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McCormick & Co. Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 June 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new, 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 16.7% on acquisition: Reported net sales were $1,936.6 million, up 16.7%. The acquisition added 12.3%, currency 2.7% and organic growth 1.7%. Constant currency growth was 14.0%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 30%: Adjusted operating income was $336.4 million, up 30.1% from $258.6 million. Adjusted operating margin was 17.4%, up 180 basis points. Reported operating income was $276.4 million. Source
  • Flavor Solutions organic sales up 3%: Flavor Solutions net sales were $794 million, up 9%, with organic growth of 3%, driven nearly equally by price and volume/mix. Source
  • Gross margin up 270 basis points: Gross profit margin was 40.2%, up 270 basis points. Underlying expansion, excluding the tariff refund, was 130 basis points for the quarter. Source
  • Organic growth mostly from price: Organic growth of 1.7% came from price, up 2.2%, with volume and mix down 0.5% in total. Organic sales growth was driven by price. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 guidance reaffirmed: Sales growth, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 was reaffirmed, unchanged from the March release. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin expansion 100-120 bps: Adjusted gross margin is now expected to expand 100 to 120 basis points from 2025, with the tariff refund benefit offset by inflation and growth investment. Source
  • Cost synergies of $600 million: The combined company expects about $600 million of annual run-rate cost synergies net of growth reinvestment, plus $100 million of incremental synergies reinvested for growth. Source

“Second quarter results demonstrate the continued strength and resilience of our business in a dynamic operating environment.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth Sourcefiscal 202613% to 17% reported; 12% to 16% constant currencyKept
Acquisition contribution to net sales growth Sourcefiscal 202611% to 13%Kept
Organic sales growth Sourcefiscal 20261% to 3%Kept
Adjusted operating income growth Sourcefiscal 202616% to 20% reported; 15% to 19% constant currencyKept
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$3.05 to $3.13; growth 2% to 5% reported, 1% to 4% constant currencyKept
Adjusted gross margin expansion Sourcefiscal 2026 versus 2025100 to 120 basis pointsNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 24.0%Kept
Currency impact Sourcefiscal 2026net sales +1%; adjusted operating income +1%; adjusted EPS +1%Kept
Unilever Foods run-rate cost synergies Sourceannual run rate after the combinationapproximately $600 million, net of growth reinvestments; plus $100 million incremental cost and revenue synergies reinvestedNew
Unilever Foods adjusted EPS accretion Sourcefirst twelve months post-close; Year 3mid- to high-single-digit in first twelve months; mid- to high-teens in Year 3New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 sales growth, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS guidance was reaffirmed, as in the March release. Source
  • New guidance: A numeric adjusted gross margin expansion range of 100 to 120 basis points from 2025 is now given; the March release gave only qualitative direction. Source
  • New: The IEEPA tariff refund cut cost of goods sold by $28 million and added about 140 basis points to gross margin expansion in the quarter. Source
  • New: Guidance now says the tariff refund benefit will be offset by higher inflationary costs, including Middle East conflict costs, and by continued growth investment. Source
  • New: An agreement to combine McCormick with Unilever Foods was announced in March 2026; the March 31 release did not mention it. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 16.7% on acquisition: Reported net sales were $1,936.6 million, up 16.7%. The acquisition added 12.3%, currency 2.7% and organic growth 1.7%. Constant currency growth was 14.0%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 30%: Adjusted operating income was $336.4 million, up 30.1% from $258.6 million. Adjusted operating margin was 17.4%, up 180 basis points. Reported operating income was $276.4 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS down; adjusted EPS up: Diluted EPS was $0.56, down 13.8%. Special charges lowered it by $0.24. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.80, up 15.9%, with higher adjusted operating income and a lower adjusted tax rate. Source
  • Six-month EPS included remeasurement gain: Six-month diluted EPS was $4.33, including a $3.22 per-share gain on remeasuring the previously held McCormick de Mexico stake. Six-month adjusted EPS was $1.46 versus $1.29. Source

Segments and regions

  • Flavor Solutions organic sales up 3%: Flavor Solutions net sales were $794 million, up 9%, with organic growth of 3%, driven nearly equally by price and volume/mix. Source
  • Consumer sales lifted by Mexico: Consumer net sales were $1,143 million, up 23%, including a 20% contribution from McCormick de Mexico and a 2% favorable currency effect. Organic sales rose 1%. Source
  • Consumer operating income up 33%: Consumer operating income excluding special charges was $217 million, up 33%, or 31% in constant currency, driven by higher gross profit, partly offset by brand marketing and technology spending. Source
  • Flavor Solutions operating income up 26%: Flavor Solutions operating income excluding special charges was $120 million, up 26%, or 22% in constant currency, driven by higher gross profit, partly offset by technology investment. Source

