greeksoup/ stock research

Molson Coors Beverage Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 1 new, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 3.3%: Net sales were $3,096.5 million, down 3.3% reported and 3.6% in constant currency; financial volume fell 5.4%, partly offset by price and mix. Source
  • Underlying pre-tax income down 27.8%: Underlying income before income taxes was $383.2 million, down 27.8% in constant currency. U.S. GAAP pre-tax income was $283.1 million, down 49.0%. Source
  • Americas underlying pre-tax down 22.6%: Americas underlying pre-tax income was $396.1 million, down 22.6% in constant currency; reported segment pre-tax income was $390.1 million. Source
  • EMEA&APAC underlying pre-tax down 44.3%: Underlying pre-tax income was $41.0 million, down 44.3% in constant currency, on channel mix, lower volume and cost inflation. Source
  • Financial volume fell 5.4%: Financial volume fell 5.4% from lower shipments in both segments, and brand volume fell 4.8%. Source
  • Underlying COGS per hectoliter up 6.3%: Underlying COGS per hectoliter rose 6.3% in constant currency, on materials, logistics and manufacturing inflation, mix and volume deleverage, partly offset by savings. Source
  • Net debt ratio at 2.53 times: Net debt was $5,581.5 million, a net debt to underlying EBITDA ratio of 2.53 times, against 2.41 times a year earlier. Source

“Coors Banquet and Peroni continue to perform well, and we're focused on improving our overall share performance in this competitive environment through ongoing, disciplined execution.”

Rahul Goyal, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefull year 2026flat, plus or minus 1% versus 2025 on a constant currency basisKept
Underlying income before income taxes Sourcefull year 2026decline of 15% to 18% versus 2025, constant currencyKept
Underlying earnings per share Sourcefull year 2026decline of 11% to 15% versus 2025Kept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$650 million incurred, plus or minus 5%Kept
Underlying free cash flow Sourcefull year 2026$1.1 billion, plus or minus 10%Kept
Underlying depreciation and amortization Sourcefull year 2026$720 million, plus or minus 5%Kept
Consolidated net interest expense Sourcefull year 2026$260 million, plus or minus 5%Kept
Underlying effective tax rate Sourcefull year 202622% to 24%Kept
Midwest Premium cost impact in COGS Sourcefull year 2026exceed approximately $130 millionNew
Americas supply-chain restructuring charges Sourceremainder of 2026 and 2027approximately $10 million to $15 millionLowered from approximately $15 million to $20 million
EMEA&APAC restructuring charges Sourceremainder of 2026approximately $3 million to $8 millionLowered from approximately $10 million to $15 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 targets were reaffirmed, with the same figures as the prior release. Source
  • New guidance: A full-year Midwest Premium cost figure was given, expected to exceed about $130 million; the prior release gave only a directional comment. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected further Americas supply-chain restructuring charges were cut to $10 million to $15 million from $15 million to $20 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected further EMEA&APAC restructuring charges were cut to $3 million to $8 million from $10 million to $15 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Second-half MG&A is now expected to fall versus the prior year, after the prior release expected increases in the second through fourth quarters. Source
  • New: Company issued $1.5 billion of senior notes on May 27, 2026, due 2031 and 2036, and after quarter end repaid $2.0 billion of 3.0% senior notes. Source
  • New: Company decided to exit an Americas brand, recording $8.1 million of accelerated amortization of the brand intangible in the quarter. Source

Results and earnings

  • Net sales fell 3.3%: Net sales were $3,096.5 million, down 3.3% reported and 3.6% in constant currency; financial volume fell 5.4%, partly offset by price and mix. Source
  • Underlying pre-tax income down 27.8%: Underlying income before income taxes was $383.2 million, down 27.8% in constant currency. U.S. GAAP pre-tax income was $283.1 million, down 49.0%. Source
  • Underlying EPS down 22.9%: Underlying diluted EPS was $1.58, down 22.9%, with lower underlying pre-tax income partly offset by lower underlying income-tax-adjusted results from fewer shares. Source
  • Mark-to-market swing hit GAAP profit: GAAP pre-tax income fell mainly on unfavorable mark-to-market changes on commodity derivatives, which the underlying measure excludes. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS down 42.3%: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.23, down 42.3%, mainly on lower GAAP pre-tax income. Source

Segment results

  • Americas net sales down 4.1%: Americas net sales were $2,402.4 million, down 4.1%, with lower financial volume partly offset by price and sales mix. Source
  • Americas underlying pre-tax down 22.6%: Americas underlying pre-tax income was $396.1 million, down 22.6% in constant currency; reported segment pre-tax income was $390.1 million. Source
  • EMEA&APAC net sales slightly lower: EMEA&APAC net sales were $700.8 million, down 0.4% reported and 2.0% in constant currency, with currency adding 1.6%. Source
  • EMEA&APAC underlying pre-tax down 44.3%: Underlying pre-tax income was $41.0 million, down 44.3% in constant currency, on channel mix, lower volume and cost inflation. Source
  • U.K. volume fell on soft demand: EMEA&APAC financial volume fell 2.8% and brand volume 3.4%; management attributed this to soft U.K. market demand and a heightened competitive landscape. Source

“Further progress on our cost savings initiatives partially offset ongoing commodity cost inflation and the impact of lower financial volumes.”

