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J.M. Smucker Co.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 June 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 13 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 6 percent: Fourth-quarter net sales were $2,268.1 million, up $124.3 million. Excluding a prior-year divestiture amount and currency, net sales also rose 6 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 20 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.77 against $2.31. GAAP net income per diluted share was $3.64, against a $6.85 loss a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS fell 10 percent: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS was $9.15, down 10 percent. GAAP net loss per diluted share for the year was $1.30. Source
  • Coffee sales rose 12 percent: U.S. Retail Coffee net sales were $830.6 million. Segment profit was $214.0 million, up 1 percent, at a 25.8 percent margin, down 280 basis points. Source
  • Fourth-quarter cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $579.2 million against $393.9 million; free cash flow was $483.9 million against $298.9 million, with capital expenditures of $95.3 million. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $1.2 billion: Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow was $1.5 billion against $1.2 billion. Capital expenditures were $317.4 million, versus $393.8 million a year earlier. Source

“We delivered positive net sales and earnings growth in the quarter, while navigating a dynamic external environment, and we are entering fiscal year 2027 with meaningful momentum.”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal 2027 versus fiscal 2026decrease 3.0 to 4.0 percentNew
Adjusted earnings per share Sourcefiscal 2027$9.75 to $10.25New
Net income per diluted share (GAAP) Sourcefiscal 2027$7.94 to $8.44New
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027$1.0 billionNew
Operating cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027$1,325.0 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027$325.0 millionNew
Adjusted gross profit margin Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 38.0 percentNew
SD&A expenses Sourcefiscal 2027 versus fiscal 2026increase of approximately 5.0 percentNew
Interest expense Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $345.0 millionNew
Adjusted effective income tax rate Sourcefiscal 202724.3 percentNew
Weighted-average common shares Sourcefiscal 2027107.0 millionNew
Amortization per share Sourcefiscal 2027$1.64New
Derivative gains and losses expected to be allocated to future non-GAAP results Sourcefiscal 2027$0.16 per shareNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 guidance was provided. The prior release gave fiscal 2026 guidance, which covered the year now reported. Source
  • New: Away From Home became a reportable segment; International is now shown as Other, with prior-year amounts modified to match. Source

Fourth quarter results

  • Net sales rose 6 percent: Fourth-quarter net sales were $2,268.1 million, up $124.3 million. Excluding a prior-year divestiture amount and currency, net sales also rose 6 percent. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 20 percent: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.77 against $2.31. GAAP net income per diluted share was $3.64, against a $6.85 loss a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income rose on lapped impairments: GAAP operating income was $444.5 million against a $599.1 million loss. Management attributed the rise mainly to lapping prior-year impairment charges. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 14 percent: Adjusted operating income was $482.1 million against $422.4 million; adjusted operating margin was 21.3 percent against 19.7 percent. Source

Full-year fiscal 2026 results

  • Full-year net sales rose 4 percent: Fiscal 2026 net sales were $9.1 billion, up 4 percent. Excluding divestitures and currency, net sales rose 5 percent. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS fell 10 percent: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS was $9.15, down 10 percent. GAAP net loss per diluted share for the year was $1.30. Source
  • Full-year operating income after impairments: Fiscal 2026 operating income was $360.2 million against a $673.9 million loss. The year included $507.5 million of goodwill and $454.2 million of intangible impairment charges. Source

“Looking ahead, our strategic priorities for the fiscal year are to - drive focused organic volume growth across our key platforms, improve profitability and accelerate earnings growth, and maintain a disciplined approach to capital deployment.”

