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Newell Brands Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 1 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales and core sales declined: Net sales were $1.5 billion, down 1.1%, with core sales down 3.5%. Favorable foreign exchange was a partial offset to the decline. Source
  • Core sales above company expectations: Core sales exceeded company expectations, driven by category performance and consumer demand, plus a net pricing benefit from customer programs. Source
  • Normalized operating margin up: Normalized operating income was $74 million, or 4.8% of sales, against $71 million, or 4.5%, in the prior year period. Source
  • Gross margin rose on pricing: Gross margin was 33.1% against 32.1%. Net pricing and gross productivity more than offset volume decline, inflation and tariff costs; normalized gross margin was 33.2% against 32.5%. Source
  • Consumer demand above expectations: Management said consumer demand was higher than expected, shown by improving point of sale and share trends, driven by innovation, advertising and promotional support. Source
  • Operating cash outflow reflected inventory: Year-to-date operating cash outflow was $233 million, against $213 million, primarily reflecting higher inventory levels. Source
  • Q2 2026 guidance initiated: Second-quarter net sales and core sales are guided flat to up 2%, normalized operating margin 9.6% to 10.2%, and normalized EPS $0.16 to $0.19. Source
  • Full-year sales and EPS ranges raised: Full-year net sales range moved to flat to 2%, from (1%) to 1%. Core sales moved to (1%) to 1%, from (2%) to flat. Normalized EPS moved to $0.56 to $0.60, from $0.54 to $0.60. Source
  • Productivity offset cost inflation: The CFO said first quarter operating margin expanded year over year, as productivity and pricing offset cost inflation and lower volume. Source

“We continue to believe that our strategy is working and, importantly, we now expect to return to top-line growth in the second quarter.”

Chris Peterson, Newell Brands President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceQ2 2026Flat to 2%New
Core sales SourceQ2 2026Flat to 2%New
Normalized operating margin SourceQ2 20269.6% to 10.2%New
Normalized EPS SourceQ2 2026$0.16 to $0.19New
Net sales SourceFull year 2026Flat to 2%Raised from (1%) to 1%
Core sales SourceFull year 2026(1%) to 1%Raised from (2%) to flat
Normalized operating margin SourceFull year 20268.6% to 9.2%Kept
Normalized EPS SourceFull year 2026$0.56 to $0.60Raised from $0.54 to $0.60
Operating cash flow SourceFull year 2026$350 million to $400 millionKept
Currency impact and divestitures, net SourceFull year 2026~(1)%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 net sales, core sales and normalized EPS estimates were raised. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 operating cash flow range was maintained at $350 million to $400 million. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Net sales and core sales declined: Net sales were $1.5 billion, down 1.1%, with core sales down 3.5%. Favorable foreign exchange was a partial offset to the decline. Source
  • Core sales above company expectations: Core sales exceeded company expectations, driven by category performance and consumer demand, plus a net pricing benefit from customer programs. Source
  • Normalized operating margin up: Normalized operating income was $74 million, or 4.8% of sales, against $71 million, or 4.5%, in the prior year period. Source
  • Net loss and normalized net loss: The company reported a net loss of $33 million against $37 million a year earlier. Normalized net loss was $21 million against $6 million. Source
  • Normalized EBITDA roughly flat: Normalized EBITDA was $135 million, compared with $136 million in the prior year period. Source

Segments, regions and recall effects

  • Home & Commercial sales declined: Home & Commercial Solutions net sales were $780 million against $812 million, with core sales down 6.9%. Normalized operating income was $18 million, or 2.3% of sales. Source
  • Learning & Development grew: Learning & Development net sales were $594 million against $572 million, with core sales up 2.0%. Normalized operating income was $112 million, or 18.9% of sales. Source
  • Outdoor & Recreation core sales fell: Outdoor & Recreation net sales were $175 million against $182 million, with core sales down 5.7%. Normalized operating loss was $2 million. Source
  • North America and International core sales: North America core sales fell 2.3%. International core sales fell 5.7%, with a currency impact of (7.2)% in that region. Source
  • Recall returns within core sales: The core sales footnote includes returns related to the French Door Countertop Ovens recall, within Home and Commercial Solutions. Source

“Based on our first quarter over-delivery and projected sales growth over the balance of the year, we are comfortable raising our full year estimates for net sales, core sales and earnings per share.”

