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Marzetti Co.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales down, ex-TSA up: Reported fourth-quarter net sales fell 2.2% to $465.0 million; excluding prior-year non-core TSA sales of $12.2 million, they rose 0.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 9.0%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 9.0% to $1.46 from $1.34, driven by higher gross profit. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.76 versus $1.18. Source
  • Retail sales rose with Bachan’s: Retail net sales rose 0.9% to $243.6 million, including $15.4 million from Bachan’s, which added 640 basis points to segment growth. Segment pounds shipped fell 1.7%. Source
  • Gross margin rose 220 basis points: Reported gross margin rose 220 basis points to 24.5%, with gross profit of $114.0 million from cost savings programs. Adjusted gross margin rose about 160 basis points. Source
  • Operating cash flow reached $283.8M: Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow rose $22.3 million to $283.8 million. Source
  • Bachan’s acquisition closed May 1: Bachan’s, a Japanese barbecue sauce brand, closed on May 1, 2026, and is consolidated from that date. Source
  • Moderate input inflation expected: Management anticipates a moderate level of input-cost inflation in fiscal 2027, planned to be offset by inflationary pricing and cost savings. Source

“We were pleased to report record gross profit and strong gross margin improvement in our fiscal fourth quarter.”

David A. Ciesinski, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Input costs Sourcefiscal 2027moderate level of inflationNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 directional commentary given for Retail, Foodservice, input costs and external factors. No numeric targets stated. Source
  • New: Milpitas property sale produced an $18.5 million gain, reported in the Restructuring, Impairment and Other line. Source
  • New: A $200 million term loan financed part of the Bachan’s purchase price, creating interest expense. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter sales down, ex-TSA up: Reported fourth-quarter net sales fell 2.2% to $465.0 million; excluding prior-year non-core TSA sales of $12.2 million, they rose 0.4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 9.0%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 9.0% to $1.46 from $1.34, driven by higher gross profit. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.76 versus $1.18. Source
  • Operating income rose to $57.7M: Consolidated operating income rose $18.8 million to $57.7 million, helped by higher gross profit and the Milpitas property gain, partly offset by higher SG&A. Source
  • Full-year net sales up 1.1%: Fiscal 2026 net sales rose 1.1% to $1.93 billion. GAAP diluted EPS was $6.98; adjusted diluted EPS was $6.83, against $6.72 last year. Source

Segments and regions

  • Retail sales rose with Bachan’s: Retail net sales rose 0.9% to $243.6 million, including $15.4 million from Bachan’s, which added 640 basis points to segment growth. Segment pounds shipped fell 1.7%. Source
  • Foodservice reported sales fell 5.3%: Foodservice net sales fell 5.3% to $221.4 million reported, or 0.1% excluding TSA sales. Pounds shipped fell 4.1%. Source
  • Segment operating income increased: Retail operating income was $43.2 million versus $40.9 million. Foodservice operating income was $32.4 million versus $28.8 million. Source

“With respect to our input costs, in aggregate we anticipate a moderate level of inflation in fiscal 2027 that we plan to offset through inflationary pricing and our cost savings programs as we remain focused on continued margin improvement.”

David A. Ciesinski, CEO

Products and customers

  • Bachan’s scanner sales grew: Circana data for the quarter showed Bachan’s sales up 8.7% and total distribution points up 16.6%, as the brand grows share in barbecue sauce. Source
  • Texas Roadhouse rolls grew: Circana data showed Texas Roadhouse rolls sales up 28.1% for the quarter and 76.3% for the fiscal year. Source
  • Chick-fil-A and club channel lapped: Retail growth was held back by lapping last year’s club channel pipeline fill for Chick-fil-A sauces and by lower club channel sales of Sister Schubert’s dinner rolls. Source
  • Chain restaurant accounts mixed: Gains at leading national chain accounts were offset by reduced sales to other chains and lower sales of branded Foodservice products. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose 220 basis points: Reported gross margin rose 220 basis points to 24.5%, with gross profit of $114.0 million from cost savings programs. Adjusted gross margin rose about 160 basis points. Source
  • SG&A rose on acquisition costs: SG&A rose $12.3 million to $74.3 million, including $10.5 million more acquisition-related costs. Core SG&A was nearly flat. Source
  • Prior-year Milpitas charges noted: The prior-year quarter included $5.1 million of restructuring and impairment charges, of which $4.5 million related to the Milpitas plant closure. Source
  • Non-GAAP items moved EPS: Acquisition-related SG&A reduced GAAP EPS by $0.31. Restructuring and other items increased it by $0.66, mostly from the Milpitas property gain. Source

“Texas Roadhouse rolls remain a strong performer in our portfolio, with Circana retail scanner data showing that sales were up 28.1% for the quarter and 76.3% for the fiscal year.”

