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Molson Coors Beverage Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 18 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 narrowed, 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter net sales declined: Net sales were $2,662.4 million, down 2.7% reported and 4.0% in constant currency. Financial volume fell 7.7%, partly offset by price and sales mix up 3.7% and currency up 1.3%. Source
  • Underlying pretax income fell 13.8%: Underlying pretax income was $296.8 million, down 13.8% in constant currency, on lower volume and cost inflation, partly offset by lower MG&A and higher net pricing. Source
  • Full-year GAAP loss from impairments: The full-year U.S. GAAP loss before income taxes of $2,518.0 million reflected a $3,645.7 million goodwill impairment and $273.9 million of intangible impairments. Source
  • Americas brand volume fell on U.S. softness: Americas net sales fell 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the 5.1% fall in U.S. brand volume to industry softness and lower share performance. Source
  • Midwest Premium added about $20 million: The Midwest Premium aluminum surcharge added an approximate $20 million to COGS in the fourth quarter, and about $35 million for the full year. Source
  • 2026 underlying profit guided lower: Underlying pretax income is targeted to fall 15% to 18% in constant currency and underlying EPS 11% to 15%, against a softer beer industry. Source
  • Buyback authorization raised to $4.0 billion: The Board added $2.0 billion to the Class B repurchase program, extended it to December 31, 2031, and about $2.6 billion remained available at year-end 2025. Source
  • Three-year cost program started: The program targets up to $450 million over three years from 2026, across Americas and EMEA&APAC, to mitigate inflation and fund continued investment. Source

“Despite a number of macroeconomic issues impacting our industry and our category, we navigated a tough year to protect and deliver on our revised bottom-line expectations”

Rahul Goyal, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Underlying income before income taxes Sourcefull year 2026decline of 15% to 18% versus 2025, constant currencyNew
Underlying earnings per share Sourcefull year 2026decline of 11% to 15% versus 2025New
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$650 million, plus or minus 5%New
Underlying free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$1.1 billion, plus or minus 10%New
Underlying depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026$720 million, plus or minus 5%New
Consolidated net interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$260 million, plus or minus 5%New
Underlying effective tax rate Sourcefull year 202622% to 24%New
Americas restructuring charges Sourceremaining charges in 2026; total planapproximately $35 millionNarrowed, top end cut from $35 million to $50 million
Cost savings program Sourcethree years, savings beginning 2026up to $450 millionNew
Share repurchase authorization Sourcethrough December 31, 2031up to $4.0 billion aggregateRaised
Quarterly dividend per share Sourcepayable March 20, 2026$0.48Raised from $0.47

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 targets were given for net sales, underlying pretax income, EPS, capital expenditures, free cash flow, depreciation and amortization, interest and tax rate. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Total Americas restructuring charges are now expected at approximately $35 million, the low end of the earlier $35 million to $50 million range. Source
  • New: A three-year cost savings program targeting up to $450 million was announced on February 18, 2026. Source
  • New: The Board increased the Class B repurchase program by $2.0 billion and extended it to December 31, 2031. Source
  • New: The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share, up from $0.47 in the prior quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth-quarter net sales declined: Net sales were $2,662.4 million, down 2.7% reported and 4.0% in constant currency. Financial volume fell 7.7%, partly offset by price and sales mix up 3.7% and currency up 1.3%. Source
  • Underlying pretax income fell 13.8%: Underlying pretax income was $296.8 million, down 13.8% in constant currency, on lower volume and cost inflation, partly offset by lower MG&A and higher net pricing. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS down on tax and shares: U.S. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.22, down 12.2%. Underlying diluted EPS was $1.21, down 6.9%, helped by fewer shares from buybacks. Source
  • Full-year GAAP loss from impairments: The full-year U.S. GAAP loss before income taxes of $2,518.0 million reflected a $3,645.7 million goodwill impairment and $273.9 million of intangible impairments. Source
  • Full-year underlying EPS down 9.1%: Full-year underlying diluted EPS was $5.42. Underlying pretax income was $1,385.4 million, down 14.7% in constant currency. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas brand volume fell on U.S. softness: Americas net sales fell 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the 5.1% fall in U.S. brand volume to industry softness and lower share performance. Source
  • Americas profit fell 19.1%: Americas underlying pretax income fell 19.1% in constant currency, on lower volume and cost inflation, partly offset by cost savings, net pricing and lower incentive pay. Source
  • EMEA&APAC sales flat in constant currency: EMEA&APAC net sales rose 6.1% reported and 0.1% in constant currency. Underlying pretax income rose 114.5% in constant currency, mainly on lower MG&A and targeted cost reductions. Source
  • EMEA&APAC volumes fell across regions: Volume declined in all EMEA&APAC regions, which management tied to soft market demand and a heightened competitive landscape. Source

“we expect commodity inflation in particular to be a meaningful headwind in 2026, which we do not believe is reflective of longer-term performance.”

