Source
  • Capital allocation priorities stated: Management said capital is allocated across investing in the business, sustaining the dividend and reducing debt, and that this flexibility is a competitive advantage. Source
  • Debt repayments exceeded new borrowing: Year-to-date long-term debt repayments were $3,982 million, against $1,152 million of new debt issued. Source

Strategy and brand investment

  • Turnaround plan on track: Management said the 2026 operating plan to turn around the U.S. business and accelerate international growth is on track. Source
  • Meeting consumers where they are: Management said it is meeting consumers where they are and giving them more reasons to choose its brands. Source
  • Earlier view on brand investment: In the prior quarter, management said its brands responded well to investment and that accelerated spending positions the business for 2027.

Full-year guidance update

  • Low end of sales range raised: Management said it raised the low end of the Organic Net Sales range, reflecting momentum built; the high end remains down 0.5 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range moved higher: Adjusted EPS guidance moved up $0.04 at both ends, to $2.07 to $2.13 from $2.03 to $2.09. Source
  • Constant currency profit range held: The constant currency Adjusted Operating Income range of down 16 to down 18 percent was not changed from the prior quarter. Source

Balance sheet and impairments

  • Goodwill and intangibles reduced: Goodwill fell to $19.6 billion and intangible assets to $32.3 billion, from $22.2 billion and $37.5 billion at December 27, 2025, after impairments. Source
  • Debt and deferred taxes lower: Long-term debt was $17.1 billion, from $19.3 billion at December 27, 2025. Deferred income taxes were $7.8 billion, from $9.0 billion. Source
  • Current assets and PP&E: Total current assets were $8.7 billion, from $10.1 billion, and property, plant and equipment was $7.2 billion, from $7.3 billion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 November 2026

  • Continued investment in brands and people: Management said the balance sheet gives it flexibility to keep investing in brands and people. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix, total company (year-over-year change) Source(1.1) percentage points
Emerging Markets volume/mix (year-over-year change) Source8.4 percentage points
North America volume/mix (year-over-year change) Source(2.4) percentage points

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Incremental SNAP headwinds are included in the Organic Net Sales range, at about 100 basis points. Source
  • External: Input cost inflation in procurement and logistics weighed on Adjusted Operating Income this quarter. Source
  • Demand: Volume/mix declines in North America were concentrated in several categories this quarter. Source
  • Financial: Higher cash outflows for inventory and input costs offset part of the working capital benefit from payables. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management described the 2026 operating plan as on track. Source
  • Not stated: The approximately $700 million investment figure was carried forward from the prior quarter's guidance without a status. Source
  • Not stated: Adjusted Gross Profit Margin is now expected at the low end of the range given earlier; no status beyond that is stated. 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.