Mark Erceg, Newell Brands Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rose on pricing: Gross margin was 33.1% against 32.1%. Net pricing and gross productivity more than offset volume decline, inflation and tariff costs; normalized gross margin was 33.2% against 32.5%. Source
  • Overheads and advertising spend: Normalized overheads were $359 million, or 23.2% of net sales, against $360 million and 23.0%. Advertising and promotion costs were $82 million against $77 million. Source
  • Net interest expense higher: Net interest expense was $84 million against $72 million. The income tax benefit was $28 million against $18 million. Source

Consumer demand and category trends

  • Consumer demand above expectations: Management said consumer demand was higher than expected, shown by improving point of sale and share trends, driven by innovation, advertising and promotional support. Source
  • Customer programs lifted net pricing: Core sales also reflected a net pricing benefit from customer programs, tied to better claims experience and improved deduction management. Source
  • Category dynamics better than expected: Management said underlying category dynamics ran better than expected, despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop. Source

Cash, balance sheet and capital spending

  • Operating cash outflow reflected inventory: Year-to-date operating cash outflow was $233 million, against $213 million, primarily reflecting higher inventory levels. Source
  • Debt and cash at quarter end: At quarter end, debt outstanding was $5.0 billion and cash was $201 million, against $4.9 billion and $233 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends held at prior-year rate: Dividends were $0.07 per share, the same as the prior year. Cash dividends were $36 million against $31 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures lower: Capital expenditures were $37 million, compared with $59 million in the prior year period. Source

Second-quarter and full-year guidance

  • Q2 2026 guidance initiated: Second-quarter net sales and core sales are guided flat to up 2%, normalized operating margin 9.6% to 10.2%, and normalized EPS $0.16 to $0.19. Source
  • Full-year sales and EPS ranges raised: Full-year net sales range moved to flat to 2%, from (1%) to 1%. Core sales moved to (1%) to 1%, from (2%) to flat. Normalized EPS moved to $0.56 to $0.60, from $0.54 to $0.60. Source
  • Full-year margin range unchanged: Full-year 2026 normalized operating margin range is unchanged at 8.6% to 9.2%. Source
  • Operating cash flow range maintained: Full-year 2026 operating cash flow range is maintained at $350 million to $400 million. Source

Productivity and restructuring actions

  • Productivity offset cost inflation: The CFO said first quarter operating margin expanded year over year, as productivity and pricing offset cost inflation and lower volume. Source
  • Restructuring costs tied to Global Productivity Plan: Restructuring costs were $7 million, against $11 million. The company cites its Global Productivity Plan, announced in December 2025, among its restructuring initiatives. Source

Coming up, as management said on 1 May 2026

  • Return to top-line growth in Q2: Management expects the company to return to top-line growth in the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Tariff refund excluded from guidance: The company's guidance excludes any refund of the $120 million paid for IEEPA tariffs in 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Point of sale and share trends Sourceimproving

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a challenging macroeconomic backdrop that continued in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Cost inflation and lower volume were offset in the quarter by productivity and pricing actions. Source
  • Regulatory: Tariff costs were cited as a headwind to gross margin, alongside volume decline and inflation. Source
  • Financial: Operating cash outflow was higher than the prior year, primarily reflecting higher inventory levels. Source
  • Financial: Gross debt outstanding was $5.0 billion at quarter end, against $4.9 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Operational: Recall-related returns of French Door Countertop Ovens are included in core sales adjustments within Home and Commercial Solutions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said normalized EPS came in above its going-in expectations for the first quarter. Source
  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter results came in ahead of plan across all key metrics, with all three segments above expectations for core sales. 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.