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Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA excluding refunds: Excluding $57.4 million of net IEEPA tariff refunds, full-year adjusted EBITDA was $317.4 million, up $28.3 million or 9.8%. Source
  • Quarter net sales down 2.8%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $713.2 million, down 2.8%. Organic net sales fell 3.1%, with $2.7 million of favorable foreign exchange excluded. Source
  • Quarter net income and adjusted EBITDA: Fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations was $26.4 million, down $26.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $69.9 million, up $6.5 million. Source
  • Gross margin up 260 basis points: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 37.6%, up 260 basis points, on pricing, lower trade spend, lower tariff rates and cost actions, partly offset by lower volume. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 net sales framework: Fiscal 2027 reported net sales are expected to be flat to up low single digits, driven by Global Pet Care and Home and Garden. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 adjusted EBITDA framework: The adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow framework excludes the fiscal 2026 tariff refund impact, so the comparison is normalized. Source
  • Home & Personal Care profit rose: Excluding tariff refund effects, Home & Personal Care adjusted EBITDA was $25.7 million, up $10.0 million, with margin up 350 basis points to 8.8%. Source
  • Home & Garden hit by weather, inventory: Home & Garden sales were $126.3 million, down 9.3%, as unfavorable weather and elevated retailer inventory cut replenishment orders. Source
  • ERP now complete across the company: The S/4 HANA ERP deployment is complete across the organization, putting the company on one unified platform. Source
  • Empower Brands proposal for Helen of Troy: Empower Brands announced interest in acquiring Helen of Troy. Management reported that Helen of Troy rejected the offer. Source

“We are pleased with our fiscal 2026 results, with Global Pet Care and Home & Garden both returning to top-line growth, and our key brands continuing to outperform the market across both businesses.”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal 2027flat to low single digit growthNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027, excluding fiscal 2026 tariff refundsflat to up low single digitsNew
Adjusted free cash flow conversion SourceFiscal 2027approximately 50% of adjusted EBITDAKept
Net leverage SourceLong-term2.0 - 2.5 timesKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A fiscal 2027 earnings framework was introduced for net sales, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow. Source
  • Guidance kept: The long-term net leverage target of 2.0 to 2.5 times is stated as continuing. Source
  • New: Empower Brands, a subsidiary jointly owned by the company and Oaktree-managed funds, announced interest in acquiring Helen of Troy. Source
  • New: The S/4 HANA ERP deployment is now complete across the entire organization, compared with the prior release's plan to finish HPC EMEA later in the year. Source

Full-year results and tariff refunds

  • Full-year sales up 1.5%: Full-year net sales were $2,852.4 million. Reported growth was 1.5%, while organic net sales declined 0.3%. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EBITDA excluding refunds: Excluding $57.4 million of net IEEPA tariff refunds, full-year adjusted EBITDA was $317.4 million, up $28.3 million or 9.8%. Source
  • Net income from continuing operations: Full-year net income from continuing operations was $58.0 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $374.8 million including the tariff refunds. Source

Fourth-quarter results

  • Quarter net sales down 2.8%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $713.2 million, down 2.8%. Organic net sales fell 3.1%, with $2.7 million of favorable foreign exchange excluded. Source
  • Home & Garden drove the decline: The company said the quarterly sales decline was mainly in Home & Garden, where weather and retailer inventory cut replenishment orders. Source
  • Quarter net income and adjusted EBITDA: Fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations was $26.4 million, down $26.9 million. Adjusted EBITDA was $69.9 million, up $6.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS down to $1.39: Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.39, down from $2.61, with a smaller income tax benefit partly offset by higher adjusted EBITDA and fewer shares. Source

“In Home & Personal Care, while top-line pressures persisted as expected, the team delivered strong margin expansion, a direct reflection of disciplined execution and a clear focus on profitability.”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin up 260 basis points: Fourth-quarter gross margin was 37.6%, up 260 basis points, on pricing, lower trade spend, lower tariff rates and cost actions, partly offset by lower volume. Source
  • Operating income down on expenses: Operating income was $24.4 million against $29.4 million, as higher operating expenses outweighed the gross profit increase. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin up ex-refunds: Excluding tariff refund effects, adjusted EBITDA margin rose 160 basis points, driven by gross margins, partly offset by lower volume and higher operating expenses. Source

