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Newell Brands Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter net sales declined 2.7%: Net sales were $1.9 billion, down 2.7% from the prior year period, with core sales down 4.1% and favorable foreign exchange. Source
  • Normalized EPS rose to $0.18: Normalized diluted EPS was $0.18 compared with $0.16 a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $0.75 compared with $0.13. Source
  • Gross margin declined on tariffs: Gross margin was 33.1% compared with 34.2%. Normalized gross margin was 33.9% compared with 34.6%, with tariff costs and inflation offsetting productivity and pricing. Source
  • Underlying demand not assumed to improve: Management said it is not assuming an improvement in underlying category demand in 2026, and is relying on company actions for growth. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $264 million: Full year operating cash flow was $264 million, reduced by $174 million of cash tariff costs and a substantially higher cash bonus payout in 2025. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose: Restructuring costs, net were $40 million in the fourth quarter and $62 million for the year, against $5 million and $45 million. Source
  • Tradename impairment in fourth quarter: Non-cash impairment charges of $340 million on indefinite-lived tradenames were recorded, against $85 million in the prior year period. Source

“Despite a fluid and challenging macroeconomic environment, our team executed well, and we exited 2025 a stronger and more resilient company.”

Chris Peterson, Newell Brands President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFull year 2026(1%) to 1%New
Core sales SourceFull year 2026(2%) to flatNew
Normalized operating margin SourceFull year 20268.6% to 9.2%New
Normalized EPS SourceFull year 2026$0.54 to $0.60New
Operating cash flow SourceFull year 2026$350 million to $400 millionNew
Net sales SourceFirst quarter 2026(5%) to (3%)New
Core sales SourceFirst quarter 2026(7%) to (5%)New
Normalized operating margin SourceFirst quarter 20262.5% to 3.5%New
Normalized EPS SourceFirst quarter 2026($0.12) to ($0.08)New
Currency and divestiture effect on net sales SourceFirst quarter 2026~(2)%New
Currency and divestiture effect on net sales SourceFull year 2026~(1)%New
Tariff impact on normalized EPS SourceFull year 2026 compared with 2025, before mitigating actionsapproximately $0.07 headwindNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance initiated for the first quarter and full year 2026, covering net sales, core sales, normalized operating margin and normalized EPS. Source
  • New guidance: Operating cash flow guidance moved from a 2025 range set last quarter to a 2026 range of $350 million to $400 million.
  • New: Restructuring initiatives now name a Global Productivity Plan, announced in December 2025; the prior quarter named the Realignment Plan. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter net sales declined 2.7%: Net sales were $1.9 billion, down 2.7% from the prior year period, with core sales down 4.1% and favorable foreign exchange. Source
  • Normalized EPS rose to $0.18: Normalized diluted EPS was $0.18 compared with $0.16 a year earlier. Diluted loss per share was $0.75 compared with $0.13. Source
  • Net loss was $315 million: Net loss was $315 million compared with $54 million in the prior year period. Normalized net income was $75 million compared with $69 million. Source
  • Normalized EBITDA rose 11.6%: Normalized EBITDA increased 11.6% to $241 million compared with $216 million in the prior year period. Source
  • Full year net sales down 5.0%: Full year net sales were $7.2 billion, down 5.0%, with core sales down 4.6%. Full year normalized EBITDA was $882 million compared with $900 million. Source

Segments and regions

  • Home and Commercial Solutions sales declined: Net sales were $1.1 billion, with core sales down 5.3%. Reported operating loss was $200 million; normalized operating income was $124 million, or 11.0% of sales. Source
  • Learning and Development broadly flat: Net sales were $629 million, up 0.2% as reported, with core sales down 1.5%. Normalized operating income was $99 million, or 15.7% of sales, against 16.1%. Source
  • Outdoor and Recreation loss narrowed: Net sales were $142 million with core sales down 6.2%. Normalized operating loss was $12 million, or 8.5% of sales, compared with $28 million a year earlier. Source
  • North America and International core sales: Fourth quarter core sales were down 4.6% in North America and 3.3% in International. For the full year, North America was down 6.1% and International down 1.8%. Source

“For the full year and despite incurring $174 million and $114 million of gross cash and P&L tariff impacts, respectively, normalized operating margin expanded including a 50-basis-point increase in advertising and promotion investment.”

