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United Natural Foods Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 September 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EBITDA grew 27% to $701M: Adjusted EBITDA increased 27.0% to $701 million from $552 million, driven by benefits from network optimization, improved operational efficiency, and insurance recovery from cybersecurity incident. Source
  • Adjusted EPS increased 273% to $2.65: Adjusted EPS increased to $2.65 from $0.71 in fiscal 2025, driven primarily by improved profitability and EBITDA growth, reflecting better underlying operational performance. Source
  • Net income swung to positive $84M: Net income increased to $84 million from a loss of $118 million in fiscal 2025, with diluted EPS of $1.34 compared to loss per share of $1.95. Source
  • Lean management deployed to 44 DCs: Company completed initial deployment phase of Lean daily management system to 44 distribution centers, supporting fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in fill rates, on-time deliveries, and throughput metrics. Source
  • Net leverage ratio improved to 2.2x: Net leverage ratio improved to 2.2x at August 1, 2026, compared to 2.5x at end of third quarter and significantly lower than prior-year levels, reflecting debt reduction and EBITDA growth. Source

“UNFI delivered a strong fiscal year through disciplined execution of our strategy to add value for customers and suppliers while becoming a more effective and efficient company. We continued strengthening commercial and supply chain capabilities to better serve our partners while generating solid growth in Adjusted EBITDA and Free cash flow enabling us to further reduce net debt.”

Sandy Douglas, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net Sales SourceFiscal 2027$31.2 - $31.8 billionNew
Net Income SourceFiscal 2027$105 - $145 millionNew
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$1.70 - $2.30New
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$3.00 - $3.50Raised
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027$730 - $780 millionRaised
Capital and Cloud Implementation Expenditures SourceFiscal 2027~$300 millionNew
Free Cash Flow SourceFiscal 2027$275 - $325 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company provided comprehensive fiscal 2027 forward guidance for first time, including net sales, net income, EPS, adjusted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, capital expenditures, and free cash flow. Source
  • New: Board of Directors approved new $200 million stock repurchase program on September 3, 2026, replacing previous program announced in September 2022. Source

Full-Year Results and Profitability

  • Net sales declined 2.0% on optimization: Full-year net sales decreased 2.0% to $31.2 billion from $31.8 billion in fiscal 2025, reflecting 500 basis point impact from planned optimization actions and 150 basis points from completed project work unwinding. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA grew 27% to $701M: Adjusted EBITDA increased 27.0% to $701 million from $552 million, driven by benefits from network optimization, improved operational efficiency, and insurance recovery from cybersecurity incident. Source
  • Adjusted EPS increased 273% to $2.65: Adjusted EPS increased to $2.65 from $0.71 in fiscal 2025, driven primarily by improved profitability and EBITDA growth, reflecting better underlying operational performance. Source
  • Net income swung to positive $84M: Net income increased to $84 million from a loss of $118 million in fiscal 2025, with diluted EPS of $1.34 compared to loss per share of $1.95. Source

Supply Chain and Operational Execution

  • Lean management deployed to 44 DCs: Company completed initial deployment phase of Lean daily management system to 44 distribution centers, supporting fourth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement in fill rates, on-time deliveries, and throughput metrics. Source
  • New customer onboarding underway: Company began onboarding additional business from new and existing customers expected to produce revenue growth in fiscal 2027 after cycling larger optimization actions from current period. Source

“Our progress demonstrates the strength of our customer base and our commitment to creating long-term shared value for all stakeholders. In fiscal 2027 we remain focused on helping our partners execute their growth strategies accelerating our operating momentum and returning to revenue growth.”

Sandy Douglas, Chief Executive Officer

Debt Reduction and Financial Position

  • Net leverage ratio improved to 2.2x: Net leverage ratio improved to 2.2x at August 1, 2026, compared to 2.5x at end of third quarter and significantly lower than prior-year levels, reflecting debt reduction and EBITDA growth. Source

Coming up, per management

  • New customer onboarding for growth: Company began onboarding additional business from new and existing customers expected to produce revenue growth in fiscal 2027 after completing optimization phase. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Dependence on principal customers represents ongoing risk, as customer losses or changes in relationships could materially impact sales and profitability. Source

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point carries a quote that is checked word for word against the filing; a point whose quote is not found is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.