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McCormick & Co. Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 1 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose on acquisition and currency: Net sales rose 17.4% to $2,024.8 million. McCormick de Mexico added 14.6 points, currency added 0.9 points, and organic growth was 1.9%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 22%: Adjusted operating income was $358.5 million, up 22.1%. Reported operating income fell 24.8% to $217.0 million, reflecting $141.5 million of special charges. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.86, reported $0.36: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.86 against $0.85 a year earlier. Reported diluted EPS was $0.36 against $0.84, with special charges lowering EPS by $0.50. Source
  • Gross margin up 190 basis points: Gross profit margin reached 39.3%, up 190 basis points, or 180 basis points adjusted. Drivers were McCormick de Mexico, higher sales and CCI cost savings, partly offset by commodity and freight costs. Source
  • Special charges excluded from adjusted results: Special charges of $141.5 million, including transaction and integration costs, were excluded from adjusted operating income, which was $358.5 million. Source
  • Organic growth came from price: Total price added 2.2 points, while volume and mix subtracted 0.3 points. Consumer volume and mix fell 1%; Flavor Solutions volume and mix rose 1%. Source
  • Integration teams mobilized: A dedicated Integration Management Office was set up, and 20 cross-functional teams with more than 200 employees from both companies were mobilized. Source

“Third quarter results demonstrate the resilience and differentiated performance of our flavor-focused business model in a dynamic operating environment.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth (reported) SourceFiscal 202613% to 17%Kept
Net sales growth (constant currency) SourceFiscal 202612% to 16%Kept
Contribution from McCormick de Mexico acquisition SourceFiscal 202611% to 13%Kept
Organic net 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; 2% to 5% growth reported, 1% to 4% constant currencyKept
Adjusted gross margin expansion SourceFiscal 2026 versus 2025100 to 120 basis pointsKept
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026approximately 24.0%Kept
Currency effect on fiscal 2026 results SourceFiscal 2026+1% net sales, +1% adjusted operating income, +1% adjusted EPSKept
Unilever Foods cost synergies SourceAnnual run rate after closeapproximately $600 million, net of growth reinvestments and potential dis-synergiesKept
Unilever Foods incremental synergies SourcePost-closeapproximately $100 millionKept
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 3Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The fiscal 2026 net sales growth, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS ranges were reaffirmed from June. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected total volume moved from sustained growth in June to stable in the current guidance. Source
  • New: The company announced its planned future operating model and leadership team for the combined business. Source
  • Ended: The company decided to cease a development-stage pepper sourcing project in Malaysia, with an impairment of about $43.1 million and exit costs of $1.8 million. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose on acquisition and currency: Net sales rose 17.4% to $2,024.8 million. McCormick de Mexico added 14.6 points, currency added 0.9 points, and organic growth was 1.9%. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 22%: Adjusted operating income was $358.5 million, up 22.1%. Reported operating income fell 24.8% to $217.0 million, reflecting $141.5 million of special charges. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.86, reported $0.36: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.86 against $0.85 a year earlier. Reported diluted EPS was $0.36 against $0.84, with special charges lowering EPS by $0.50. Source
  • Nine-month earnings figures: For the nine months, adjusted diluted EPS was $2.32 against $2.14, and reported diluted EPS was $4.69 against $2.09. Source

Segments and regions

  • Consumer sales lifted by Mexico: Consumer net sales rose 24.9% to $1,215 million, including a 23% contribution from McCormick de Mexico and a 1% favorable currency impact. Source
  • Flavor Solutions sales grew 8%: Flavor Solutions net sales rose 7.7% to $809 million, including a 4% contribution from McCormick de Mexico and a 1% favorable currency impact. Source
  • Consumer profit up on gross profit: Consumer operating income excluding special charges rose 24% to $241 million, on higher gross profit partly offset by brand marketing and technology spending. Source
  • Consumer growth in EMEA and APAC: Consumer reported sales rose 5.2% in EMEA and 10.7% in APAC, with organic growth of 5.0% and 4.4% respectively. Source

