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Post Holdings, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose, helped by acquisitions: Net sales were $2,042.9 million, up 4.7%. Acquisitions added $152.3 million of net sales in the quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $395.0 million, up $48.5 million from the prior year quarter. Source
  • Foodservice profit rose 78.5%: Foodservice net sales were $627.4 million, up 3.2%. Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose 47.9% to $142.0 million. Source
  • Post Consumer Brands profit declined: Post Consumer Brands net sales rose 5.8% to $1,044.9 million, including $145.0 million from 8th Avenue. Segment profit fell 3.9% to $134.1 million. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 30.2%: Gross profit was $617.6 million, or 30.2% of net sales, against 28.0% of net sales a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense rose to $105.7 million: Interest expense, net was $105.7 million, up from $87.0 million, on higher average debt, a higher weighted-average rate and lower interest income. Source
  • Q2 buybacks totaled $331.0 million: Post bought back 3.3 million shares in the quarter at an average price of $99.85. Six-month repurchases were 7.0 million shares for $709.9 million. Source
  • Six-month free cash flow $270.3 million: Free cash flow was $270.3 million for the six months, against $241.6 million, after operating cash flow of $478.0 million. Source

“Excluding the benefit from acquisitions in the current year period, net sales declines in Post Consumer Brands (driven by pet food distribution losses and the lapping of customer inventory shifts) were partially offset by growth in Foodservice”

Post Holdings, Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) Sourcefiscal year 2026$1,550-$1,580 millionKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026$350-$390 millionKept
Egg facility expansions within capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2026$80-$90 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EBITDA guidance was kept after being raised in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Board approved a new $600 million share repurchase authorization, replacing the $500 million authorization. Source
  • New: Crystal Farms Dairy Company is now carried as held for sale, and a $28.3 million loss was recorded on those amounts. Source

Consolidated results and growth

  • Net sales rose, helped by acquisitions: Net sales were $2,042.9 million, up 4.7%. Acquisitions added $152.3 million of net sales in the quarter. Source
  • Operating profit and net earnings rose: Operating profit was $211.9 million, up 16.3%. Net earnings rose 30.8%, and diluted EPS was $1.56 against $1.03 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 14.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $395.0 million, up $48.5 million from the prior year quarter. Source
  • Six-month net sales rose $290.7 million: Six-month net sales were $4,217.5 million, up from $3,926.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month Adjusted EBITDA rose 13.5%: Six-month Adjusted EBITDA was $813.2 million, up $96.8 million from $716.4 million. Source

Segment results

  • Foodservice profit rose 78.5%: Foodservice net sales were $627.4 million, up 3.2%. Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose 47.9% to $142.0 million. Source
  • Post Consumer Brands profit declined: Post Consumer Brands net sales rose 5.8% to $1,044.9 million, including $145.0 million from 8th Avenue. Segment profit fell 3.9% to $134.1 million. Source
  • Refrigerated Retail profit rose 36.4%: Refrigerated Retail net sales were $235.3 million, up 4.8%. Segment Adjusted EBITDA rose 17.6% to $40.8 million. Source
  • Weetabix sales lifted by currency: Weetabix net sales were $136.1 million, up 3.3%, helped by a foreign currency exchange rate effect. Source

“Post Holdings Reports Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026; Affirms Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook”

Post Holdings, Inc., press release

Products and customer drivers

  • Foodservice growth tied to service and shakes: Foodservice growth was attributed to improved customer service levels and improved production of protein-based shakes. Source
  • Refrigerated Retail gained from launches and Easter: Refrigerated Retail growth was attributed to new product introductions and Easter demand shifting into the quarter. Source
  • Weetabix shakes offset discontinued lines: Weetabix growth in protein-based shakes was offset by product discontinuations and declines in private label products. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin rose to 30.2%: Gross profit was $617.6 million, or 30.2% of net sales, against 28.0% of net sales a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A ratio eased to 16.0%: SG&A expenses were $326.2 million, or 16.0% of net sales, against 16.1% a year earlier, while the dollar amount rose 3.6%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 19.3%: Adjusted EBITDA was 19.3% of net sales, against 17.8% in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted net earnings and EPS rose: Adjusted net earnings were $104.7 million, and adjusted diluted EPS was $1.94 against $1.41. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 25.6%: Income tax expense was $28.1 million, an effective rate of 25.6%, against 24.3% a year earlier. Source

