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Simply Good Foods Co.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net sales fell 9.7%: Net sales were $333.3 million versus $369.0 million a year earlier, a decrease of $35.7 million, or 9.7%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell in both periods: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $57.5 million, down 13.2%. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $225.9 million, down 18.8%. Source
  • OWYN decline tied to poor velocities: OWYN net sales fell 9.7% for the year and 20.6% in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the decline to poor velocities, including on newly expanded distribution. Source
  • Full-year margin fell on OWYN costs: Full-year gross margin was 32.6%, down 360 basis points, driven mainly by one-time OWYN integration expenses and restructuring costs. Source
  • Brand impairment charged to earnings: Before the fourth quarter, management recorded $331.0 million of non-cash impairment on goodwill and the Atkins and OWYN brand intangibles, citing results, revenue projections and stock price declines. Source
  • Net sales to fall 13% to 17%: Management said it expects significant declines in fiscal 2027 net sales, guided at 13% to 17% year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA to fall 9% to 14%: Fiscal 2027 Adjusted EBITDA is expected to fall 9% to 14%, while GAAP gross margin is expected to rise 250 to 300 basis points. Source

“Fiscal 2026 was a year of decisive action. We recognized that our performance was not where it needed to be and moved quickly to reset the business.”

Joe Scalzo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal year 2027decline between 13% and 17%New
Gross margin (GAAP) Sourcefiscal year 2027increase between 250 and 300 basis pointsNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefiscal year 2027decline between 9% and 14%New
Net interest expense Sourcefiscal year 2027$18 to $20 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal year 2027$15 to $20 millionNew
Net sales Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027decline between 19% and 22%New
Gross margin (GAAP) Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027increase by approximately 100 basis pointsNew
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027decline between 28% and 33%New

What changed from last quarter

  • New: New marketing strategies introduced for the brands, aimed at consumer connection and brand health. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter net sales fell 9.7%: Net sales were $333.3 million versus $369.0 million a year earlier, a decrease of $35.7 million, or 9.7%. Source
  • Quarterly net income returned to profit: Net income was $30.5 million, against a net loss of $12.4 million a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $0.34, against a loss of $0.12 per share. Source
  • Full-year swung to net loss: Full-year net loss was $155.9 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, against net income of $103.6 million, or $1.02 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell in both periods: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $57.5 million, down 13.2%. Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $225.9 million, down 18.8%. Source

Brands and demand

  • Quest grew while others declined: Full-year Atkins and OWYN net sales fell 20.9% and 9.7%, while Quest grew 0.7%. Source
  • Atkins decline tied to distribution: Management said Atkins distribution-related declines were largely as expected. Fourth-quarter Atkins net sales fell 14.9%. Source
  • OWYN decline tied to poor velocities: OWYN net sales fell 9.7% for the year and 20.6% in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the decline to poor velocities, including on newly expanded distribution. Source

“Fiscal 2027 will be a challenging but important year in our turnaround.”

Joe Scalzo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and margins

  • Quarterly gross margin eased on inputs: Gross margin was 34.0%, down 30 basis points, largely from higher input costs. Gross profit was $113.3 million. Source
  • Full-year margin fell on OWYN costs: Full-year gross margin was 32.6%, down 360 basis points, driven mainly by one-time OWYN integration expenses and restructuring costs. Source
  • Brand impairment charged to earnings: Before the fourth quarter, management recorded $331.0 million of non-cash impairment on goodwill and the Atkins and OWYN brand intangibles, citing results, revenue projections and stock price declines. Source
  • Marketing flat, administrative costs down: Selling and marketing was $32.4 million in the fourth quarter, flat year over year. General and administrative costs fell 24.8% to $30.6 million, including $1.9 million of restructuring. Source

Cash, debt and share count

  • Operating cash flow near prior year: Cash flow from operations was about $181.0 million, against $178.5 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were approximately $24.1 million. Source
  • Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA at 0.9x: Cash was $138.4 million and the term loan balance was $350.0 million, down from $400.0 million at the third quarter. Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 0.9x. Source
  • Buybacks reduced diluted share count: Full-year diluted weighted average shares were 92.4 million and fourth-quarter shares were 88.5 million. The cash flow statement shows $213.3 million of share repurchases. Source
  • Quarterly net interest rose on debt: Net interest expense was $4.7 million, up 28.7% on a higher debt balance. Full-year net interest expense was $18.5 million, down 10% on lower rates. Source

“We delivered on the modest financial commitments we made following our second quarter reset, continued to generate significant cash flow despite lower net sales”

Joe Scalzo, President and Chief Executive Officer

Strategy and marketing reset

  • Marketing approach overhauled across brands: Management said it overhauled its marketing approach for Quest, Atkins and OWYN during fiscal 2026, following the second-quarter reset. Source
  • Foundational work completed in fiscal 2026: Management said much of the foundational work needed to improve the business's long-term trajectory was completed during fiscal 2026. Source
  • Margin recovery reinvested in brands: Management said it is reinvesting a portion of its margin recovery behind the brands, with new marketing strategies intended to strengthen consumer connection. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance

  • Net sales to fall 13% to 17%: Management said it expects significant declines in fiscal 2027 net sales, guided at 13% to 17% year over year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA to fall 9% to 14%: Fiscal 2027 Adjusted EBITDA is expected to fall 9% to 14%, while GAAP gross margin is expected to rise 250 to 300 basis points. Source
  • First quarter declines steeper: First-quarter net sales are expected to fall 19% to 22%, and Adjusted EBITDA 28% to 33%, with gross margin up about 100 basis points. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 October 2026

  • Performance expected to improve through year: Management expects performance to improve over fiscal 2027 as marketing investments take hold and year-over-year comparisons become more favorable. Source
  • Exit fiscal 2027 with stronger momentum: Management expects these actions to leave the company exiting fiscal 2027 with stronger momentum, improved profitability and a healthier foundation. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail takeaway, total, fourth quarter Sourcedecreased about 8%
Retail takeaway, Atkins, fourth quarter Sourcedecline of approximately 23%
Retail takeaway, OWYN, fourth quarter Sourcedecline of approximately 7%
Retail takeaway, Quest, fourth quarter Sourcedecline of approximately 2%
Retail takeaway, total, full year Sourcedecreased approximately 5%
Retail takeaway, Atkins, full year Sourcedecline of approximately 22%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said fourth-quarter net sales were largely driven by softer retail takeaway and velocity-related distribution pressure. Source
  • Operational: Fourth-quarter gross profit fell 10.5%, driven by volume declines, higher input costs and restructuring costs. Source
  • Operational: Management said the year included one-time effects from actions taken to mitigate OWYN product quality issues. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management says the company delivered on the modest financial commitments made after the second-quarter reset. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release described early steps against priorities outlined the quarter before; the October release does not restate progress against them.
  • Not stated: Prior release gave fourth-quarter net sales of $322 to $332 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $52 to $57 million; reported net sales were $333.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA $57.5 million.

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.