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Simply Good Foods Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales flat, Quest offset declines: Net sales were $340.2 million, down 0.3%. Quest growth of 9.6% offset declines of 16.5% for Atkins and 3.3% for OWYN. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 20.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $55.6 million, down from $70.1 million. Net income was $25.3 million, down 33.7%, and diluted EPS was $0.26 versus $0.38. Source
  • Gross profit fell on input costs: Gross profit fell 15.8% to $109.9 million. Management cited elevated input inflation and the first full quarter of tariff expenses, with productivity a modest offset. Source
  • Buybacks accelerated in the quarter: The company repurchased about 5.0 million shares for about $100 million in the quarter. Year-to-date through January 6, 2026, it bought 7.4 million shares for $146.6 million. Source
  • Term loan raised, leverage 0.8x: Cash was $194.1 million and the term loan balance was $400.0 million. Trailing twelve-month net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 0.8x. Source
  • Margin growth expected from Q3: Management expects year-over-year margin expansion and adjusted EBITDA growth to begin in the third quarter and build through fiscal year-end, after first-half cost pressure. Source

“Our first quarter financial performance came in modestly ahead of our expectations.”

Geoff Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal year 2026-2% to +2% year-over-yearKept
Gross margin Sourcefiscal year 2026decline of 100 to 150 basis points year-over-yearKept
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2026-4% to +1% year-over-yearKept
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2026$19 to $21 millionNew
Weighted average diluted shares Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 96 million sharesNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal year 2026approximately 25%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 net sales, gross margin and adjusted EBITDA ranges were reaffirmed without change. Source
  • New guidance: Net interest expense range of $19 to $21 million was given for the first time, reflecting the term loan increase. Source
  • New guidance: Weighted average diluted share count of approximately 96 million was given for the first time. Source
  • New: The company borrowed an additional $150.0 million alongside a three-year extension of its credit facilities, which closed in November 2025. Source
  • New: The board approved a $200 million increase to the share repurchase program on January 6, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales flat, Quest offset declines: Net sales were $340.2 million, down 0.3%. Quest growth of 9.6% offset declines of 16.5% for Atkins and 3.3% for OWYN. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 20.6%: Adjusted EBITDA was $55.6 million, down from $70.1 million. Net income was $25.3 million, down 33.7%, and diluted EPS was $0.26 versus $0.38. Source
  • Fewer diluted shares from buybacks: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.39 versus $0.49. Weighted diluted shares were 99.1 million, a modest decline reflecting share repurchases. Source

Segments and regions

  • Atkins sales declined, Quest rose: Atkins North America net sales were $90.3 million versus $108.2 million. Quest rose to $210.3 million from $191.9 million. North America totalled $331.8 million. Source
  • OWYN sales eased on product issue: OWYN net sales were $31.2 million versus $32.3 million. Management linked the decline to a previously disclosed product quality issue and elevated retailer inventory at the start of the quarter. Source

“With our initiatives to accelerate our top line and rebuild our margins in the second half on track, we are reaffirming our full year outlook.”

Geoff Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Quest and OWYN led consumption: Total company consumption grew 2%. Management said Quest and OWYN grew aggregate consumption in double digits, while Atkins performed as expected. Source
  • Atkins takeaway fell as expected: Retail takeaway for the three brands combined rose about 1.8%. Atkins retail takeaway declined 19.3%, which management described as expected. Source
  • Long growth runway cited for Quest: Management pointed to long runways for growth for Quest and OWYN, a history of strong margins, and a record of converting adjusted EBITDA into free cash flow. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross profit fell on input costs: Gross profit fell 15.8% to $109.9 million. Management cited elevated input inflation and the first full quarter of tariff expenses, with productivity a modest offset. Source
  • Gross margin down, excluding one-offs: Gross margin was 32.3%, down 590 basis points. Excluding one-time OWYN integration and prior-year step-up items, gross margin was 33.1%, down 540 basis points. Source
  • Operating expenses fell 4.7%: Operating expenses were $72.3 million. Selling and marketing fell 10.1% on planned Atkins declines, and G&A excluding one-time items fell 4.4% on OWYN synergies and cost controls. Source

“Simply Good Foods remains well positioned as a leader in the mainstreaming of the high protein, low sugar and low carb nutritional snacking category.”

Geoff Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, balance sheet and capital returns

  • Buybacks accelerated in the quarter: The company repurchased about 5.0 million shares for about $100 million in the quarter. Year-to-date through January 6, 2026, it bought 7.4 million shares for $146.6 million. Source
  • Term loan raised, leverage 0.8x: Cash was $194.1 million and the term loan balance was $400.0 million. Trailing twelve-month net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 0.8x. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose on working capital: Cash from operations was $50.1 million versus $32.0 million, primarily from improved working capital. Capital expenditures were $2.1 million. Source
  • Net interest expense fell 46.5%: Net interest expense was $3.8 million, reflecting lower average term loan balances. The effective tax rate was 25.3%. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised $200 million: The board increased the existing repurchase program by $200 million. About $224 million was available under the revised program as of January 6, 2026. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance and phasing

  • Margin growth expected from Q3: Management expects year-over-year margin expansion and adjusted EBITDA growth to begin in the third quarter and build through fiscal year-end, after first-half cost pressure. Source
  • Second quarter expected weakest for sales: Management continues to expect the second half to be stronger on both top and bottom line, with the second quarter the weakest net sales growth quarter. Source
  • Higher marketing for Quest and OWYN: The guidance assumes higher marketing spending for Quest and OWYN, including a significant increase in support for the OWYN brand to build trial and awareness. Source
  • Economy and tariff assumptions stated: The guidance assumes current economic conditions, consumer purchasing behavior and prevailing tariff rates remain generally consistent across the fiscal year. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 January 2026

  • Margin expansion expected from third quarter: Management expects year-over-year margin expansion and adjusted EBITDA growth to begin in the third quarter and build through year-end. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total company consumption growth Source2%
Total retail takeaway growth Sourceabout 1.8%
Quest retail takeaway growth Source12.0%
OWYN retail takeaway growth Source17.8%
Atkins retail takeaway change Source-19.3%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Elevated input inflation and the first full quarter of tariff expenses raised costs, partly offset by productivity. Source
  • Operational: OWYN sales were still affected by a previously disclosed product quality issue and elevated retailer inventory at the start of the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management expects challenges for Atkins, with price elasticity and lapping of promotions weighing on growth in the first half. Source
  • Financial: The term loan balance rose to $400.0 million from $250.0 million at fiscal year-end, adding debt and interest. Source
  • Regulatory: The guidance assumes prevailing tariff rates stay generally consistent through the fiscal year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first quarter results came in modestly ahead of its expectations. Source
  • On track: Management said initiatives to rebuild margins in the second half are on track. Source
  • Met: Management said Atkins performed as expected in the quarter. Source
  • Met: Management said the gross margin decline was consistent with its previously provided expectations. 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.