“We also effectively managed elevated inflation and incremental costs related to the Middle East conflict through productivity initiatives and cost savings programs, resulting in underlying margin improvement for the quarter.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin up 270 basis points: Gross profit margin was 40.2%, up 270 basis points. Underlying expansion, excluding the tariff refund, was 130 basis points for the quarter. Source
  • Cost savings and pricing supported margin: Pricing and cost savings led by the CCI program supported gross margin, alongside the McCormick de Mexico contribution, partly offset by higher commodity costs and Middle East conflict costs. Source
  • SG&A rose on investment and acquisition: SG&A rose on acquisition-related increases, brand marketing and technology investment, partly offset by CCI streamlining. Constant currency adjusted operating income rose 27%. Source

Demand and volumes

  • Organic growth mostly from price: Organic growth of 1.7% came from price, up 2.2%, with volume and mix down 0.5% in total. Organic sales growth was driven by price. Source
  • Flavor Solutions led organic growth: Management said organic growth was led by Flavor Solutions, with gains across Flavors and Branded Foodservice customers. Source
  • Reinvestment planned for Consumer volumes: Management expects to sustain Flavor Solutions momentum and increase reinvestment to improve Consumer volume trends and organic sales in the rest of the year. Source

“Our fundamentals remain strong, supported by our advantaged categories and disciplined execution, giving us confidence in our ability to deliver on our 2026 outlook.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Fiscal 2026 guidance reaffirmed: Sales growth, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 was reaffirmed, unchanged from the March release. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin expansion 100-120 bps: Adjusted gross margin is now expected to expand 100 to 120 basis points from 2025, with the tariff refund benefit offset by inflation and growth investment. Source
  • Tax rate and interest expense higher: The fiscal 2026 tax rate is expected at about 24.0% versus 21.5% in 2025. Net interest expense is higher, mainly from the McCormick de Mexico transaction. Source
  • Currency expected to add 1%: Foreign currency is expected to favorably affect net sales, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS by 1% each in fiscal 2026. Source

Unilever Foods combination

  • Cost synergies of $600 million: The combined company expects about $600 million of annual run-rate cost synergies net of growth reinvestment, plus $100 million of incremental synergies reinvested for growth. Source
  • Accretion expected in first twelve months: Adjusted EPS accretion is expected at mid- to high-single-digit within twelve months after close, rising to mid- to high-teens in Year 3. Source
  • Accretion to growth, margin and EPS: Management said the transaction is expected to be accretive to net sales growth rate, operating margin and adjusted EPS. Source
  • Integration planning underway: Integration planning, led by experienced personnel from both companies, is under way to deliver the expected synergies. Source

Cash flow and capital

  • Operating cash flow rose in six months: Six-month operating cash flow was $430.7 million, against $161.4 million a year earlier. Management expects fiscal 2026 cash flow from profit and working capital initiatives. Source
  • Acquisition spending and borrowings rose: Six-month spending on acquisitions was $729.9 million. Short-term borrowings rose by a net $945.2 million, and long-term debt borrowings were $497.7 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend up to $0.48: Dividends paid per share were $0.48 in the quarter, against $0.45 a year earlier. Six-month dividends paid totaled $257.9 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 June 2026

  • Secondary listing location due: The company expects to announce the location of a secondary listing on a European exchange by the end of July 2026. Source
  • Synergy and operating detail by September: By the end of September 2026, the company expects to share further detail on the operating model, cost and growth synergies, and the scope of the Transition Services Agreement. Source
  • Separation reporting update to come: The company will provide an update on two parallel workstreams to support separation of financial reports and regulatory filings. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total organic volume/mix Source(0.5)%
Consumer volume/mix Source(1.9)%
Flavor Solutions volume/mix Source1.4%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Higher commodity costs and Middle East conflict costs were cited as offsets to gross margin gains in the quarter. Source
  • External: Management cited uncertainty in the consumer and macro environment, including global trade policies and the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Financial: Net interest expense is higher, mainly associated with the McCormick de Mexico transaction. Source
  • Demand: Consumer volume and product mix declined 2%, and management said extra reinvestment is planned to improve Consumer volume trends. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: In March, management said it anticipated sequential improvement. Total volume/mix was (0.5)% in the quarter versus (0.7)% in the first quarter; status is not stated.
  • Not stated: Management said integration planning is making strong progress and that it remains confident in the expected benefits of the Unilever Foods combination. 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.