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Procter & Gamble Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales up 1%, organic sales flat: Net sales were $22.2 billion, up one percent. Organic sales were unchanged. Mix had a neutral impact on sales for the quarter. Source
  • Diluted EPS down, core EPS flat: Diluted EPS of $1.78 fell five percent, driven primarily by higher restructuring charges. Core EPS was $1.88, unchanged. Currency-neutral core EPS fell two percent to $1.85. Source
  • Baby, Feminine and Family Care down: Baby, Feminine and Family Care net sales were $5.1 billion, down three percent, with organic sales down four percent. Family Care fell double digits against strong prior-year volume growth. Net earnings fell nine percent. Source
  • Gross margin fell on mix and reinvestment: Reported gross margin fell 120 basis points; core gross margin fell 50 basis points, or 30 currency-neutral. Productivity savings of 160 and pricing of 50 basis points were offset by mix of 120, reinvestment of 60 and tariffs of 60. Source
  • EPS growth range lowered: Diluted EPS growth range was lowered to one to six percent because of higher non-core restructuring charges. Sales and core EPS ranges were maintained. Source
  • Cash returned $4.8 billion: The company returned $4.8 billion to shareowners: $2.5 billion of dividend payments and $2.3 billion of share repurchases in the quarter. Source
  • Restructuring lifted GAAP charges: Incremental restructuring added $296 million to operating costs in the quarter, $152 million in cost of products sold and $144 million in SG&A, or $0.10 per diluted share, excluded from core EPS. Source

“Our results in the second quarter keep us on track to deliver within our fiscal year guidance ranges for organic sales growth, core EPS growth and adjusted free cash flow productivity in a challenging consumer and geopolitical environment”

Shailesh Jejurikar, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Core EPS dollar range Sourcefiscal 2026$6.83 to $7.09, midpoint $6.96Kept
Foreign exchange tailwind Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $200 million after taxLowered from approximately $300 million after tax
Tariff costs Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $400 million after taxKept
Net interest and core tax rate headwind Sourcefiscal 2026roughly $250 million after taxKept
Combined per-share impact of listed items Sourcefiscal 2026$0.19 per share headwindKept
Core effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 202620% to 21%Kept
Adjusted free cash flow productivity Sourcefiscal 202685% to 90%Kept
Dividends paid Sourcefiscal 2026around $10 billionKept
Share repurchases Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $5 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Diluted EPS growth range cut to one to six percent from three to nine percent, due to higher non-core restructuring charges. Core EPS range was kept. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Foreign exchange tailwind forecast reduced to about $200 million after tax from about $300 million previously. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Commodity cost estimate changed to neutral for the year from a headwind of about $100 million after tax. Source
  • New: Shailesh Jejurikar is named President and Chief Executive Officer in this release. The prior release named Jon Moeller as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Sales up 1%, organic sales flat: Net sales were $22.2 billion, up one percent. Organic sales were unchanged. Mix had a neutral impact on sales for the quarter. Source
  • Diluted EPS down, core EPS flat: Diluted EPS of $1.78 fell five percent, driven primarily by higher restructuring charges. Core EPS was $1.88, unchanged. Currency-neutral core EPS fell two percent to $1.85. Source
  • Growth slowed from first quarter: First-quarter organic sales rose two percent and core EPS rose three percent. In the second quarter both were flat, with organic sales unchanged and core EPS unchanged.

Segments and categories

  • Beauty organic sales up 4%: Beauty net sales were $4.0 billion, up five percent, with organic sales up four percent. Hair Care and Personal Care rose mid-single digits; Skin Care rose low single digits, mainly in Greater China. Source
  • Health Care organic sales up 3%: Health Care net sales were $3.4 billion, up five percent, with organic sales up three percent. Oral Care and Personal Health Care each rose low single digits, on premium mix and pricing respectively. Source
  • Grooming organic sales unchanged: Grooming net sales were $1.8 billion, up two percent, with organic sales unchanged. Innovation-driven pricing was offset by volume declines. Net earnings fell nine percent to $417 million. Source
  • Fabric and Home Care flat: Fabric and Home Care net sales were $7.7 billion, up one percent, with organic sales unchanged. Fabric Care was flat; Home Care rose low single digits on pricing, partly offset by volume declines. Source
  • Baby, Feminine and Family Care down: Baby, Feminine and Family Care net sales were $5.1 billion, down three percent, with organic sales down four percent. Family Care fell double digits against strong prior-year volume growth. Net earnings fell nine percent. Source

“We have confidence in our plans to deliver stronger results in the second-half of the fiscal year.”

