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J.M. Smucker Co.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 2 lowered, 1 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose five percent: Net sales reached $2.2 billion, up 5 percent: net price realization added 4 points and volume/mix added 1 point. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose on tariff refunds: Adjusted EPS was $3.24, up 71 percent from $1.90, including an $0.84 tariff refund benefit; GAAP diluted EPS was $3.03. Source
  • Coffee segment profit more than doubled: Coffee segment profit rose 124 percent to $300.0 million, a 37.1 percent margin, compared with 18.7 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Uncrustables and coffee volumes rose: Volume/mix added 1 point to consolidated net sales, driven by Uncrustables sandwiches and coffee, partly offset by lower sweet baked goods and peanut butter. Source
  • Gross profit rose 106 percent: Gross profit reached $979.6 million, with gross margin of 44.1 percent versus 22.5 percent, lifted by lower costs, tariff refunds and price. Source
  • Free cash flow improved to $337.3 million: Operating cash flow was $425.7 million against a $10.6 million outflow a year ago; capital expenditures were $88.4 million. Source
  • Three strategic priorities restated: Management said it is advancing organic volume growth in key platforms, improving profitability, and disciplined capital deployment. Source
  • Guidance excludes new tariff changes: Guidance assumes no new tariffs, no changes to existing tariffs, and no change to the first-quarter tariff refunds. Source

“Our first quarter results exceeded our expectations for both net sales and adjusted earnings per share, demonstrating continued momentum across the Company”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales change vs prior year Sourcefiscal 2027(2.0)% to (1.0)%Raised from (4.0)% to (3.0)%
Adjusted earnings per share Sourcefiscal 2027$10.50 - $11.00Raised from $9.75 - $10.25
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027$1.1 billionRaised from $1.0 billion
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027$325.0 millionKept
Adjusted effective income tax rate Sourcefiscal 202724.2 percentLowered from 24.3 percent
Adjusted gross profit margin Sourcefiscal 2027approximately 38.75 percentRaised from approximately 38.0 percent
SD&A expense growth Sourcefiscal 2027 vs prior yearapproximately 8.0 percentRaised from approximately 5.0 percent
Interest expense Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $335.0 millionLowered from approximately $345.0 million
Weighted-average diluted shares Sourcefiscal 2027107.1 millionRaised from 107.0 million
Tariff refund benefit to adjusted EPS Sourcefiscal 2027approximately $0.60New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year guidance raised for net sales, adjusted EPS and free cash flow. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Interest expense and adjusted tax rate guidance reduced from prior figures. Source
  • New guidance: Guidance now includes a tariff refund benefit, which prior guidance did not assume. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditures guidance held at $325.0 million. Source
  • New: Tariff refunds received in the quarter; prior guidance did not assume tariff refunds. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose five percent: Net sales reached $2.2 billion, up 5 percent: net price realization added 4 points and volume/mix added 1 point. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose on tariff refunds: Adjusted EPS was $3.24, up 71 percent from $1.90, including an $0.84 tariff refund benefit; GAAP diluted EPS was $3.03. Source
  • Operating income rose sharply: Operating income was $511.6 million versus $45.6 million a year earlier, with gross profit growth partly offset by higher SD&A. Source

Segments and regions

  • Coffee segment profit more than doubled: Coffee segment profit rose 124 percent to $300.0 million, a 37.1 percent margin, compared with 18.7 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Coffee pricing drove sales growth: Coffee net sales rose 13 percent to $807.8 million, with net price realization adding 10 points and volume/mix adding 2 points. Source
  • Frozen handheld profit up 13 percent: Frozen Handheld and Spreads net sales rose 3 percent to $499.3 million; segment profit rose 13 percent to $129.7 million, margin 26.0 percent. Source
  • Sweet Baked Snacks sales and profit fell: Sweet Baked Snacks net sales fell 7 percent to $236.5 million, with volume/mix down 8 points, and segment profit fell 13 percent to $29.9 million. Source
  • Away From Home profit rose 19 percent: Away From Home net sales rose 3 percent to $203.7 million; segment profit rose 19 percent to $61.2 million, a 30.0 percent margin. Source
  • Pet Foods profit slipped slightly: Pet Foods net sales rose 1 percent to $371.7 million, while segment profit fell 2 percent to $98.9 million on higher costs and marketing. Source

“Our performance reflects the strength of our differentiated portfolio, disciplined execution against our strategic priorities, and the investments we continue to make in our brands and capabilities.”

