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McCormick & Co. Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 11 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 3%: Net sales rose 3% to $1,850.4 million, with 2% organic growth and 1% from favorable currency. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.86: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.86 in the fourth quarter and $3.00 for fiscal 2025, against $0.80 and $2.95. Reported EPS was $0.84 and $2.93. Source
  • Flavor Solutions profit grew for year: Flavor Solutions operating income, excluding special charges, grew 9% to $359 million for fiscal 2025, or 11% in constant currency, on pricing and lower SG&A. Fourth-quarter operating income rose 7% to $86 million. Source
  • Gross margin fell 130 basis points: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 38.9%, down 130 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 39.0%, down 120 basis points versus the year-ago period. Source
  • Commodities and tariffs drove margin decline: Management attributed the fourth-quarter gross margin decline to higher commodity costs, tariffs and costs to support future capacity. Source
  • Volume and price drive 2026 sales: Management expects net sales growth from sustained volume growth and higher pricing benefits compared with the prior year. Source
  • Flavor leadership advanced by transaction: Management said the McCormick de Mexico transaction advanced flavor leadership, alongside cash flow generation and balance sheet strengthening. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $962 million: Cash flow from operations was $962 million in fiscal 2025, up from $922 million. Capital expenditures including software were $221.8 million, down from $274.9 million. Source

“Despite inflationary pressures and rising costs from a shifting global trade environment, we achieved operating profit growth and operating margin expansion while continuing to invest for future growth.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth, reported Sourcefiscal 202613% to 17%New
Net sales growth, constant currency Sourcefiscal 202612% to 16%New
Contribution from McCormick de Mexico acquisition to net sales growth Sourcefiscal 202611% to 13%New
Organic sales growth Sourcefiscal 20261% to 3%New
Adjusted operating income growth, reported Sourcefiscal 202616% to 20%New
Adjusted operating income growth, constant currency Sourcefiscal 202615% to 19%New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$3.05 to $3.13New
Adjusted diluted EPS growth, reported Sourcefiscal 20262% to 5%New
Adjusted diluted EPS growth, constant currency Sourcefiscal 20261% to 4%New
Tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 24%New
Currency effect on net sales, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 20261% favorable to eachNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Management issued fiscal 2026 guidance for net sales, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS. The previous release gave only fiscal 2025 guidance. Source
  • New: The acquisition of a controlling interest in McCormick de Mexico closed on January 2, 2026. The previous release did not mention this transaction. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter sales rose 3%: Net sales rose 3% to $1,850.4 million, with 2% organic growth and 1% from favorable currency. Source
  • Full-year sales rose 2%: Fiscal 2025 net sales were $6,840.3 million. Organic sales matched reported sales because currency had minimal effect. Source
  • Operating income higher in both periods: Operating income was $311 million in the fourth quarter and $1,071 million for fiscal 2025, versus $306 million and $1,060 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $0.86: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.86 in the fourth quarter and $3.00 for fiscal 2025, against $0.80 and $2.95. Reported EPS was $0.84 and $2.93. Source
  • Special charges reduced reported EPS: Special charges lowered EPS by $0.02 in the fourth quarter and by $0.07 for fiscal 2025, compared with $0.03 in 2024. Source

Segments and regions

  • Consumer sales rose 4% in quarter: Consumer net sales rose 4% to $1,127 million in the fourth quarter, with 3% organic growth including price increases tied to tariff and inflation related pricing actions. Source
  • Flavor Solutions sales rose 2%: Flavor Solutions sales rose 2% to $723 million in the fourth quarter. Organic growth of 1% came from price, partly offset by lower volume and mix. Source
  • Consumer operating income edged up: Consumer operating income, excluding special charges, rose 1% to $231 million in the fourth quarter. For fiscal 2025 it fell 1% to $735 million on commodity costs and tariffs. Source
  • Flavor Solutions profit grew for year: Flavor Solutions operating income, excluding special charges, grew 9% to $359 million for fiscal 2025, or 11% in constant currency, on pricing and lower SG&A. Fourth-quarter operating income rose 7% to $86 million. Source
  • EMEA flavor sales fell: Flavor Solutions EMEA sales fell 1.1% as reported in the fourth quarter, with organic sales down 3.1%. Source

