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Newell Brands Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • First growth in over four years: Newell Brands returned to year-over-year sales growth in Q2 2026, marking the company's first advance in over four years and a major turnaround milestone. Source
  • Net sales up 3.0%, core sales 2.3%: Net sales reached $2.0 billion, up 3.0% year-over-year, while core sales grew 2.3%, both exceeding prior period expectations. Source
  • Operating margin nearly doubles year-over-year: Operating margin improved to 14.2% from 8.8% prior year, while normalized operating margin increased to 16.2% from 10.7%. Source
  • Normalized EPS up 75% year-over-year: Normalized diluted EPS reached $0.42 versus $0.24 in prior year, driven by improved profitability and operational leverage. Source
  • Prior year tariff recovery of $100 million: Q2 included $100 million pretax, or $76 million after-tax, from IEEPA tariff recoveries related to tariffs expensed in 2025. Source
  • Learning & Development leads at 36% margin: Learning & Development generated $851 million in sales with 4.9% core growth and 36.2% operating margin, driven by strength in Baby and Writing businesses. Source
  • North America delivers 4.9% core growth: North America showed strong core sales growth of 4.9%, demonstrating robust consumer demand in the company's largest market. Source
  • International declines 2.7% amid FX headwinds: International markets experienced 2.7% core sales decline, partly driven by unfavorable foreign exchange headwinds of 3.2%. Source
  • New $800 million credit facility in place: Company arranged new $800 million asset-based revolving credit facility subsequent to quarter-end, replacing existing facility. Source

“Newell Brands returned to year-over-year growth in both net sales and core sales in the second quarter, marking an important milestone in our turnaround.”

Chris Peterson, Newell Brands President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Sales Sourcethird quarter of 20262% to 3%New
Core Sales Sourcethird quarter of 20262% to 3%New
Normalized Operating Margin Sourcethird quarter of 20269.5% to 10.2%New
Normalized Diluted EPS Sourcethird quarter of 2026$0.18 to $0.20New
Net Sales Sourcefull year 20261% to 2%Raised from Flat to 2%
Core Sales Sourcefull year 2026Flat to 1%Raised from (1%) to 1%
Normalized Operating Margin Sourcefull year 202610.0% to 10.4%Raised from 8.6% to 9.2%
Normalized Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$0.73 to $0.77Raised from $0.56 to $0.60

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company initiated Q3 2026 guidance with 2-3% sales growth, 9.5-10.2% operating margin, and $0.18-$0.20 normalized EPS. Source
  • New: Company arranged new $800 million asset-based revolving credit facility with extended general maturity to 2031. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full year normalized EPS guidance raised from $0.56-$0.60 to $0.73-$0.77 based on strong Q2 results and tariff benefits. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full year normalized operating margin guidance raised from 8.6%-9.2% to 10.0%-10.4%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full year core sales guidance raised to Flat-1% from (1%)-1%, indicating improving demand. Source

Return to Sales Growth

  • First growth in over four years: Newell Brands returned to year-over-year sales growth in Q2 2026, marking the company's first advance in over four years and a major turnaround milestone. Source
  • Net sales up 3.0%, core sales 2.3%: Net sales reached $2.0 billion, up 3.0% year-over-year, while core sales grew 2.3%, both exceeding prior period expectations. Source
  • Growth broad-based across segments: Improvement was broad-based across the portfolio, reflecting stronger innovation, higher advertising and promotional support, and vastly improved go-to-market capabilities. Source

Profitability and Margins Expand

  • Operating margin nearly doubles year-over-year: Operating margin improved to 14.2% from 8.8% prior year, while normalized operating margin increased to 16.2% from 10.7%. Source
  • Net income surges to $106 million: Net income reached $106 million versus $46 million in prior year, while normalized net income nearly doubled to $180 million from $101 million. Source
  • Normalized EPS up 75% year-over-year: Normalized diluted EPS reached $0.42 versus $0.24 in prior year, driven by improved profitability and operational leverage. Source

“Second quarter results were above our expectations across all key financial metrics as stronger sales, gross productivity and disciplined overhead management more than offset higher-than-anticipated commodity and transportation costs.”

Mark Erceg, Newell Brands Chief Financial Officer

Tariff Recoveries Boost Earnings

  • Prior year tariff recovery of $100 million: Q2 included $100 million pretax, or $76 million after-tax, from IEEPA tariff recoveries related to tariffs expensed in 2025. Source
  • Q1 2026 tariff recovery adds $26 million: Q2 also included $26 million pretax recovery for IEEPA tariffs expensed in Q1 2026, adding approximately $0.04 per diluted share. Source

Segment Performance Diverges

  • Learning & Development leads at 36% margin: Learning & Development generated $851 million in sales with 4.9% core growth and 36.2% operating margin, driven by strength in Baby and Writing businesses. Source
  • Home & Commercial declining, offset by Kitchen: Home & Commercial Solutions generated $903 million in sales with 0.4% core sales decline, as Kitchen and Home Fragrance growth was more than offset by Commercial decline. Source
  • Outdoor & Recreation modest 3.7% core growth: Outdoor & Recreation segment generated $240 million in sales with 3.7% core sales growth, though operating income declined slightly due to restructuring costs. Source

“we are raising our full-year outlook for net and core sales growth, normalized operating margin, normalized earnings per share and operating cash flow.”

Mark Erceg, Newell Brands Chief Financial Officer

Geographic Performance Mixed

  • North America delivers 4.9% core growth: North America showed strong core sales growth of 4.9%, demonstrating robust consumer demand in the company's largest market. Source
  • International declines 2.7% amid FX headwinds: International markets experienced 2.7% core sales decline, partly driven by unfavorable foreign exchange headwinds of 3.2%. Source

Operational Excellence Sustains Margin Gains

  • Gross productivity offsets inflation pressures: Gross profit benefited from gross productivity savings which more than offset higher inflation and tariff costs incurred during the period. Source
  • Disciplined overhead management controlled costs: Disciplined overhead management more than offset higher-than-anticipated commodity and transportation cost increases during the quarter. Source
  • Increased advertising investment drives demand: Higher advertising and promotion spending reflected strategic investment to support innovation and drive consumer demand recovery across segments. Source

Capital Structure and Liquidity Enhanced

  • New $800 million credit facility in place: Company arranged new $800 million asset-based revolving credit facility subsequent to quarter-end, replacing existing facility. Source
  • Debt maturity extended to 2031: New facility extends general debt maturity to 2031, strengthening long-term financial flexibility and refinancing profile. Source
  • Debt stable at $5.0 billion: Gross debt declined to $5.0 billion from $5.1 billion prior year, while cash remained at $209 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow improved $67 million: Year-to-date operating cash outflow of $204 million improved from $271 million prior year, driven by working capital improvements. Source

Coming up, as management said on 31 July 2026

  • Tariff cash recovery expected second half 2026: Company expects to receive substantially all IEEPA tariff recovery cash during the second half of 2026. Source
  • New credit facility provides enhanced liquidity: New $800 million asset-based revolving credit facility now in place, extending general debt maturity to 2031 for improved long-term flexibility. Source
  • Q3 guidance: 2-3% growth, $0.18-$0.20 EPS: Company provides Q3 2026 guidance with net and core sales growth of 2-3%, operating margin 9.5-10.2%, and normalized EPS of $0.18-$0.20. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Company's ability to optimize costs and cash flow and execute turnaround plan, including Global Productivity Plan announced December 2025. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Company achieved return to sales growth in Q2 with net sales up 3.0% and core sales up 2.3%.
  • On track: Company continuing execution of Global Productivity Plan announced December 2025 to drive restructuring and cost savings. 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.