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Performance Food Group Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales grew 10.8%: Net sales rose 10.8% to $17.1 billion. Management attributed the increase to the Cheney Brothers acquisition, more cases sold with a favorable mix shift, and higher selling prices from inflation. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 16.6%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 16.6% to $480.1 million, the company's non-GAAP measure of operating performance. All three segments' Adjusted EBITDA increased. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 1.7%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.7% to $1.18, while GAAP diluted EPS fell 13.0% to $0.60. Source
  • Foodservice sales up 18.8%: Foodservice net sales rose 18.8% to $9.1 billion, driven by Cheney Brothers, case growth in independent and chain business, and inflation-related selling prices. Source
  • Operating cash flow negative: Operating activities used $145.2 million, against $53.5 million provided a year earlier. Management attributed this mainly to advanced inventory purchases to take advantage of preferred pricing. Source
  • Free cash flow negative $224.1 million: Free cash flow was negative $224.1 million, against negative $43.0 million a year earlier. Free cash flow is operating cash flow less capital expenditures. Source

“Due to the execution in the fiscal first quarter and optimism for the balance of the year, we are increasing our sales guidance for fiscal 2026”

George Holm, PFG’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$16.4 billion to $16.7 billionNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcesecond quarter of fiscal 2026$450 million to $470 millionNew
Net sales Sourcefull fiscal year 2026$67.5 billion to $68.5 billionRaised from $67 billion to $68 billion
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull fiscal year 2026$1.9 billion to $2.0 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year fiscal 2026 net sales range raised from the prior range. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter net sales and Adjusted EBITDA ranges were not in the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range kept at the prior level. Source
  • New: A clean team agreement with US Foods Holding Corp. is named as a cost item this quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales grew 10.8%: Net sales rose 10.8% to $17.1 billion. Management attributed the increase to the Cheney Brothers acquisition, more cases sold with a favorable mix shift, and higher selling prices from inflation. Source
  • Gross profit up 14.3%: Gross profit rose 14.3% to $2.0 billion compared with the prior year period. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 16.6%: Adjusted EBITDA rose 16.6% to $480.1 million, the company's non-GAAP measure of operating performance. All three segments' Adjusted EBITDA increased. Source
  • Net income fell on higher costs: Net income fell $14.4 million to $93.6 million. Management cited higher operating expense and interest expense, partly offset by gross profit and lower income tax expense. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS up 1.7%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.7% to $1.18, while GAAP diluted EPS fell 13.0% to $0.60. Source

Foodservice segment

  • Foodservice sales up 18.8%: Foodservice net sales rose 18.8% to $9.1 billion, driven by Cheney Brothers, case growth in independent and chain business, and inflation-related selling prices. Source
  • Foodservice gross profit up 20.9%: Gross profit contributing to Foodservice Adjusted EBITDA rose 20.9%, helped by Cheney Brothers, a favorable case mix and more Performance Brands products sold. Source
  • Foodservice Adjusted EBITDA up 18.1%: Foodservice Adjusted EBITDA rose 18.1% to $324.4 million. Operating expenses affecting it rose 21.9%. Source

“Each of our operating segments remain focused on executing our long-term strategic plan anchored on driving growth, market share expansion, and profitability.”

George Holm, PFG’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Convenience and Specialty segments

  • Convenience sales up 3.5%: Convenience net sales rose 3.5% to $6.6 billion, from a recent acquisition, a new chain customer and higher selling prices amid continued inflation. Source
  • Convenience Adjusted EBITDA up 14.9%: Convenience Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.9% to $121.0 million. Gross profit rose 5.3%, helped by inventory holding gains and manufacturer distribution fees. Source
  • Specialty sales down 0.7%: Specialty net sales fell 0.7% to $1.3 billion, as theater declines offset growth in vending, office coffee service, campus and retail channels. Source
  • Specialty Adjusted EBITDA up 13.0%: Specialty Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.0% to $94.0 million, with operating expenses down 2.5% on lower variable costs and lower bad debt expense. Source

Case volume and customers

  • Total case volume up 9.4%: Total case volume rose 9.4%. Organic case volume rose 2.8%, including 6.3% growth in organic independent cases and growth in chain cases sold. Source
  • Independent Foodservice volume up 16.6%: Independent Foodservice case volume rose 16.6%, driven by the Cheney Brothers acquisition. Organic independent cases rose 6.3%. Source
  • Independent share of Foodservice sales: Independent sales were 41.6% of total Foodservice sales in the quarter. Source
  • Specialty cases declined 2.6%: Specialty total case volume fell 2.6%, as growth in vending, office coffee service, campus and retail was offset by theater declines. Source

Operating expenses and tax

  • Operating expenses up 15.7%: Operating expenses rose 15.7% to $1.8 billion, driven by acquisitions, higher personnel expense and depreciation on finance-leased transportation equipment. Source
  • Depreciation up on finance-leased equipment: Management named depreciation on transportation equipment under finance leases as a driver of higher operating expense. Source
  • Effective tax rate lower: The effective tax rate was about 23.0% versus 26.5%, mainly from higher deductible stock-based compensation items and tax credits, partly offset by foreign taxes. Source

Gross profit, pricing and inflation

  • Procurement and inventory gains lifted gross profit: Gross profit growth was driven mainly by acquisitions, inventory holding gains and pricing improvements from procurement efficiencies. Source
  • Product cost inflation about 4.4%: Product cost inflation was about 4.4%, compared with 4.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • LIFO inventory reserve increased: LIFO reserve increases were $1.7 million for Foodservice and $22.8 million for Convenience, versus $0.9 million and $11.8 million a year earlier. Source

Cash flow, capital and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow negative: Operating activities used $145.2 million, against $53.5 million provided a year earlier. Management attributed this mainly to advanced inventory purchases to take advantage of preferred pricing. Source
  • Free cash flow negative $224.1 million: Free cash flow was negative $224.1 million, against negative $43.0 million a year earlier. Free cash flow is operating cash flow less capital expenditures. Source
  • Capital spending down $17.6 million: Capital expenditures were $78.9 million, down $17.6 million from the prior year. Source
  • No repurchases in the quarter: The cash flow statement shows no repurchases of common stock in the quarter, against $29.2 million a year earlier. $500 million remained available at quarter end. Source
  • Activism and clean team costs excluded: Other adjustments excluded from Adjusted EBITDA included $9.9 million of legal and professional fees tied to shareholder activism and the US Foods clean team agreement. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Buyback authority runs to 2029: The current $500 million program expires May 27, 2029 and may be amended, suspended or discontinued at any time at the company's discretion. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total case volume Sourceincreased 9.4%
Total organic case volume Sourceincreased 2.8%
Total independent Foodservice case volume Sourceincreased 16.6%
Organic independent Foodservice case growth Source6.3%
Specialty total case volume Sourcedeclined 2.6%
Independent sales as share of Foodservice sales Source41.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Foodservice operating expenses rose on higher insurance expense tied to workers' compensation and vehicle liability. Source
  • Financial: Interest expense, net rose to $104.4 million from $66.8 million, adding to the net income decline. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it remains on track for the 3-year objectives announced at its May Investor Day. 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.