Tracey Joubert, Chief Financial Officer

Volume, pricing and mix

  • Financial volume fell 5.4%: Financial volume fell 5.4% from lower shipments in both segments, and brand volume fell 4.8%. Source
  • Americas U.S. core and value volume fell: Americas financial volume fell 6.4% and brand volume 5.3%, mainly on lower U.S. core and value brands and the timing of shipments. Source
  • Price and mix added 1.8%: Price and sales mix added 1.8% to consolidated net sales, led by Americas net pricing and premiumization; net sales per hectoliter rose 2.3%. Source
  • Americas price and mix added 2.3%: Americas price and sales mix added 2.3%, from net pricing and positive brand mix; Americas net sales per hectoliter rose 2.5%. Source
  • EMEA premiumization partly offset by promotions: EMEA&APAC price and sales mix added 0.8% on premiumization, partly offset by increased promotional activity. Source

Costs and margins

  • Underlying COGS per hectoliter up 6.3%: Underlying COGS per hectoliter rose 6.3% in constant currency, on materials, logistics and manufacturing inflation, mix and volume deleverage, partly offset by savings. Source
  • Midwest Premium cost about $40 million: Midwest Premium pricing cost about $40 million in the quarter, up from about $30 million in the first quarter. Source
  • MG&A rose on ERP and incentive pay: Underlying MG&A rose 3.2% in constant currency; management cited cycling lower prior-year incentive pay and ERP implementation costs. Source
  • Fevertree stake lowered other income: Other non-operating income fell as the Americas segment's minority stake in Fevertree Drinks plc lost about $18 million in fair value. Source

“These actions reflect our disciplined approach to balancing our capital allocation priorities.”

Tracey Joubert, Chief Financial Officer

Cash, debt and capital

  • Operating cash flow up $192.8 million: Operating cash flow was $820.4 million for six months, up $192.8 million, mainly on working capital, including a $107.5 million swap settlement. Source
  • Underlying free cash flow up $220.3 million: Underlying free cash flow was $513.8 million for six months, up $220.3 million, on higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditures. Source
  • Net debt ratio at 2.53 times: Net debt was $5,581.5 million, a net debt to underlying EBITDA ratio of 2.53 times, against 2.41 times a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisitions of businesses $271.0 million: Acquisitions of business, net of cash acquired, were $271.0 million for the six months, in support of the Horizon 2030 strategy. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Dividends and buybacks in six months: Dividends paid were $183.7 million and share repurchases $211.0 million for six months, versus $192.7 million and $306.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Fewer diluted shares after buybacks: Weighted-average diluted shares fell because of repurchases, which partly offset lower GAAP pre-tax income in the per-share result. Source
  • Dividend per share held at $0.48: Dividends per share were $0.48 in the quarter, against $0.47 a year earlier. Source

Strategy and restructuring

  • Horizon 2030 progress reported: Management said it made progress on Horizon 2030 this quarter and is pursuing growth in flavor and beyond beer. Source
  • Fever-Tree partnership showing momentum: Management said the Fever-Tree partnership, now more than a year old, shows continued momentum. Source
  • Monaco Cocktails in first quarter: Monaco Cocktails was acquired on April 1 for $275 million, subject to working capital adjustment, and management reported on its first quarter in the company.
  • Americas restructuring nearly complete: The Americas Restructuring Plan, announced October 2025, is substantially complete, with $33.8 million of cumulative charges through June. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Dividend payable September 18, 2026: Board-declared $0.48 per share dividend to be paid September 18, 2026, to holders of record August 28; exchangeable shares receive CAD 0.67. Source
  • Closing small U.K. brewery: EMEA&APAC plans to close a small U.K. brewery by end-2026 as part of simplifying the segment, with most related charges falling in the rest of 2026. Source
  • Balance-of-year investment plan: Management plans prudent investments for scale and efficiency across the portfolio for the rest of 2026, while executing its cost savings plan. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Worldwide financial volume, million hectoliters, Q2 2026 Source19.734
Worldwide brand volume, million hectoliters, Q2 2026 Source19.628
Americas financial volume, million hectoliters, Q2 2026 Source14.326
Americas brand volume, million hectoliters, Q2 2026 Source14.246
EMEA&APAC financial volume, million hectoliters, Q2 2026 Source5.409
EMEA&APAC brand volume, million hectoliters, Q2 2026 Source5.382

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management flagged uncertainty from inflationary commodity and logistics cost pressures and the global macroeconomic environment. Source
  • External: The CEO cited heightened global macroeconomic headwinds that affected consumer behavior and key input costs. Source
  • Financial: Unrealized commodity mark-to-market changes move GAAP results and are excluded from underlying results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: CEO said the company is executing against its cost savings plan to mitigate macroeconomic volatility. 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.