Mark Erceg, Newell Brands Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin declined on tariffs: Gross margin was 33.1% compared with 34.2%. Normalized gross margin was 33.9% compared with 34.6%, with tariff costs and inflation offsetting productivity and pricing. Source
  • Normalized operating margin rose: Normalized operating margin was 8.7% compared with 7.1%, with restructuring, productivity and lower incentive pay, partly offset by higher advertising and promotion spend. Source
  • China tariffs reduced third quarter margin: A temporary one-time China tariff cost $24 million in the third quarter. Excluding it, full year gross margin would have expanded by 50 basis points. Source
  • Tariff run rate higher into 2026: Tariffs enacted in 2025 carry into 2026 at a higher annualized gross profit run rate before mitigating actions, partly offset by productivity, pricing and tariff-related business wins. Source
  • SG&A fell 9.0%: Selling, general and administrative expense was $514 million in the quarter, down 9.0%, and $1,985 million for the year, down 4.7%. Source

Demand and category growth

  • Underlying demand not assumed to improve: Management said it is not assuming an improvement in underlying category demand in 2026, and is relying on company actions for growth. Source
  • Distribution gains first since Jarden: Management expects an increase in points of distribution, the first since the Jarden acquisition. Source
  • Plan aims to outgrow categories: Management said planned innovation, advertising and distribution are intended to let the company outgrow its categories and gain market share. Source

“Our 2026 outlook calls for net sales to be flat, which would represent a meaningful sequential improvement”

Mark Erceg, Newell Brands Chief Financial Officer

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow fell to $264 million: Full year operating cash flow was $264 million, reduced by $174 million of cash tariff costs and a substantially higher cash bonus payout in 2025. Source
  • 3.9% senior notes repaid: Management said the 3.9% senior notes due 2025 were repaid at maturity in the fourth quarter, with accrued interest. Source
  • Net debt rose modestly: Net debt was $4,470 million at year end, against $4,397 million a year earlier. Gross debt was $4.7 billion and cash was $203 million. Source
  • Dividend held at seven cents: Dividends were $0.07 per share in each quarter and $0.28 for the full year, the same as the prior year. Source

Restructuring and severance costs

  • Restructuring costs rose: Restructuring costs, net were $40 million in the fourth quarter and $62 million for the year, against $5 million and $45 million. Source
  • Severance costs rose to $39 million: Restructuring charges mainly relate to severance and other employee termination costs, with contract termination costs as well. Source
  • Some restructuring costs sit in cost of sales: Restructuring-related costs for plants, distribution and related assets are recorded in cost of products sold; office and clerical costs go to SG&A. Source

Impairments, interest and tax

  • Tradename impairment in fourth quarter: Non-cash impairment charges of $340 million on indefinite-lived tradenames were recorded, against $85 million in the prior year period. Source
  • Normalized figures exclude acquired intangible amortization: Normalized results exclude amortization of acquired intangibles, which was $22 million in the fourth quarter against $24 million. Source
  • Net interest expense rose: Net interest expense was $84 million in the fourth quarter, against $72 million in the prior year period. Source
  • Normalized tax provision was $2 million: The normalized income tax provision was $2 million, against a normalized tax benefit of $4 million a year earlier. The reported income tax benefit was $44 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 February 2026

  • Lower cash tariff payments expected in 2026: Management expects lower cash tariff payments in 2026 than in 2025. Source
  • Innovation and advertising step-up planned: The 2026 plan relies on a stronger innovation pipeline, net distribution gains and higher advertising and promotion spend for core sales growth. Source
  • First quarter shipment timing expected: First quarter 2026 core sales are expected to be affected by shipment timing and shelf reset timing, not by underlying consumer demand, and by lapping prior-year tariff-related ordering. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Underlying category demand is not assumed to improve in 2026, so the plan depends on company actions such as innovation and advertising. Source
  • Financial: Cash tariff costs and a higher cash bonus payout reduced 2025 operating cash flow. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said investments in front and back-end capabilities built over several years are to be converted into sustained financial improvement; no status was given. 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.