Interest and debt

  • Interest expense rose to $105.7 million: Interest expense, net was $105.7 million, up from $87.0 million, on higher average debt, a higher weighted-average rate and lower interest income. Source
  • Net leverage at 4.5 times: Net leverage as calculated under the credit agreement was 4.5x at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Interest coverage at 4.1x: The consolidated interest coverage ratio under the credit agreement was 4.1x. Source
  • Notes redeemed with $17.5 million loss: The company redeemed its 5.50% senior notes due December 2029, recording a $17.5 million loss on extinguishment in the six months. Source
  • Swap income of $1.7 million: Income on swaps was $1.7 million in the quarter, against $5.5 million of expense a year earlier. Source

Share repurchases

  • Q2 buybacks totaled $331.0 million: Post bought back 3.3 million shares in the quarter at an average price of $99.85. Six-month repurchases were 7.0 million shares for $709.9 million. Source
  • Buybacks continued after quarter end: Through May 5, 2026, Post repurchased 1.1 million shares for $111.9 million, at an average price of $101.84. Source
  • $236.6 million unused under prior plan: As of May 5, 2026, $236.6 million remained unused under the existing authorization. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Six-month free cash flow $270.3 million: Free cash flow was $270.3 million for the six months, against $241.6 million, after operating cash flow of $478.0 million. Source
  • Six-month capital spending fell: Capital expenditures were $207.7 million for the six months, against $229.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Financing outflows rose to $561.6 million: Financing activities used $561.6 million in the six months, against $292.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $269.4 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $269.4 million at March 31, 2026, up from $176.7 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Portfolio and held-for-sale assets

  • 8th Avenue pasta business sold: Post sold the pasta business of 8th Avenue on December 1, 2025. Its results before the sale stayed in Post Consumer Brands. Source
  • Current held-for-sale assets fell: Current assets held for sale were $21.1 million at March 31, 2026, against $116.3 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Other held-for-sale assets fell: Other assets held for sale were $60.3 million, against $424.8 million at September 30, 2025. Source

Reporting basis and management

  • Non-GAAP measures tied to bonuses: Management uses non-GAAP measures in planning decisions and, in part, to set executive and employee bonuses. Source
  • Guidance given only on non-GAAP basis: Adjusted EBITDA guidance is provided only on a non-GAAP basis, with no reconciliation to the closest GAAP measure. Source
  • CEO, COO and CFO join the call: Chairman, President and CEO Robert V. Vitale, COO Nicolas Catoggio and CFO Matthew J. Mainer will take part in the call. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Prepared remarks posted after release: Prepared remarks will be published on the company website shortly after the release. Source
  • New buyback may start May 9: Repurchases under the new authorization may begin on May 9, 2026. Source
  • Existing authorization cancelled May 8: The existing $500 million authorization is set to be cancelled effective May 8, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Post Consumer Brands volumes, excluding 8th Avenue Sourcedecreased 10.0%
Pet food volumes Sourcedeclined 14.1%
Cereal and granola volumes Sourcedeclined 3.5%
Foodservice volumes, excluding PPI Sourceincreased 6.7%
Refrigerated Retail volumes Sourceincreased 5.6%
Refrigerated Retail side dish volumes Source12.4%
Weetabix volumes Sourcedecreased 2.6%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Pet food volumes fell on distribution losses and the lapping of prior-year customer inventory shifts. Source
  • Demand: Cereal and granola volume losses were attributed to category declines. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management refers back to the fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range set earlier and affirms it. 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.