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

Segment results

  • Coffee sales rose 12 percent: U.S. Retail Coffee net sales were $830.6 million. Segment profit was $214.0 million, up 1 percent, at a 25.8 percent margin, down 280 basis points. Source
  • Frozen handheld profit up 37 percent: U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads net sales were $454.1 million, up 1 percent. Segment profit rose 37 percent to $124.7 million, a 27.5 percent margin. Source
  • Pet foods profit up 18 percent: U.S. Retail Pet Foods net sales were $401.7 million, up 2 percent. Segment profit rose 18 percent to $125.7 million, a 31.3 percent margin. Source
  • Sweet Baked Snacks sales fell: Sweet Baked Snacks net sales were $237.2 million, down 5 percent. Segment profit rose 45 percent to $29.0 million, a 12.2 percent margin. Source
  • Away From Home sales up 15 percent: Away From Home net sales were $228.3 million, up 15 percent. Segment profit rose 21 percent to $55.3 million, a 24.2 percent margin. Source
  • Other segment is International: Other, the International operating segment, had net sales of $116.2 million against $109.7 million and segment profit of $20.5 million against $23.4 million. Source

Pricing and volume by segment

  • Coffee price realization drove sales: In coffee, net price realization added 21 percentage points to net sales, from higher net pricing across the portfolio. Source
  • Frozen pricing from Uncrustables and Jif: Frozen handheld and spreads price added 2 points, from higher Uncrustables pricing and lower Jif trade spend. Source
  • Pet volume fell on dog snacks: Pet foods volume/mix took away 2 points, mainly dog snacks and lapping divested-brand contract manufacturing sales, partly offset by cat food. Source
  • Sweet Baked Snacks volume down 12 points: Volume/mix took away 12 points, from snack cakes and breakfast, partly offset by donuts. Higher net pricing added 8 points. Source
  • Away From Home volume added 6 points: Away From Home volume/mix added 6 points, driven by Uncrustables, fruit spreads and coffee. Net price realization added 8 points, mainly coffee pricing. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin fell on higher costs: Gross margin was 38.0 percent against 38.4 percent. Adjusted gross margin was 36.8 percent against 37.5 percent, with higher costs and unfavorable volume/mix. Source
  • SD&A spending fell: Selling, distribution and administrative expenses were $357.8 million, down 6 percent, or 15.8 percent of net sales. Marketing spend was $94.1 million against $124.3 million. Source
  • Adjusted tax rate rose on state taxes: Net interest expense was $87.9 million, down 7 percent. The adjusted tax rate was 24.5 percent against 23.9 percent, reflecting state income tax impacts. Source
  • Pension settlement charge excluded: A pension plan termination settlement charge of $26.2 million was excluded from adjusted results in the quarter, and $34.0 million for the year. Source

Cash flow, debt and shareholder returns

  • Fourth-quarter cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $579.2 million against $393.9 million; free cash flow was $483.9 million against $298.9 million, with capital expenditures of $95.3 million. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $1.2 billion: Fiscal 2026 operating cash flow was $1.5 billion against $1.2 billion. Capital expenditures were $317.4 million, versus $393.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt repayment and lower long-term debt: Total debt repayment for fiscal 2026 was $720.0 million. Net cash outflows related to debt in the fourth quarter were $370.5 million. Source
  • Dividends returned cash to shareholders: Dividends paid totaled $464.7 million in fiscal 2026. The dividend declared was $4.40 per share, against $4.32 a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 June 2026

  • Management discussion posted today: A pre-recorded management discussion, transcript and supplemental materials will be posted to the investor website at 7:00 a.m. Eastern. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net price realization, comparable net sales (fourth quarter) Source+10 percentage points
Volume/mix, comparable net sales (fourth quarter) Source-4 percentage points

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited a dynamic and evolving external environment, including geopolitical, macroeconomic and policy changes and shifts in consumer behavior, as factors that could affect fiscal 2027 results. Source
  • Regulatory: Fiscal 2027 guidance excludes any effect from new or changed tariffs and from tariff refunds. Source
  • Operational: Higher commodity costs and tariffs were partly offset by higher net price realization in the fourth quarter, and volume/mix was unfavorable. Source
  • Demand: Coffee volume fell for Dunkin' and Folgers, with a partial offset from Café Bustelo, according to management. 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.