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J.M. Smucker Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 lowered, 1 new, 9 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales grew 7 percent: Net sales were $2,339.4 million against $2,186.0 million a year earlier. Excluding divestitures and currency, net sales rose 8 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 9 percent: Adjusted EPS was $2.38 against $2.61. Adjusted operating income was $431.6 million, down 7 percent from $463.8 million. Source
  • Net loss driven by impairment charges: Net loss per diluted share was $6.79 against $6.22. Goodwill impairment charges were $507.5 million and other intangible impairment charges $454.2 million. Source
  • Coffee sales up, segment profit down: U.S. Retail Coffee net sales rose 23 percent to $908.2 million, while segment profit fell 5 percent to $199.0 million, a 21.9 percent margin. Source
  • Sweet Baked Snacks profit fell 78 percent: Sweet Baked Snacks net sales fell 19 percent to $224.8 million, and segment profit fell to $12.2 million, a 5.4 percent margin. Source
  • Gross profit fell 6 percent: Gross profit was $827.8 million against $878.1 million. Gross margin was 35.4 percent against 40.2 percent. Source
  • Operating cash flow was higher: Cash from operations was $558.5 million against $239.4 million, mainly on less cash needed for working capital and lower cash taxes. Source

“net sales and adjusted earnings per share exceeded our expectations”

Mark Smucker, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of the Board

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth vs. prior year SourceFiscal 2026 full year3.5% to 4.0%Lowered from 3.5% to 4.5%
Comparable net sales growth SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately 5.0 to 5.5 percentLowered from approximately 5.0 to 6.0 percent
Adjusted earnings per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year$8.75 to $9.25Kept
Net income per diluted share (GAAP) SourceFiscal 2026 full year($1.89) to ($1.39)Lowered from $5.66 to $6.16
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $975.0 millionKept
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026 full year$325.0 millionKept
Adjusted effective income tax rate SourceFiscal 2026 full year24.0 percentRaised from 23.8 percent
Adjusted gross profit margin SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately 35.0 percentKept
SD&A expenses SourceFiscal 2026 full yearflat-to-slightly down versus prior year
Interest expense SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $380.0 millionKept
Weighted-average diluted shares SourceFiscal 2026 full year106.9 millionKept
Operating cash flow SourceFiscal 2026 full year$1,300.0 millionKept
Special project costs per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year$1.01 per shareRaised from $0.58 per share
Pension plan termination settlement charge per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year$0.57 per shareRaised from $0.32 per share
Goodwill and intangible impairment charges per share SourceFiscal 2026 full year$6.29 per share (goodwill); $5.63 per share (other intangible assets)New
Contract manufacturing sales decline SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $38.0 millionKept
Net sales impact of divestitures SourceFiscal 2026 full year$134.7 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Top of the full-year net sales growth range reduced from 4.5 percent to 4.0 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Comparable net sales growth range for the full year reduced from about 5.0 to 6.0 percent to about 5.0 to 5.5 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: GAAP diluted net income per share range for the full year moved to ($1.89) to ($1.39) from $5.66 to $6.16. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted effective income tax rate for the full year raised to 24.0 percent from 23.8 percent. Source
  • New guidance: Goodwill and other intangible impairment charges per share added as reconciling lines in the full-year guidance table. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EPS, free cash flow and capital expenditure guidance maintained for the full year. Source
  • New: A February fire at the Emporia, Kansas manufacturing facility is reflected in the revised net sales range. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales grew 7 percent: Net sales were $2,339.4 million against $2,186.0 million a year earlier. Excluding divestitures and currency, net sales rose 8 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 9 percent: Adjusted EPS was $2.38 against $2.61. Adjusted operating income was $431.6 million, down 7 percent from $463.8 million. Source
  • Net loss driven by impairment charges: Net loss per diluted share was $6.79 against $6.22. Goodwill impairment charges were $507.5 million and other intangible impairment charges $454.2 million. Source
  • Price realization drove comparable growth: Net price realization added 10 percentage points to comparable net sales, mainly from higher coffee pricing. Source

Segments and regions

  • Coffee sales up, segment profit down: U.S. Retail Coffee net sales rose 23 percent to $908.2 million, while segment profit fell 5 percent to $199.0 million, a 21.9 percent margin. Source
  • Sweet Baked Snacks profit fell 78 percent: Sweet Baked Snacks net sales fell 19 percent to $224.8 million, and segment profit fell to $12.2 million, a 5.4 percent margin. Source
  • Frozen handheld profit rose on pricing: Net sales rose 2 percent to $454.0 million and segment profit rose 4 percent to $103.6 million, a 22.8 percent margin. Lower pre-production expenses for a new Uncrustables facility also contributed. Source
  • Pet foods profit up on lower marketing: Pet Foods net sales fell 1 percent to $417.1 million, and segment profit rose 4 percent to $121.9 million, a 29.2 percent margin. Source
  • International sales up 12 percent: International and Away From Home net sales rose 12 percent to $335.3 million, and segment profit rose 17 percent to $72.0 million. Source

“We have the right strategy and leadership team in place to support long-term value creation for all of our shareholders.”