“Our advantaged categories combined with our strong year-to-date performance, including solid organic growth, margin expansion, and robust cash flow, give us confidence in our ability to deliver on our 2026 outlook.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin up 190 basis points: Gross profit margin reached 39.3%, up 190 basis points, or 180 basis points adjusted. Drivers were McCormick de Mexico, higher sales and CCI cost savings, partly offset by commodity and freight costs. Source
  • SG&A rose on acquisition and investment: SG&A expense rose to $436.4 million from $352.5 million, with acquisition-related increases and higher brand marketing and technology spending. Source
  • Special charges excluded from adjusted results: Special charges of $141.5 million, including transaction and integration costs, were excluded from adjusted operating income, which was $358.5 million. Source
  • Tax rate and interest expense higher: Adjusted tax rate was 22.6% against 16.1%. Interest expense rose to $68.4 million from $50.2 million, reducing the EPS increase. Source

Demand and macro backdrop

  • Organic growth came from price: Total price added 2.2 points, while volume and mix subtracted 0.3 points. Consumer volume and mix fell 1%; Flavor Solutions volume and mix rose 1%. Source
  • Macro uncertainty kept in guidance: Management said the guidance reflects uncertainty in the consumer and macro environment, including trade policy and the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Tariff refund to be offset: The IEEPA tariff refund, recognized mainly in the second quarter, is expected to be offset by higher inflationary costs and continued growth investment. Source

“We remain confident in the strategic benefits of the proposed combination with Unilever Foods and have made substantial progress on integration planning.”

Brendan M. Foley, Chairman, President, and CEO

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow up for nine months: Operating cash flow was $598.8 million for the nine months, against $420.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition and capital spending: Acquisitions of businesses used $729.9 million of cash, against $34.1 million. Capital expenditures were $131.2 million, against $138.1 million. Source
  • Dividend per share raised: Dividends paid were $387.0 million for the nine months. The quarterly dividend was $0.48 per share, up from $0.45. Source
  • Debt and cash at quarter end: At August 31, short-term borrowings and current debt were $2,112.1 million and long-term debt was $2,906.1 million, with cash of $331.1 million. Source

Unilever Foods combination

  • Integration teams mobilized: A dedicated Integration Management Office was set up, and 20 cross-functional teams with more than 200 employees from both companies were mobilized. Source
  • Day 1 planning pipeline identified: Bottom-up Day 1 planning has produced a set of quantified initiatives, each with defined actions, ownership, timing and resources. Source
  • Transition agreements for continuity: Global transition service agreements support continuity from Day 1 and provide for a phased exit over about two years after close. Source
  • Scale of combined business: The combination is described as creating a flavor-focused company with approximately $20 billion in fiscal 2025 revenue and a 21% operating margin. Source

Leadership, strategy and culture

  • Teams on standalone and integration work: The CEO recognized teams running standalone priorities alongside those serving on the Integration Team. Source
  • Power of People culture credited: The CEO credited employee focus and collaboration with continued performance and said the Power of People culture sustains it. Source
  • Margin funds brand investment: Management said the enhanced margin profile lets the company keep investing in brands, capabilities and innovation to support organic sales growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 1 October 2026

  • Transaction close targeted for mid-2027: The transaction is expected to close by mid-2027, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Source
  • Cash returned mainly as dividends: Management expects strong cash flow in fiscal 2026 and plans to return a significant portion of it to shareholders through dividends. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total organic volume/mix change Source(0.3)%
Consumer volume/mix change Source(1.1)%
Flavor Solutions volume/mix change Source+1%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Input and freight costs were rising, and management cited productivity initiatives as the offset. Source
  • Demand: Consumer volume and product mix declined 1%, offset by price. Source
  • Financial: Higher interest expense and a higher tax rate reduced the adjusted EPS increase. Source
  • External: Management cited uncertainty in the consumer and macro environment, including trade policy and the Middle East conflict. Source
  • Regulatory: Closing depends on customary conditions and regulatory approvals across jurisdictions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said integration planning remains on track, with confidence in the expected benefits. Source
  • On track: Regulatory filings were submitted on schedule across jurisdictions, per management. 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.