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Primo Brands Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 0.8%: Net sales were $1,626.1 million against $1,613.7 million. Premium brands drove the increase, partly offset by the exited US Office Coffee Services business not recurring. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 10.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $306.0 million against $341.5 million, and the Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.8% against 21.2%. Source
  • Gross margin fell 3.7 points: Gross margin was 28.6% against 32.3%. The company cited higher transportation costs, non-recurring integration costs, and higher depreciation and amortization of $141.0 million against $128.6 million. Source
  • Free cash flow negative in quarter: Free cash flow was $(14.3) million, against $(30.7) million a year earlier, after capital expenditures and additions to intangible assets of $118.1 million. Source
  • Net leverage rose to 3.52x: Net debt was $5.0 billion and the net leverage ratio was 3.52x, against 3.37x at December 31, 2025 in the prior release. Source
  • Investing to capture category momentum: Management said it is investing to capitalize on category momentum and the power of its brands, describing the company as a leader in a structurally advantaged category. Source

“First quarter top-line results exceeded our expectations, driven by robust growth in Retail channels led by our premium brands and continued improvement in Direct Delivery.”

Eric Foss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic net sales growth Sourcefull year 20261% to 3%Raised from 0% to 1%
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$1,465 to $1,515 (in millions)Lowered from $1,485 to $1,515 (in millions)
Base capital expenditures Sourcefull year 20264% of Net SalesKept
Adjusted free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$790 to $810 (in millions)Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Organic net sales growth guidance for 2026 raised to 1% to 3% from 0% to 1%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted EBITDA guidance low end lowered to $1,465 million from $1,485 million; high end kept at $1,515 million. Source
  • New: Comparable net sales presentation revised to exclude the exited Eastern Canadian operations and the exited US Office Coffee Services business, so 2025 comparable figures differ from earlier presentations. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 0.8%: Net sales were $1,626.1 million against $1,613.7 million. Premium brands drove the increase, partly offset by the exited US Office Coffee Services business not recurring. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 10.4%: Adjusted EBITDA was $306.0 million against $341.5 million, and the Adjusted EBITDA margin was 18.8% against 21.2%. Source
  • Per-share earnings lower year on year: Net income from continuing operations was $27.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, against $34.7 million and $0.09. Adjusted net income was $85.9 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, against $111.9 million and $0.29. Source

Segments, channels and water types

  • Premium water sales grew fastest: Premium water rose to $105.5 million from $73.9 million. Regional spring water was $801.2 million against $794.1 million, and purified water $511.2 million against $514.4 million. Source
  • Retail growth led by premium brands: Management attributed top-line growth to Retail channels led by premium brands, with continued improvement in Direct Delivery. The release gives no channel dollar figures. Source
  • Exited businesses removed from comparison: The 2025 comparable base excludes net sales of $3.6 million from exited Eastern Canadian operations and $25.5 million from the exited US Office Coffee Services business. Source

“By elevating service and execution, we’re positioned for sustained growth, margin expansion, stronger free cash flow, and long-term stakeholder value.”

Eric Foss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and inflation

  • Gross margin fell 3.7 points: Gross margin was 28.6% against 32.3%. The company cited higher transportation costs, non-recurring integration costs, and higher depreciation and amortization of $141.0 million against $128.6 million. Source
  • SG&A held steady as a share of sales: SG&A expenses were $336.7 million against $327.8 million, and management described them as relatively consistent as a percentage of net sales. Source
  • Other operating income in reconciliation: Other operating income, net was $30.6 million against $0.2 million of expense a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA removes unrealized foreign exchange and commodity forward gains of $28.5 million. Source
  • Levers cited against inflation: Management said it has multiple levers to help mitigate inflationary pressures, given the dynamic macro environment. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Free cash flow negative in quarter: Free cash flow was $(14.3) million, against $(30.7) million a year earlier, after capital expenditures and additions to intangible assets of $118.1 million. Source
  • Integration capital spending rose: Integration capital expenditures were $47.2 million against $2.8 million, and natural disaster related capital expenditures were $7.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow higher: Operating cash flow was $103.8 million against $38.8 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $128.6 million against $54.7 million. Source

Balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Net leverage rose to 3.52x: Net debt was $5.0 billion and the net leverage ratio was 3.52x, against 3.37x at December 31, 2025 in the prior release. Source
  • Dividends paid in quarter: Cash dividends for the quarter were $44.2 million. Source
  • Share repurchases of about $29.0 million: The company repurchased shares for approximately $29.0 million, including brokerage commissions, during the quarter. Source

Strategy and integration spend

  • Investing to capture category momentum: Management said it is investing to capitalize on category momentum and the power of its brands, describing the company as a leader in a structurally advantaged category. Source
  • Integration cash costs higher: Acquisition, integration and restructuring cash costs were $71.8 million, against $65.2 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Integration expenses in adjusted reconciliation: Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses in the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation were $41.2 million, against $39.8 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail outlets served Sourcemore than 200,000
Exchange retail locations Sourceapproximately 26,500
Refill stations Sourceover 23,500

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited inflationary pressures and a dynamic macro environment, which it said it is working to mitigate with multiple levers. Source
  • Operational: Higher transportation costs were cited as a pressure on gross margin, alongside non-recurring integration costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter top-line results exceeded its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release set the aim of sustained growth, margin expansion and free cash flow generation through reinvestment in the business.

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.