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Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 3.3%: Net sales were $677.0 million against $700.2 million. Organic net sales, excluding $18.5 million of favorable foreign exchange, fell 6.0%. Source
  • Global Pet Care grew 8.3%: GPC net sales rose to $281.6 million. Companion Animal grew high single digits and Aquatics low double digits, with North American gains helped by retailer order shifts in the prior year. Source
  • Gross margin fell 110 basis points: Gross profit was $241.6 million, down 6.3%, and gross margin was 35.7% against 36.8%. Pricing, cost improvement, efficiencies and favorable foreign exchange partly offset lower volume, higher trade spend and tariff cost. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 19.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $62.6 million against $77.8 million, with margin at 9.2% against 11.1%. Management linked the decline to lower volume and reduced gross margins, mainly from tariff-related disruptions. Source
  • Category softness and inventory build: Management said the sales decline was primarily due to continued category demand softness and a prior-year seasonal inventory build by some Home and Garden customers. Source
  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $67.7 million, against negative $71.9 million a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow was $59.7 million. Source
  • Balance sheet framed as M&A advantage: Management said its balance sheet, cash flow and low leverage are a competitive advantage in an evolving M&A landscape, positioning it as M&A partner of choice. Source

“We are pleased with our results this quarter, particularly that our most profitable and largest Adjusted EBITDA contributing business, Global Pet Care, returned to growth.”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal 2026flat to low single digit growthKept
Adjusted free cash flow conversion Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 50% of adjusted EBITDAKept
Net leverage Sourcelong-term2.0 - 2.5 timesKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A new $300 million share repurchase authorization was approved, after 0.6 million shares were repurchased in the quarter. Source
  • New: The SAP enterprise systems project was recently extended to include the Home & Personal Care segment. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales fell 3.3%: Net sales were $677.0 million against $700.2 million. Organic net sales, excluding $18.5 million of favorable foreign exchange, fell 6.0%. Source
  • Operating income fell 39.4%: Operating income was $27.1 million against $44.7 million, following the decline in gross profit. Source
  • EPS rose on a tax benefit: Net income from continuing operations rose 19.5% to $29.4 million, and diluted EPS from continuing operations rose to $1.25 from $0.87, driven by a one-time tax benefit and a lower share count. Source
  • Adjusted EPS reached $1.40: Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations was $1.40 against $1.02, aided by lower income tax and fewer shares, partly offset by lower adjusted EBITDA. Source

Segments and regions

  • Global Pet Care grew 8.3%: GPC net sales rose to $281.6 million. Companion Animal grew high single digits and Aquatics low double digits, with North American gains helped by retailer order shifts in the prior year. Source
  • GPC EBITDA fell on tariffs and spend: GPC adjusted EBITDA was $49.0 million against $51.5 million, with margin of 17.4% against 19.8%. Higher tariff cost, inflation and additional trade and investment spend drove the decline. Source
  • Home & Garden sales fell 19.8%: H&G net sales fell to $73.9 million from $92.1 million. Adjusted EBITDA fell to $4.5 million, with margin of 6.1% against 10.1%. Source
  • HPC net sales fell 7.6%: Home & Personal Care net sales were $321.5 million. Organic sales fell 11.1%, with Personal Care down mid single digits and Home Appliances down high single digits. Adjusted EBITDA was $20.7 million. Source
  • LATAM organic sales rose high teens: Within Home & Personal Care, LATAM organic net sales rose high teens, with growth in both categories. Source

“Our Net Sales and Adjusted EBITDA exceeded expectations despite the ongoing macroeconomic challenges that continue to impact overall consumer demand.”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell 110 basis points: Gross profit was $241.6 million, down 6.3%, and gross margin was 35.7% against 36.8%. Pricing, cost improvement, efficiencies and favorable foreign exchange partly offset lower volume, higher trade spend and tariff cost. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 19.5%: Adjusted EBITDA was $62.6 million against $77.8 million, with margin at 9.2% against 11.1%. Management linked the decline to lower volume and reduced gross margins, mainly from tariff-related disruptions. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expense rose to $214.5 million from $213.1 million, while operating income was $27.1 million. Source

Demand and retailer inventory

  • Category softness and inventory build: Management said the sales decline was primarily due to continued category demand softness and a prior-year seasonal inventory build by some Home and Garden customers. Source
  • Key retailer inventory weighed on EMEA: EMEA sales in Home & Personal Care were also affected by higher inventory at a key retailer, alongside category softness. Source
  • Companion Animal outperformed the market: Management said its key Companion Animal brands outperformed the market, while also benefiting from a softer prior-year comparison. Source

“These results reinforce the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives and validate our belief that the difficult, but necessary, steps we implemented in fiscal 2025 were indeed the right course of action.”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • EMEA Companion Animal sales declined: Excluding currency, EMEA Companion Animal organic sales declined on order timing in Dog and Cat Food after a prior-year product launch. GoodBoy brand strength partly offset the decline. Source
  • EMEA Aquatics grew on Tetra: EMEA Aquatics organic net sales increased, with management crediting Tetra brand strength. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow turned positive: Operating cash flow from continuing operations was $67.7 million, against negative $71.9 million a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow was $59.7 million. Source
  • Net debt and liquidity position: Cash was $126.6 million and total liquidity was $618.8 million, including $492.2 million undrawn on the revolver. Net debt leverage was 1.65x adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends in quarter: Treasury stock purchases were $35.5 million and dividends paid to shareholders were $10.9 million in the quarter, per the cash flow statement. Source

Strategy and M&A

  • Balance sheet framed as M&A advantage: Management said its balance sheet, cash flow and low leverage are a competitive advantage in an evolving M&A landscape, positioning it as M&A partner of choice. Source
  • Accelerate growth through strategic M&A: Management said it can accelerate long-term growth through strategic M&A while staying diligent and disciplined in evaluating deals. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • ERP costs run through 2026: Management expects ERP project costs through further deployments in calendar 2026, now including the HPC segment. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Litigation tied to the Tristar acquisition continues, with related costs expected until those matters are resolved. Source
  • Demand: Management said EMEA organic sales in Home & Personal Care declined across both categories, with continued category demand softness. Source
  • Operational: In Home & Personal Care North America, higher tariffs raised product cost, which management cited alongside lower volumes. Source
  • Operational: Management said it will remain disciplined in executing its strategy, recognizing that significant work remains ahead. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated its fiscal 2026 framework of flat to low single digit revenue growth and low single digit adjusted EBITDA growth. 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.