greeksoup/ stock research

Post Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 10.1% on acquisitions: Net sales were $2,174.6 million, up $199.9 million, including $224.6 million from acquisitions in the current year period. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was $418.2 million, up $48.3 million; it was 19.2% of net sales against 18.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range raised to $1,550-$1,580 million from $1,500-$1,540 million. Source
  • Foodservice profit rose 36.5%: Foodservice segment profit was $117.5 million, up $31.4 million; segment Adjusted EBITDA was $152.4 million, up 30.5%. Source
  • Cereal and granola volumes fell: Cereal and granola volumes decreased 5.1%, driven by category declines and lower relative and absolute promotional spend. Source
  • Pet food volumes fell: Pet food volumes decreased 6.2% on distribution losses and fewer co-manufactured and private label products. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $119.3 million: Free cash flow was $119.3 million against $171.4 million, after capital expenditures of $116.4 million against $139.0 million. Source

“Post Holdings Reports Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026; Raises Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook”

Post Holdings, Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026$1,550-$1,580 millionRaised from $1,500-$1,540 million
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026$350-$390 millionKept
Cage-free and Norwalk, Iowa egg facility expansions Sourcefiscal year 2026$80-$90 millionKept
Share repurchases Sourcenew authorization approved February 3, 2026$500 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range raised to $1,550-$1,580 million from $1,500-$1,540 million. Source
  • Ended: Sale of the 8th Avenue pasta business completed on December 1, 2025. Source
  • New: Two directors appointed to the Board, effective March 15, 2026. Source
  • New: Nicolas Catoggio is named as Chief Operating Officer and President and CEO of Post Consumer Brands on the call. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 10.1% on acquisitions: Net sales were $2,174.6 million, up $199.9 million, including $224.6 million from acquisitions in the current year period. Source
  • Operating profit rose 11.3%: Operating profit was $238.4 million, up $24.3 million from $214.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net earnings fell 14.6%: Net earnings were $96.8 million, down $16.5 million; diluted EPS was $1.71 against $1.78 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $2.13: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.13 against $1.73; adjusted net earnings were $123.7 million against $111.9 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.1%: Adjusted EBITDA was $418.2 million, up $48.3 million; it was 19.2% of net sales against 18.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range raised to $1,550-$1,580 million from $1,500-$1,540 million. Source

Segments and acquisitions

  • Post Consumer Brands sales rose 14.5%: Post Consumer Brands net sales were $1,103.8 million, including $217.2 million from 8th Avenue; segment Adjusted EBITDA was $203.3 million, down 0.7%. Source
  • Foodservice sales rose 8.5%: Foodservice net sales were $669.1 million, including $6.6 million attributable to PPI; the increase was driven by volume. Source
  • Foodservice profit rose 36.5%: Foodservice segment profit was $117.5 million, up $31.4 million; segment Adjusted EBITDA was $152.4 million, up 30.5%. Source
  • Refrigerated Retail profit rose 25.6%: Refrigerated Retail net sales were $266.6 million; segment profit rose to $30.4 million and segment Adjusted EBITDA to $50.1 million. Source
  • Weetabix sales rose 8.1%: Weetabix net sales included a foreign currency tailwind of about 400 basis points; segment Adjusted EBITDA was $33.1 million, up 18.2%. Source
  • 8th Avenue and PPI added sales: 8th Avenue contributed $217.2 million to Post Consumer Brands sales; PPI, acquired March 3, 2025, added $6.6 million to Foodservice. Source

“Refrigerated Retail sales were flat as increased pricing was offset by declines in volumes.”

Post Holdings, Inc., press release

Products and volumes

  • Cereal and granola volumes fell: Cereal and granola volumes decreased 5.1%, driven by category declines and lower relative and absolute promotional spend. Source
  • Pet food volumes fell: Pet food volumes decreased 6.2% on distribution losses and fewer co-manufactured and private label products. Source
  • Side dishes up, egg and cheese down: Side dish volumes rose 2.5%, while egg fell 6.7%, cheese 5.7% and sausage 5.0%, per the supplemental table. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit rose, margin slipped: Gross profit was $638.5 million, up 7.3%; as a share of net sales it was 29.4% against 30.1% a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A rose 7.8%: SG&A was $357.3 million, or 16.4% of net sales, and included $4.3 million of integration costs against $15.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring costs rose to $23.0 million: Restructuring and facility closure costs, including accelerated depreciation, were $23.0 million against $3.6 million; these were excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 19.2%: Adjusted EBITDA was 19.2% of net sales against 18.7% in the prior year period. Source

Interest, tax and non-operating items

  • Interest expense rose to $103.4 million: Interest expense, net was $103.4 million, up from $84.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt redemption loss of $17.5 million: Loss on extinguishment of $17.5 million from redeeming the 5.50% senior notes due December 2029; excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Effective tax rate of 22.0%: Income tax expense was $27.3 million; the effective rate was 22.0% against 22.1% a year earlier. Source
  • Swap income fell to $1.9 million: Income on swaps, net was $1.9 million against $15.4 million; the release treats these as adjustments for non-GAAP measures. Source

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow fell to $119.3 million: Free cash flow was $119.3 million against $171.4 million, after capital expenditures of $116.4 million against $139.0 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $235.7 million: Net cash from operating activities was $235.7 million against $310.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Quarterly buybacks of $378.9 million: Shares were bought for $378.9 million, averaging $101.57 each, during the quarter. Source
  • Further buybacks after quarter end: After quarter end through February 4, 2026, 1.8 million shares were bought for $175.4 million, averaging $99.19. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $279.3 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $279.3 million at December 31, 2025, against $176.7 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Board and leadership

  • Board grows to nine members: The two appointees, effective March 15, 2026, bring the Board to nine members. Source
  • Atkinson joins from Energizer: Ms. Atkinson retired from Energizer Holdings in December 2025 as Chief Transformation Officer. Source
  • Zadoks retired as chief operating officer: Mr. Zadoks retired as Chief Operating Officer in January 2026, after 14 years at Post; he is also among the Board appointees. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • New buyback starts February 7: Repurchases under the new $500 million authorization may begin February 7, 2026. Source
  • Prior authorization cancelled February 6: The existing $500 million authorization, with $122.1 million remaining as of February 4, will be cancelled February 6, 2026. Source
  • Prepared remarks to be published: Prepared remarks will be posted on the company website shortly after the release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Post Consumer Brands volume change, excluding 8th Avenue Source-6.1%
Foodservice volume change, excluding PPI Source+7.7%
Refrigerated Retail volume change Source-0.2%
Weetabix volume change Source+2.4%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Cereal and granola volumes fell 5.1%; management cited category declines and lower promotional spend. Source
  • Demand: Refrigerated Retail volumes fell on egg and sausage declines, which management cited as the main cause of the segment's volume decline. Source
  • Financial: Higher interest cost came from lower interest income, more average debt principal and a higher weighted-average interest rate. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The prior release expected the pasta sale to close in December of the first quarter of fiscal 2026; the sale completed December 1, 2025.

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.