Fiscal 2027 framework

  • Fiscal 2027 net sales framework: Fiscal 2027 reported net sales are expected to be flat to up low single digits, driven by Global Pet Care and Home and Garden. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 adjusted EBITDA framework: The adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow framework excludes the fiscal 2026 tariff refund impact, so the comparison is normalized. Source
  • Long-term leverage target unchanged: The long-term net leverage target remains 2.0 to 2.5 times. Source

“We are entering fiscal 2027 with momentum, and we expect net sales and adjusted EBITDA to both be flat to up low single digits, normalizing for the tariff refund benefit received this year”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands

Segment performance

  • Global Pet Care and Home & Garden growth: For the year, Global Pet Care net sales were $1,138.1 million, up 5.1%, and Home & Garden net sales were $594.9 million, up 3.9%. Source
  • Home & Personal Care sales down: Home & Personal Care fourth-quarter net sales were $293.4 million, down 0.9%, and down 2.3% organically excluding favorable foreign currency. Source
  • Home & Personal Care profit rose: Excluding tariff refund effects, Home & Personal Care adjusted EBITDA was $25.7 million, up $10.0 million, with margin up 350 basis points to 8.8%. Source
  • North America down on distribution losses: North American Home & Personal Care sales fell low double digits after distribution losses in Home Appliances and more competition in Personal Care. Source
  • Global Pet Care profit down ex-refunds: Global Pet Care adjusted EBITDA was $45.8 million, with $48.2 million excluding tariff refund effects, down $1.4 million on lower volume and higher investment. Source
  • Home & Garden profit down on volume: Home & Garden adjusted EBITDA was $13.3 million, down $3.6 million, with margin down 160 basis points to 10.5% on lower sales volume. Source

Demand and retailer orders

  • Home & Garden hit by weather, inventory: Home & Garden sales were $126.3 million, down 9.3%, as unfavorable weather and elevated retailer inventory cut replenishment orders. Source
  • Aquatics sales declined: Companion Animal sales rose low single digits in the quarter, while Aquatics fell low double digits. Source
  • Retailer orders pulled ahead of ERP: Home & Personal Care sales in both categories benefited from retailer orders placed ahead of the ERP go-live. Source
  • E-commerce competition hit both categories: Home & Personal Care performance in both categories was affected by more competition in the e-commerce channel. Source

Strategy: ERP and Helen of Troy

  • ERP now complete across the company: The S/4 HANA ERP deployment is complete across the organization, putting the company on one unified platform. Source
  • ERP costs excluded from adjusted EBITDA: Global ERP transformation costs of $12.1 million for the year and $3.8 million in the quarter were excluded from adjusted EBITDA as non-routine. Source
  • Empower Brands proposal for Helen of Troy: Empower Brands announced interest in acquiring Helen of Troy. Management reported that Helen of Troy rejected the offer. Source
  • Home & Personal Care strategy unchanged: Management said the strategy for Home & Personal Care is unchanged. Source

Cash, debt and capital returns

  • Full-year adjusted free cash flow: Full-year operating cash flow from continuing operations was $291.0 million, and adjusted free cash flow was $247.3 million. Source
  • Cash and liquidity at quarter end: Cash was $339.9 million and total liquidity $836.2 million; net debt was $289.9 million, or 0.77x adjusted EBITDA at year end. Source
  • Debt outstanding by instrument: Debt outstanding was $629.8 million: senior notes $496.1 million, an HPC term loan $60.0 million and finance leases $73.7 million. The revolver was undrawn. Source
  • Balance sheet health a priority: Management said balance sheet health remains a priority, giving flexibility to invest in the business and pursue strategic moves as they arise. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 November 2026

  • Helen of Troy board consideration: Management looks forward to Helen of Troy's board and shareholders considering the proposal and working toward an agreement. Source
  • ERP benefits still to come: Management said the single unified platform is in place and the most important work on it is just beginning. Source

In management's words

“While we are disappointed by their rejection of our offer, we remain optimistic.”

David Maura, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Brands

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Fiscal 2026 results include a one-time tariff refund benefit that management normalizes for in the fiscal 2027 framework. Source
  • Regulatory: Costs of the Tristar litigation continue to be incurred until the matters are resolved. Source
  • Regulatory: Other costs in the period included a one-time increase in environmental remediation liability from a change in scope. Source
  • Operational: Other project costs reflect separation initiatives and distribution center transitions. Source
  • Demand: Home & Personal Care e-commerce competition affected performance in both categories. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The prior release expected HPC EMEA ERP implementation to finish later this year; this release reports deployment complete across the organization. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release raised this expectation; this release reports full-year results without stating whether the expectation was met.

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.