“We achieved differentiated, volume-led organic growth and share gains powered by continued investment in our brands, expanded distribution, and innovation across our portfolio.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell 130 basis points: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 38.9%, down 130 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 39.0%, down 120 basis points versus the year-ago period. Source
  • Commodities and tariffs drove margin decline: Management attributed the fourth-quarter gross margin decline to higher commodity costs, tariffs and costs to support future capacity. Source
  • SG&A declines supported profit: Adjusted operating income rose 3% in the fourth quarter, aided by lower SG&A from employee benefit expense and CCI savings, partly offset by brand and technology investment. Source
  • Full-year gross margin declined: Fiscal 2025 gross margin was 37.9%, down 60 basis points from 38.5%. Adjusted gross margin also contracted by 60 basis points to 37.9%. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance drivers

  • Volume and price drive 2026 sales: Management expects net sales growth from sustained volume growth and higher pricing benefits compared with the prior year. Source
  • SG&A cost headwinds expected: SG&A is expected to face headwinds from digital transformation and rebuilt incentive compensation, plus growth investments, with CCI streamlining expected to help. Source
  • Non-GAAP projections not reconciled: Management said it cannot reconcile projected adjusted operating income or EPS to reported figures, because special charges and transaction and integration expenses cannot be predicted. Source

“As we move into 2026, McCormick is operating from a position of strength, a solid foundation, and a clear focus on sustainable, profitable growth.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

McCormick de Mexico transaction

  • Flavor leadership advanced by transaction: Management said the McCormick de Mexico transaction advanced flavor leadership, alongside cash flow generation and balance sheet strengthening. Source
  • Equity income to change in 2026: Unconsolidated operations expense in 2026 will reflect eliminating the 25% minority interest in McCormick de Mexico net income attributable to Grupo Herdez. Source
  • Remeasurement gain not forecast: Management cannot predict the non-cash gain from remeasuring the previously held equity interest in McCormick de Mexico to fair value, so projected reported EPS is not reconciled. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $962 million: Cash flow from operations was $962 million in fiscal 2025, up from $922 million. Capital expenditures including software were $221.8 million, down from $274.9 million. Source
  • Dividend raised 7% for 40th year: The Board authorized a 7% increase to the quarterly dividend in November, the 40th consecutive year of dividend increases. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks rose: Dividends paid were $483.0 million in fiscal 2025, up from $451.0 million. Common stock purchases were $34.8 million, down from $53.1 million. Source
  • Debt repayments reduced borrowings: Long-term debt repayments were $267.9 million in fiscal 2025, and net short-term borrowings declined by $101.4 million. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 cash returns expected: For fiscal 2026 management expects cash flow driven by profit and working capital initiatives, with a significant portion returned to shareholders as dividends. Source

Earnings below operating income

  • Interest expense declined: Interest expense was $196.2 million in fiscal 2025, down from $209.4 million. Management cited lower interest expense as a driver of higher adjusted EPS. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate rose to 21.5%: The adjusted income tax rate was 21.5% for fiscal 2025 versus 20.5% in 2024, and 23.9% in the fourth quarter versus 25.4%. Source
  • Unconsolidated income declined on currency: Income from unconsolidated operations declined on foreign exchange, partly offset by better McCormick de Mexico operating performance. Source
  • Special charges within operating income: Special charges were $21.1 million in fiscal 2025 and $4.4 million in the fourth quarter, both deducted before operating income. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 January 2026

  • Inventory step-up recognized as sold: The inventory fair-value step-up from the McCormick de Mexico acquisition will be recognized in cost of goods sold as the related inventory is sold. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix, total net sales, fourth quarter Source0.2%
Volume/mix, Consumer, fourth quarter Source1.0%
Volume/mix, Flavor Solutions, fourth quarter Source(0.9)%
Volume/mix, Consumer, fiscal 2025 Source2.1%
Volume/mix, Flavor Solutions, fiscal 2025 Source(0.2)%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited global trade dynamics as creating headwinds, alongside elevated costs for the year. Source
  • Demand: Management cited uncertainty in the consumer and macro environment, including global trade policies, in framing fiscal 2026 guidance. Source
  • Financial: Management said higher net interest expense in 2026 is primarily associated with the McCormick de Mexico transaction. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said its 2026 guidance reflects continued top-line momentum and gross margin recovery. Source
  • Not stated: Management listed the controlling-interest acquisition among the strategic priorities being executed. 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.