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US Foods Holding Corp.: 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: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales, profit and EPS grew: Net sales rose 4.5% to $10.5 billion, net income rose 22.8% to $275 million and diluted EPS rose 29.2% to $1.24. Adjusted Diluted EPS rose 21.0% to $1.44. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached a record: Adjusted EBITDA rose 10.2% to $604 million. Management described it as a record, with Adjusted EBITDA margin up 29 basis points to 5.7%. Source
  • Total case volume growth accelerated: Total case volume rose 1.9%, compared with 1.4% in the first quarter. Independent restaurant case volume rose 5.1%, compared with 4.6% in the first quarter. Source
  • Gross profit rose on volume and LIFO: Gross profit rose $142 million to $1.9 billion, on higher volume, improved cost of goods sold and a $19 million favorable year-over-year LIFO adjustment. Gross profit was 18.2% of net sales. Source
  • Second-quarter buyback of $374 million: In the second quarter the company repurchased 4.4 million shares of common stock for $374 million. Source
  • Net sales growth guidance reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed net sales growth of 4% to 6% for fiscal 2026, the same range given on February 12, 2026. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS guidance reaffirmed: Adjusted EBITDA growth of 9% to 13% and Adjusted Diluted EPS growth of 18% to 24% were also reaffirmed without change. Source

“Importantly, our results are in line with our long-range plan, including 10% Adjusted EBITDA growth and 21% Adjusted Diluted EPS growth driven by 29 basis points of margin expansion and 5% independent restaurant case growth.”

Dave Flitman, Chair of the Board and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceFiscal year 20264% to 6%Kept
Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFiscal year 20269% to 13%Kept
Adjusted Diluted EPS growth SourceFiscal year 202618% to 24%Kept
53rd week effect on case growth and Adjusted EBITDA growth SourceFiscal year 2026approximately 1%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 guidance for net sales, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS was reaffirmed with the same ranges as the first quarter release. Source
  • New: Dave Flitman is now described as Chair of the Board as well as CEO; the first quarter release gave his title as CEO only. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales, profit and EPS grew: Net sales rose 4.5% to $10.5 billion, net income rose 22.8% to $275 million and diluted EPS rose 29.2% to $1.24. Adjusted Diluted EPS rose 21.0% to $1.44. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached a record: Adjusted EBITDA rose 10.2% to $604 million. Management described it as a record, with Adjusted EBITDA margin up 29 basis points to 5.7%. Source
  • Total case volume growth accelerated: Total case volume rose 1.9%, compared with 1.4% in the first quarter. Independent restaurant case volume rose 5.1%, compared with 4.6% in the first quarter. Source

Customer types and case volume

  • Healthcare and hospitality volume grew: Healthcare volume rose 3.5% and hospitality volume rose 4.4% from the prior year. Source
  • Chain volume declined: Chain volume fell 1.5% from the prior year, partly offsetting growth in the other customer types. Source
  • Organic volume growth was 1.7%: Total organic case volume rose 1.7%, including 5.0% organic growth in independent restaurant case volume. Source

“By leveraging our continuous improvement and self-help culture, we are enhancing service, improving productivity and delivering sustainable, profitable growth.”

Dave Flitman, Chair of the Board and CEO

Costs, gross profit and margins

  • Gross profit rose on volume and LIFO: Gross profit rose $142 million to $1.9 billion, on higher volume, improved cost of goods sold and a $19 million favorable year-over-year LIFO adjustment. Gross profit was 18.2% of net sales. Source
  • Operating expenses rose with volume: Operating expenses rose $71 million, or 5.1%, to $1.5 billion, mainly on higher volume and higher distribution, selling and administrative costs, partly offset by administrative streamlining. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses at 12.5%: Adjusted operating expenses rose $68 million, or 5.5%, to $1.3 billion, equal to 12.5% of net sales. Source
  • Net income margin widened: Net income margin was 2.6%, up 39 basis points from a year earlier. It was 1.2% in the first quarter. Source

Cash flow, debt and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow flat year over year: Operating cash flow for the first six months was $725 million, the same as the prior year. Higher net income was offset by working capital changes in the prior period. Source
  • Capital spending rose by $13 million: Cash capital expenditures were $174 million for the first six months, for technology, property and equipment and distribution facilities. Source
  • Net leverage 2.6 times versus 2.7: Net debt was $5.2 billion at the end of the second quarter. The ratio of net debt to Adjusted EBITDA was 2.6 times, compared with 2.7 times at fiscal 2025 year-end. Source

“We expanded margins again this quarter through a combination of volume growth, gross profit gains and cost productivity improvements.”

Dirk Locascio, CFO

Share repurchases

  • Second-quarter buyback of $374 million: In the second quarter the company repurchased 4.4 million shares of common stock for $374 million. Source
  • Authorization remaining $640 million: The company had $640 million left under the November 2025 program, compared with $1 billion remaining at the first quarter end. Source
  • First-half repurchases near $500 million: For the first six months the company repurchased 5.8 million shares for about $500 million, including fees, commissions and any related excise tax. Source

Full-year fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Net sales growth guidance reaffirmed: Management reaffirmed net sales growth of 4% to 6% for fiscal 2026, the same range given on February 12, 2026. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and EPS guidance reaffirmed: Adjusted EBITDA growth of 9% to 13% and Adjusted Diluted EPS growth of 18% to 24% were also reaffirmed without change. Source
  • Guidance includes a 53rd week: The fiscal 2026 guidance includes an extra week, expected to add about 1% to total case growth and Adjusted EBITDA growth. Source

Strategy, people and leadership

  • Confidence in share gains and service: Management said it is confident it can keep gaining share with its target customer types and further improve customer service levels. Source
  • Thanks to 30,000 associates: Flitman thanked the company's 30,000 associates and cited the ambition to become the undisputed best in the industry. Source
  • Confidence in sustained earnings growth: Locascio said the company remains confident in delivering sustained earnings growth and long-term shareholder value creation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Fiscal 2026 includes a 53rd week: Management said the fiscal year includes an extra week, expected to add about 1% to case and Adjusted EBITDA growth, and that this is included in the guidance. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total case volume growth Source1.9% increase
Independent restaurant case volume growth Source5.1% increase
Healthcare volume growth Source3.5% increase
Hospitality volume growth Source4.4% increase
Chain volume growth Source1.5% decrease
Customer locations partnered with Sourceapproximately 250,000
Broadline and cash and carry locations Sourcemore than 70 broadline; more than 90 cash and carry

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management described the industry environment as challenging but stable. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the quarter's results are in line with the long-range plan, which includes these growth rates. Source
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the fiscal 2026 guidance it first gave on February 12, 2026. 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.