Mark Smucker, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of the Board

Products and customers

  • Café Bustelo offset coffee declines: Coffee volume/mix fell on declines for Dunkin’ and Folgers, partly offset by Café Bustelo. Source
  • Sweet baked volume fell: Sweet Baked Snacks volume/mix reduced segment net sales by 10 percentage points, mainly snack cakes, donuts and breakfast. Net price was neutral. Source
  • Uncrustables gains internationally: International volume/mix was neutral: Uncrustables and coffee rose, while fruit spreads, portion control, cat food and peanut butter declined. Source
  • Pet food volume down on dog snacks: Pet Foods volume/mix cut sales 2 points, mainly from lapping divested-brand contract manufacturing and fewer dog snacks. Cat food rose. Source
  • Peanut butter volume up in frozen: Frozen Handheld and Spreads volume/mix was neutral, with peanut butter rising and fruit spreads falling. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit fell 6 percent: Gross profit was $827.8 million against $878.1 million. Gross margin was 35.4 percent against 40.2 percent. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin narrowed: Adjusted operating income was $431.6 million, an 18.4 percent margin against 21.2 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate rose on withholding: Adjusted effective tax rate was 24.3 percent against 23.7 percent, reflecting added withholding taxes on repatriated foreign cash. Source
  • SD&A expenses edged lower: SD&A was $363.2 million, or 15.5 percent of net sales, against $367.6 million, or 16.8 percent. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain confident in our fiscal 2026 outlook and are focused on driving top-line growth, while enhancing profitability and earnings for the Company.”

Mark Smucker, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chair of the Board

Cash flow and working capital

  • Operating cash flow was higher: Cash from operations was $558.5 million against $239.4 million, mainly on less cash needed for working capital and lower cash taxes. Source
  • Free cash flow was $487.0 million: Free cash flow was $487.0 million against $151.3 million, with capital expenditures lower than the prior year. Source
  • Working capital needed less cash: Less cash went to working capital and to income and other taxes. Lower net income adjusted for noncash items partly offset this. Source
  • Long-term debt repaid: The company repaid $200.0 million of long-term debt in the quarter and a net $268.4 million of short-term borrowings. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Dividend per share up 2 percent: Dividends declared were $1.10 per share against $1.08. Dividends paid in the quarter were $116.7 million. Source
  • Capital spending below prior year: Additions to property, plant and equipment were $71.5 million in the quarter, against $88.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Treasury share purchases recorded: Purchases of treasury shares were $0.2 million in the quarter and $5.2 million for the nine months. Source

Impairments, divestitures and tax

  • Divestiture loss lapped: Operating loss was $548.4 million against $594.0 million, after lapping a $50.2 million pre-tax divestiture loss in the prior year. Source
  • Pension plan settlement charge: A nonrecurring pre-tax settlement charge of $7.8 million was recorded on termination of one U.S. qualified defined benefit plan. Source
  • Negative tax rate from impairments: Effective tax rate was negative 11.1 percent. Both years reflect tax effects of the Sweet Baked Snacks goodwill impairment charges. Source

Strategy and management view

  • Focused strategy on consumers: Management described a focused strategy around consumer categories, brands and retail reach. Source
  • Portfolio and cost control credited: Management credited the brand portfolio and cost management for the quarter's results. Source
  • Full-year guidance updated: Management said the company updated its full-year fiscal 2026 financial guidance, with the changes listed above. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 February 2026

  • Pre-recorded discussion posted: A pre-recorded management discussion, transcript and supplemental materials were to be posted to the website at about 7:00 a.m. Eastern. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix effect on comparable net sales Source2 percentage point decrease

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management attributed a guidance change to a February fire at the Emporia, Kansas manufacturing facility. Source
  • External: Management said guidance reflects current expectations in a dynamic and evolving external environment. Source
  • Demand: Management said price realization offset a decline in volume/mix in comparable net sales for the year. Source
  • External: Higher commodity costs and tariffs reduced U.S. Retail Coffee segment profit, management said. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The pension plan termination settlement charge was described as anticipated to be realized in fiscal 2026 on settlement of the pension obligations. 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.