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Simply Good Foods Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter sales fell on lapped extra week: Fourth-quarter net sales were $369.0 million, down 1.8%. Lapping the extra week was a 6.9% headwind, offset by 3.5% organic growth and $5.6 million from OWYN. Source
  • Quarter Adjusted EBITDA fell 14.5%: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $66.2 million, down from $77.5 million. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.46 versus $0.50. Source
  • Atkins impairment drove quarterly loss: A $60.9 million non-cash impairment on the Atkins brand and related intangibles is included in the fourth-quarter net loss of $12.4 million, versus net income of $29.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Quarter gross margin down 450 basis points: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 34.3%, down 450 basis points, driven primarily by elevated input costs. Gross profit fell 13.3%. Source
  • Early-year cost lag weighs on profit: Margin and Adjusted EBITDA declines reflect inflation and tariff expenses hitting the first half before productivity, pricing and lower costs build in the second half. Source
  • Margin expansion starts in third quarter: Year-over-year margin expansion and Adjusted EBITDA growth are expected to begin in the third quarter and build through year end. Source
  • Vision: scaled leader in high-protein foods: Management said the vision is to be the scaled leader in high protein, low sugar and low carb products, fueled by a shift in eating habits that continues to mainstream. Source

“Fiscal year 2025 finished with solid results, with net sales up 9% on a reported basis and 3% Adjusted EBITDA growth.”

Geoff Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal year 2026between -2% and +2% year-over-yearNew
Gross margin SourceFiscal year 2026decline between 100 and 150 basis points year-over-yearNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal year 2026between -4% and +1% year-over-yearNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 ranges for net sales, gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA were issued; the prior release gave only fiscal 2025 figures. Source
  • New: The Board raised the existing stock repurchase program by $150 million on October 21, 2025. The program was first adopted in November 2018. Source
  • New: Organic growth is now defined as growth for brands owned more than twelve months, replacing the earlier organic or legacy reference. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Quarter sales fell on lapped extra week: Fourth-quarter net sales were $369.0 million, down 1.8%. Lapping the extra week was a 6.9% headwind, offset by 3.5% organic growth and $5.6 million from OWYN. Source
  • Full-year sales rose 9.0%: Full-year net sales were $1,450.9 million, up 9.0%. OWYN added 7.9% and organic growth 3.0%, while the prior-year extra week was a 2.1% headwind. Source
  • Quarter Adjusted EBITDA fell 14.5%: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $66.2 million, down from $77.5 million. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.46 versus $0.50. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA up 3.4%: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $278.2 million. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $1.92 versus $1.83, and reported diluted EPS was $1.02 versus $1.38. Source
  • Atkins impairment drove quarterly loss: A $60.9 million non-cash impairment on the Atkins brand and related intangibles is included in the fourth-quarter net loss of $12.4 million, versus net income of $29.3 million a year earlier. Source

Brand takeaway and OWYN

  • Atkins faces reduced distribution: Atkins takeaway fell about 10% for the year. Management cites reduced distribution for Atkins as one of two main challenges for fiscal 2026. Source
  • Quest and OWYN takeaway rose for year: Full-year retail takeaway rose about 5% in total, with Quest up about 12% and OWYN up about 34%. Source
  • OWYN acquired mid-fiscal 2024: OWYN was acquired June 13, 2024, so the prior-year period holds only part of its results. OWYN full-year net sales were $137.0 million. Source

“Even as we face these headwinds, we are taking the right actions for our portfolio, for the category, and for our Company to enable sustainable growth and to create shareholder value for years to come.”

Geoff Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and inflation

  • Quarter gross margin down 450 basis points: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 34.3%, down 450 basis points, driven primarily by elevated input costs. Gross profit fell 13.3%. Source
  • Full-year gross margin down 220 basis points: Full-year gross margin was 36.2%, down 220 basis points, mainly from elevated input cost pressure and the OWYN Acquisition. Source
  • Underlying G&A rose on staff and corporate costs: Excluding integration, stock compensation and other one-time items, G&A rose $9.1 million to $117.3 million, mainly on employee-related and corporate costs. Source
  • Atkins marketing cut lowered selling spend: Selling and marketing expense fell $9.6 million to $134.3 million for the year, mainly from a planned cut in Atkins marketing. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance and phasing

  • Quest and OWYN growth offsets Atkins: Continued innovation and distribution-driven growth for Quest and OWYN is expected to be offset by Atkins challenges across the year. Source
  • Early-year cost lag weighs on profit: Margin and Adjusted EBITDA declines reflect inflation and tariff expenses hitting the first half before productivity, pricing and lower costs build in the second half. Source
  • Margin expansion starts in third quarter: Year-over-year margin expansion and Adjusted EBITDA growth are expected to begin in the third quarter and build through year end. Source
  • Higher marketing for Quest and OWYN: The fiscal 2026 projections include more marketing for Quest and OWYN, with a significant increase for OWYN to build trial and awareness. Source

“We largely completed the integration of OWYN, invested meaningfully in our brands and capabilities despite inflationary pressures, and leveraged our strong cash flow to improve our balance sheet and return cash to shareholders”

Geoff Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Capital, cash and returns

  • Operating cash flow fell: Cash flow from operations was about $178.5 million, down from $215.7 million, mainly on higher working capital use. Source
  • Term loan repaid by $150 million: The company repaid $150.0 million of term loan debt and repurchased about $50.9 million of stock in the year. Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 0.5x. Source
  • $171 million left under buyback: Management reported $171 million available under the revised stock repurchase authorization as of October 23, 2025. Source
  • Fourth-quarter capital spending rose: Capital expenditures were about $20.5 million for the year, including $18.0 million in the fourth quarter, to support strategic growth investments. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Vision: scaled leader in high-protein foods: Management said the vision is to be the scaled leader in high protein, low sugar and low carb products, fueled by a shift in eating habits that continues to mainstream. Source
  • Three-part growth framework: The framework combines world class innovation, wider physical availability across store and online, and breakthrough marketing to build brand awareness. Source
  • Insurgent speed with scaled capabilities: Management is building an organization that combines the speed of an insurgent challenger with scaled selling and supply chain capabilities. Source
  • More growth fuel if warranted: Management said it is focused on long-term growth and will add more growth support if it finds the chance to do so. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 October 2025

  • Second half seen ahead of first half: Management expects the second half of fiscal 2026 to be higher than the first half on both net sales and profit. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Quest retail takeaway, fourth quarter Sourceabout 11%
OWYN retail takeaway, fourth quarter Sourceabout 14%
Atkins retail takeaway, fourth quarter Sourcedeclined about 12%
Total retail takeaway, fourth quarter Sourceabout 4%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Price elasticity and lapping of year-ago promotions are expected to slow growth in the first half of fiscal 2026. Source
  • External: Fiscal 2026 projections assume economic conditions, consumer purchasing and tariff rates stay generally consistent through the year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release set fiscal 2025 net sales growth at 8.5% to 9.5%. This release reports 9.0%.
  • Not stated: The prior release set fiscal 2025 Adjusted EBITDA growth at 4% to 5%. This release reports 3.4%.
  • Not stated: The prior release set OWYN fiscal 2025 net sales at $145 million, the midpoint of a $140-150 million range.

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.