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Primo Brands Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 3.8%: Net sales were $1,796.2 million against $1,730.1 million. Six-month net sales were $3,422.3 million against $3,343.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $385.0 million against $366.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.4%, up from 21.2% a year earlier and 18.8% in the first quarter. Source
  • Gross margin fell on transport costs: Gross margin was 30.5% against 31.3%. Transportation costs and depreciation and amortization rose, partly offset by revenue growth and lower integration costs. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow $200.1 million: Operating cash flow was $227.9 million against $155.0 million. Free cash flow was $123.3 million against $83.4 million, and adjusted free cash flow was $200.1 million against $169.7 million. Source
  • Net leverage ratio 3.42x: Total debt was $5.3 billion and unrestricted cash $366.5 million, giving net debt of $4.9 billion and a net leverage ratio of 3.42x, down from 3.52x at March 31. Source
  • Net sales growth range raised: Full-year comparable Net Sales growth range raised to 2% to 4% from 1% to 3%, the second consecutive raise, per management. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range unchanged: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range is $1,465 million to $1,515 million, unchanged; base capital expenditures stay at 4% of Net Sales. Source

“We are encouraged by our first-half progress, which reflects stronger fundamentals, improved execution, and increased momentum across the business,”

Eric Foss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Sales growth (comparable) Source2026 full year2% to 4%Raised from 1% to 3%
Adjusted EBITDA Source2026 full year$1,465 million to $1,515 millionKept
Base capital expenditures Source2026 full year4% of Net SalesKept
Adjusted free cash flow Source2026 full year$790 million to $810 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year comparable Net Sales growth range raised to 2% to 4% from 1% to 3%. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EBITDA range of $1,465 million to $1,515 million and base capital expenditures at 4% of Net Sales unchanged from the prior update. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted Free Cash Flow range of $790 million to $810 million unchanged from the prior update. Source

Second-quarter results and drivers

  • Net sales rose 3.8%: Net sales were $1,796.2 million against $1,730.1 million. Six-month net sales were $3,422.3 million against $3,343.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 5.0%: Adjusted EBITDA was $385.0 million against $366.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 21.4%, up from 21.2% a year earlier and 18.8% in the first quarter. Source
  • Net income and EPS higher: Net income from continuing operations was $69.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, against $30.5 million and $0.08. Operating income was $180.3 million against $112.8 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.37 against $0.36: Adjusted net income was $134.2 million against $137.1 million, a decline of $2.9 million. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.37 against $0.36. Source

Water types and sales mix

  • Premium water sales increased: Premium water net sales were $114.2 million against $87.5 million. Other water net sales fell to $31.8 million from $35.2 million. Source
  • Regional spring water sales increased: Regional spring water net sales were $911.0 million against $875.1 million. Purified water net sales were $556.1 million against $545.6 million. Source
  • Other categories declined: Other net sales were $183.1 million against $186.7 million. Source

“The strength we are seeing across the business gives us the confidence to raise our full-year Net Sales growth outlook for the second consecutive quarter.”

Eric Foss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Channels and customer mix

  • Exited office coffee business not recurring: Sales from the exited US Office Coffee Services business did not recur in the current quarter, partly offsetting the net sales increase. Source
  • Direct Delivery returned to growth early: Management said Direct Delivery returned to growth earlier than it had anticipated. Source
  • Top line above management's expectations: Management said second-quarter top-line results exceeded its expectations, with Retail channel growth led by regional spring water and premium brands. Source

Costs, margins and inflation

  • Gross margin fell on transport costs: Gross margin was 30.5% against 31.3%. Transportation costs and depreciation and amortization rose, partly offset by revenue growth and lower integration costs. Source
  • SG&A fell on marketing and amortization: SG&A expenses were $345.5 million against $378.6 million, with lower marketing costs and lower amortization of definite-lived intangibles. Source
  • Integration costs declined: Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses were $10.0 million in the quarter against $49.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Inflation managed through multiple levers: Management said it is actively managing inflationary pressures through several levers across the business. No dollar amount for the pressure is given. Source

“We are reaffirming our Adjusted EBITDA guidance range as we continue to prioritize growth investments, while actively managing inflationary pressures through multiple levers across the business.”

Eric Foss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and leverage

  • Adjusted free cash flow $200.1 million: Operating cash flow was $227.9 million against $155.0 million. Free cash flow was $123.3 million against $83.4 million, and adjusted free cash flow was $200.1 million against $169.7 million. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow higher: Six-month operating cash flow from continuing operations was $331.7 million against $193.8 million. Source
  • Net leverage ratio 3.42x: Total debt was $5.3 billion and unrestricted cash $366.5 million, giving net debt of $4.9 billion and a net leverage ratio of 3.42x, down from 3.52x at March 31. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Dividends of $43.5 million paid: Cash dividends were $43.5 million for the quarter, against $37.4 million paid in the year-earlier quarter per the cash flow statement. Source
  • Share repurchases of $15.5 million: Share repurchases under the plan, including brokerage commissions, were $15.5 million in the quarter. Source
  • Shares outstanding declined: Shares outstanding were 362,464,702 at June 30, 2026, down from 363,940,940 at December 31, 2025. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Net sales growth range raised: Full-year comparable Net Sales growth range raised to 2% to 4% from 1% to 3%, the second consecutive raise, per management. Source
  • Comparable base excludes exited operations: The comparable base excludes the exited Eastern Canadian operations and the exited US Office Coffee Services business. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA range unchanged: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range is $1,465 million to $1,515 million, unchanged; base capital expenditures stay at 4% of Net Sales. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow range unchanged: Full-year Adjusted Free Cash Flow range is $790 million to $810 million, unchanged from the prior update. Source

Strategy and growth investment

  • Balanced growth and margin expansion: Management said it believes the company has the foundation for sustainable, balanced growth, margin expansion as growth scales, and long-term stockholder value. Source
  • Customer-first culture and route to market: Management cited a customer-first culture, a portfolio across the value spectrum, an advantaged route to market and disciplined execution. Source
  • Growth investment prioritized: Management said it continues to prioritize growth investments while keeping the Adjusted EBITDA range. Source

In management's words

“we believe we have the right foundation to drive sustainable, balanced growth, support margin expansion as growth scales, and create long-term stockholder value.”

Eric Foss, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail outlets served Sourcemore than 200,000
Exchange retail locations Sourceapproximately 26,500
Refill stations Sourceover 23,500 self-service
Springs in portfolio Sourceover 80

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management named inflationary pressures as an item it is managing with several levers across the business. Source
  • Operational: Transportation-related costs increased and were one of the cost lines that pressured gross margin. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said top-line results exceeded its own expectations for the quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the Adjusted EBITDA guidance range is reaffirmed. 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.