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

Products and volume

  • Uncrustables and coffee volumes rose: Volume/mix added 1 point to consolidated net sales, driven by Uncrustables sandwiches and coffee, partly offset by lower sweet baked goods and peanut butter. Source
  • Peanut butter and spreads volumes dipped: Frozen Handheld and Spreads volume/mix added 1 point, with Uncrustables gains partly offset by lower peanut butter and fruit spreads. Source
  • Away From Home volume gains mixed: Away From Home volume/mix added 2 points, led by Uncrustables sandwiches and fruit spreads, while coffee volume declined. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit rose 106 percent: Gross profit reached $979.6 million, with gross margin of 44.1 percent versus 22.5 percent, lifted by lower costs, tariff refunds and price. Source
  • Tariff refunds boosted gross profit: Gross profit included about $115.0 million of tariff refunds received during the quarter, which prior guidance did not assume. Source
  • Adjusted gross profit up 28 percent: Adjusted gross profit rose $207.0 million, or 28 percent, to $950.2 million, with adjusted gross margin of 42.8 percent. Source
  • SD&A costs grew faster than sales: SD&A expenses rose to $410.5 million, or 18.5 percent of net sales, with general and administrative costs up to $139.3 million. Source
  • Tax rate rose on prior-year loss: The effective tax rate was 24.2 percent versus 22.3 percent; management tied the increase to the prior-year pre-tax loss. Source
  • Derivative gains shaped GAAP results: A $29.4 million net derivative gain was recognized in GAAP results and excluded from adjusted results; the prior year had a $253.1 million loss. Source

“We remain confident in our ability to deliver long-term growth and increase shareholder value.”

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

Cash, debt and capital

  • Free cash flow improved to $337.3 million: Operating cash flow was $425.7 million against a $10.6 million outflow a year ago; capital expenditures were $88.4 million. Source
  • Operating cash rose on working capital: Operating cash rose on higher net income adjusted for noncash items and less cash needed for working capital. Source
  • Debt outflows of $230.8 million: Net debt-related cash outflows were $230.8 million; short-term borrowings were $193.5 million at quarter end versus $420.9 million. Source
  • Dividends declared rose slightly: Quarterly dividends paid were $116.8 million; dividends declared rose to $1.12 per share from $1.10. Source

Guidance and strategy

  • Three strategic priorities restated: Management said it is advancing organic volume growth in key platforms, improving profitability, and disciplined capital deployment. Source
  • Confidence in long-term growth: Management said it remains confident in its ability to deliver long-term growth and increase shareholder value. Source
  • Guidance excludes new tariff changes: Guidance assumes no new tariffs, no changes to existing tariffs, and no change to the first-quarter tariff refunds. Source
  • Derivative effects not projected: Management cannot project derivative gains and losses forward, so guidance carries only amounts already recognized through July 31, 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 August 2026

  • Pre-recorded discussion posted: A pre-recorded management discussion, transcript and supplemental materials were to be posted to the investor website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix contribution to consolidated net sales Source+1 percentage point

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management flagged a changing external environment, including geopolitical, macroeconomic, policy and consumer behavior shifts, as a possible guidance influence. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes no new tariffs or tariff changes, so any tariff moves would fall outside the current guidance. Source
  • Financial: Derivative gains and losses vary each quarter with market conditions and are not forecast in the guidance. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter results exceeded its expectations for net sales and adjusted earnings per share. 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.