Shailesh Jejurikar, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell on mix and reinvestment: Reported gross margin fell 120 basis points; core gross margin fell 50 basis points, or 30 currency-neutral. Productivity savings of 160 and pricing of 50 basis points were offset by mix of 120, reinvestment of 60 and tariffs of 60. Source
  • SG&A rose on reinvestment: Core SG&A rose 20 basis points to 26.4% of net sales, or 40 basis points currency-neutral. Reinvestment of 160 basis points outweighed 110 basis points of productivity savings. Source
  • Operating income fell seven percent: Operating income was $5.4 billion, down seven percent, with reported operating margin of 24.2%. Core operating margin fell 70 basis points, after gross productivity savings of 270 basis points. Source

Demand and the operating environment

  • Pricing offset unit volume decline: Higher pricing added one percent to sales and unit volume fell one percent, leaving organic sales unchanged. Mix moved from a favorable one percent in the first quarter to neutral. Source
  • Volume declines across several categories: Segment commentary cites volume declines in Skin Care, Grooming, Oral Care, Home Care and Fabric Care in Europe. Volume rose in Fabric Care in North America and Latin America. Source
  • Management cites challenging environment: Management described the quarter as taking place in a challenging consumer and geopolitical environment, and said results kept the company on track for guidance ranges. Source

“We remain committed to our integrated growth strategy and are excited by the opportunity ahead to reinvent P&G and create the CPG company of the future, delivering long-term balanced top- and bottom-line growth and value creation.”

Shailesh Jejurikar, President and Chief Executive Officer

Fiscal 2026 guidance changes

  • EPS growth range lowered: Diluted EPS growth range was lowered to one to six percent because of higher non-core restructuring charges. Sales and core EPS ranges were maintained. Source
  • Currency and commodity estimates changed: Foreign exchange tailwind was reduced from about $300 million to about $200 million after tax. Commodity costs are now expected to be neutral for the year. Source
  • Tariff and tax estimates held: Tariff cost estimate of about $400 million after tax and the roughly $250 million net headwind were kept. Combined listed items equate to $0.19 per share. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Cash returned $4.8 billion: The company returned $4.8 billion to shareowners: $2.5 billion of dividend payments and $2.3 billion of share repurchases in the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow and productivity: Operating cash flow was $5.0 billion and capital spending $1.2 billion, giving adjusted free cash flow of $3.8 billion. Adjusted free cash flow productivity was 88%, against 102% in the first quarter. Source
  • Six-month cash flows: Six-month operating cash flow was $10.4 billion and capital expenditures were $2.4 billion. Dividends paid were $5.1 billion and treasury stock purchases were $3.5 billion. Source
  • Balance sheet at December 31: Cash and cash equivalents were $10.8 billion, debt due within one year $11.1 billion and long-term debt $25.6 billion. Total assets were $127.3 billion. Source

Restructuring, strategy and leadership

  • Restructuring lifted GAAP charges: Incremental restructuring added $296 million to operating costs in the quarter, $152 million in cost of products sold and $144 million in SG&A, or $0.10 per diluted share, excluded from core EPS. Source
  • Portfolio and productivity plan continues: The plan announced June 5, 2025 streamlines the portfolio and organization. Restructuring charges under it are excluded from core earnings, and charges continue into fiscal 2026. Source
  • Integrated growth strategy maintained: Management said it remains committed to its integrated growth strategy and aims to create the CPG company of the future with balanced top- and bottom-line growth. Source
  • Leadership change named in release: Shailesh Jejurikar is named President and Chief Executive Officer. The prior release named Jon Moeller as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 January 2026

  • Stronger second-half results expected: Management said it has confidence in its plans to deliver stronger results in the second half of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Non-core restructuring continues in fiscal 2026: Non-core restructuring charges are expected in fiscal 2026 under the portfolio and productivity plan, and are excluded from core EPS. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Unit volume change, total P&G (organic) Source(1)%
Baby Care unit volume Sourcedecrease, low single digits

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management described the consumer and geopolitical environment as challenging for the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Unit volume fell one percent, offsetting a one percent gain from pricing, leaving organic sales unchanged. Source
  • Operational: Unfavorable mix, product reinvestment and tariff costs more than offset productivity savings and pricing in core gross margin. Source
  • Financial: Higher restructuring charges drove the five percent decline in diluted EPS, while core EPS was unchanged. Source
  • Regulatory: Tariff costs are estimated at about $400 million after tax for fiscal 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the quarter's results keep the company on track for these fiscal 2026 guidance ranges. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it remains committed to its integrated growth strategy. Source
  • Not stated: In the first-quarter release, management said it was increasing investment in innovation and demand creation. The second quarter reports 160 basis points of SG&A reinvestment.

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.