Tracey Joubert, Chief Financial Officer

Products, volume and mix

  • Contract brewing exit cut Americas volume: About 2% of the Americas volume decline came from exiting contract brewing in the U.S. and Canada, and about 2% from lower U.S. distributor inventories. Source
  • Premium brands lost share: Management cited lower U.S. share performance, mainly in the above premium and premium segments. Source
  • Net sales per hectoliter rose: Net sales per hectoliter rose 5.5% reported and 4.1% in constant currency, reflecting price and sales mix. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Cost per hectoliter rose on mix and inflation: Underlying COGS per hectoliter rose 6.6% in constant currency, on unfavorable mix, materials and manufacturing inflation and volume deleverage, partly offset by savings. Source
  • Midwest Premium added about $20 million: The Midwest Premium aluminum surcharge added an approximate $20 million to COGS in the fourth quarter, and about $35 million for the full year. Source
  • MG&A fell on lower incentive pay: MG&A fell 6.0% reported and 7.5% in constant currency, mainly on lower short-term incentive pay, partly offset by ERP project costs and currency. Source
  • Other operating expense rose on prior-year gain: Other operating expense rose $29.0 million, mainly from cycling a prior-year ZOA gain and recording Americas restructuring charges, partly offset by lapping prior craft-business charges. Source

“Our solid cash generation has allowed us to return cash to shareholders via a growing dividend and share repurchase program, while investing in our brands and capabilities”

Tracey Joubert, Chief Financial Officer

Demand and 2026 targets

  • Top-line expected to improve in 2026: Management expects top-line trends to improve in 2026, while expecting commodity inflation to be a meaningful headwind. Source
  • 2026 underlying profit guided lower: Underlying pretax income is targeted to fall 15% to 18% in constant currency and underlying EPS 11% to 15%, against a softer beer industry. Source
  • Full-year net sales fell 4.8%: Full-year net sales fell 4.8% in constant currency, mainly on lower financial volume. The 2026 net sales target is flat, plus or minus 1%, in constant currency. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow fell $99 million: Operating cash flow was $1,784.4 million. Underlying free cash flow was $1,141.4 million, down on lower operating cash flow and higher capital expenditures of $716.6 million. Source
  • Leverage below 2.5x target: Net debt was $5,403.0 million, a net debt to underlying EBITDA ratio of 2.33x, up from 2.09x a year earlier and below the 2.5x target. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends in 2025: Dividends paid were $376.3 million and share repurchases $647.9 million in 2025. A $60.6 million Keystone litigation payment was made in the first quarter. Source
  • Buyback authorization raised to $4.0 billion: The Board added $2.0 billion to the Class B repurchase program, extended it to December 31, 2031, and about $2.6 billion remained available at year-end 2025. Source
  • Lower cash taxes from new federal law: Lower income taxes paid in 2025 were attributed to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, along with the timing of working capital. Source

Strategy, restructuring and people

  • Three-year cost program started: The program targets up to $450 million over three years from 2026, across Americas and EMEA&APAC, to mitigate inflation and fund continued investment. Source
  • Americas restructuring charges continue into 2026: The Americas plan recorded $28.7 million of charges in 2025. Remaining charges, predominantly employee-related, are expected to be recorded in 2026. Source
  • Management made difficult decisions: The CEO said management made difficult decisions in the business to course correct and set up future growth. Source
  • ERP project costs in the quarter: Costs for the global ERP modernization project were included in Americas expense and in MG&A in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Fevertree fees recoverable over three years: Integration and transition fees of about $30 million for Fevertree USA are recoverable through net sales over three years, starting in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Tax, share count and minority interests

  • GAAP tax rate fell on impairment: U.S. GAAP effective tax rate was 13.4% in 2025, down from 23.0%, mainly from the partly nondeductible goodwill impairment. Underlying rate was 22.5% in both years. Source
  • Minority interest swung to loss: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests was $40.6 million, down $75.9 million from income of $35.3 million, mainly from goodwill and Blue Run allocations. Source
  • Fewer diluted shares from buybacks: Weighted-average diluted shares were 195.7 million in the fourth quarter, down from 206.5 million, reflecting share repurchases. Source

Coming up, as management said on 18 February 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable March 20: The $0.48 per share dividend is payable March 20, 2026 to holders of record on March 6, 2026. Source
  • Cost savings begin in 2026: Savings from the three-year program are scheduled to start in 2026 across both segments. Source
  • Restructuring charges booked in 2026: Remaining Americas restructuring charges are expected to be recorded during 2026. Source
  • Buyback program runs to 2031: The Class B repurchase program has been extended to December 31, 2031. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Financial volume, Q4 2025 Source17.146 million hectoliters
Brand volume, Q4 2025 Source18.028 million hectoliters
Financial volume, full year 2025 Source72.810 million hectoliters
Brand volume, full year 2025 Source74.553 million hectoliters

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited commodity cost inflation as a meaningful headwind for 2026. Source
  • Demand: Lower EMEA&APAC volume was tied to soft market demand and a heightened competitive landscape. Source
  • Financial: The full-year net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests reflected allocation of the Americas goodwill impairment and an intangible asset impairment. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said it protected and delivered on revised bottom-line expectations for 2025. Source
  • Missed: Management said top-line results narrowly fell short of the 2025 top-line guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Total charges are expected at approximately $35 million, the low end of the previously communicated range. 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.