David A. Ciesinski, CEO

Demand and external factors

  • Cyclospora outbreak under monitoring: Management said it continues to monitor the Cyclospora outbreak’s effect on product demand and sales. Source
  • Economic and consumer factors cited: Management noted that U.S. economic performance and consumer behavior may affect topline growth for both segments in the coming year. Source
  • Prior-year rollout comparison weighed: The prior year’s Texas Roadhouse grocery rollout was a comparison that weighed on Retail net sales growth this quarter. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow reached $283.8M: Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow rose $22.3 million to $283.8 million. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks in fiscal 2026: Cash dividends paid totaled $108.8 million and $36.3 million of common stock was repurchased during the fiscal year. Source
  • Dividend raised for 63rd year: The regular cash dividend was increased for the 63rd consecutive year in fiscal 2026, with the quarterly payment made December 31, 2025. Source
  • Term loan financed part of deal: A portion of the Bachan’s purchase price was financed with a $200 million term loan. Interest expense was $1.8 million, against none a year earlier. Source
  • Cash fell as debt rose: Cash and equivalents were $25.1 million at June 30, 2026, versus $161.5 million a year earlier. Total debt was about $199.3 million including the current portion. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Bachan’s acquisition closed May 1: Bachan’s, a Japanese barbecue sauce brand, closed on May 1, 2026, and is consolidated from that date. Source
  • Milpitas plant sold at a gain: The Milpitas plant closed in fiscal 2026 and the property was sold, producing an $18.5 million gain. Source
  • Margin improvement remains the focus: Management said fiscal 2027 work remains focused on continued margin improvement alongside cost savings programs. Source

Fiscal 2027 management comments

  • Retail to benefit from new items: Fiscal 2027 Retail sales expected to keep benefiting from Bachan’s and from newly launched and planned items for legacy brands and licensing. Source
  • Foodservice supported by quick-service customers: Foodservice sales expected to be supported by select quick-service restaurant customers within the national chain account mix. Source
  • Moderate input inflation expected: Management anticipates a moderate level of input-cost inflation in fiscal 2027, planned to be offset by inflationary pricing and cost savings. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 August 2026

  • Fiscal 2027 Retail launches expected: Retail sales expected to benefit from Bachan’s and from new items recently launched or planned for introduction. Source
  • Pricing and savings to offset inflation: Management plans to offset expected fiscal 2027 input-cost inflation through inflationary pricing and cost savings programs. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Bachan’s scanner sales change, quarter (Circana) Source+8.7%
Bachan’s total distribution points change Source+16.6%
Texas Roadhouse rolls scanner sales change Source+28.1% quarter; +76.3% fiscal year
Retail volume, pounds shipped change Source-1.7%
Foodservice volume, pounds shipped change Source-4.1%
Foodservice core sales volume change Source+0.1%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Cyclospora outbreak may affect product demand and sales; management is monitoring it. Source
  • External: U.S. economic performance and consumer behavior may affect topline growth for both segments in fiscal 2027. Source
  • Financial: Input-cost inflation at a moderate level is anticipated for fiscal 2027, to be offset through pricing and cost savings. Source
  • Demand: Retail growth was reduced by lapping the prior-year Chick-fil-A pipeline fill and lower club channel sales of Sister Schubert’s rolls. Source
  • Demand: Reduced sales to other chains and lower branded Foodservice product sales offset gains at leading national chain accounts. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Prior release expected fourth-quarter Retail sales to benefit from Bachan’s and new products. Current release does not state a status for this expectation.
  • Not stated: Prior release anticipated continued growth from select national chain accounts. Current release reports gains at leading chain accounts offset by lower sales to other chains.

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.