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WD 40 Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 January 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 1 percent: Net sales were $154.4 million, with currency translation adding about $3.4 million to the reported figure. Source
  • Operating income fell 7 percent: Operating income was $23.3 million, down 7 percent, while gross profit rose to $86.8 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $1.28: Diluted EPS was $1.28 against $1.39 a year earlier; net income was $17.5 million, down 8 percent. Source
  • Gross margin rose 140 basis points: Gross margin reached 56.2 percent, 140 basis points above the year-earlier level, management said. Source
  • Distributor timing drove softness: Management said first-quarter softness came mainly from distributor timing factors, not from lower end-user demand. Source
  • Repurchased $7.8 million of shares: The company bought back 39,500 shares for $7.8 million in the quarter, compared with $3.6 million of treasury purchases a year earlier. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 guidance reaffirmed: The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 guidance previously issued in October 2025, with no change to the stated ranges. Source

“WD-40 Company is built for durable value creation, driven by brand strength, operational discipline and a culture of continuous improvement.”

Steve Brass, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceFiscal 2026, pro forma against 2025 pro formabetween 5 and 9 percentKept
Gross margin SourceFiscal 2026 full yearbetween 55.5 and 56.5 percentKept
Advertising and promotion SourceFiscal 2026around 6 percent of net salesKept
Operating income SourceFiscal 2026between $103 million and $110 millionKept
Income tax rate SourceFiscal 2026between 22.5 and 23.5 percentKept
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026between $5.75 and $6.15Kept
Divestiture sensitivity SourceFiscal 2026 full yearabout $12.5 million net sales, about $3.6 million operating income, about $0.20 diluted EPSKept
Annual dividends SourceOngoingmore than 50 percent of earnings

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 guidance reaffirmed with the same ranges given in the October 22, 2025 release. Source
  • New: Quarterly cash dividend raised to $1.02 per share from $0.94 previously. Source

Quarter results and profit

  • Net sales rose 1 percent: Net sales were $154.4 million, with currency translation adding about $3.4 million to the reported figure. Source
  • Constant-currency sales declined 2%: Excluding translation, net sales would have decreased 2 percent to $151.0 million, the company said. Source
  • Operating income fell 7 percent: Operating income was $23.3 million, down 7 percent, while gross profit rose to $86.8 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $1.28: Diluted EPS was $1.28 against $1.39 a year earlier; net income was $17.5 million, down 8 percent. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas sales rose 4 percent: Americas net sales rose to $71.9 million, helped by WD-40 Specialist growth in the United States. Source
  • EIMEA sales rose 2 percent: EIMEA net sales were $58.7 million, with maintenance product sales up 5 percent and homecare sales down. Source
  • Asia-Pacific sales fell 10 percent: Asia-Pacific net sales were $23.9 million, down 10 percent, with Asia distributor sales down on customer order timing and China up 9 percent. Source
  • UK homecare portfolio divested: The company sold its entire UK homecare and cleaning portfolio in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 and expects no future revenue from those brands. Source

“We maintain a strong financial position and healthy liquidity, which supports a disciplined capital allocation strategy focused on long-term growth and returns to our stockholders.”

Sara Hyzer, vice president and chief financial officer

Products and customers

  • Maintenance products were 96 percent: Maintenance products, the primary strategic focus, were $148.9 million, up 2 percent, and 96 percent of total net sales. Source
  • Multi-Use Product slipped 1 percent: Flagship WD-40 Multi-Use Product sales were $117.8 million, down 1 percent from $118.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Specialist sales reached $22.5 million: WD-40 Specialist sales were $22.5 million, up from $19.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Homecare and cleaning sales fell: Homecare and cleaning product sales were $5.5 million, reported as a 31 percent decrease. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin rose 140 basis points: Gross margin reached 56.2 percent, 140 basis points above the year-earlier level, management said. Source
  • SG&A rose 10 percent: Selling, general and administrative expenses reached $55.3 million, up 10 percent, against net sales growth of 1 percent. Source
  • Advertising spend eased to 5.3 percent: Advertising and sales promotion expense was $8.2 million, down 2 percent, equal to 5.3 percent of net sales versus 5.5 percent a year earlier. Source

Demand and distributor timing

  • Distributor timing drove softness: Management said first-quarter softness came mainly from distributor timing factors, not from lower end-user demand. Source
  • Direct gains offset by distributors: Gains in direct markets were partly offset by lower sales in marketing distributor markets, management said. Source
  • Rebound expected later this year: The chief financial officer said all indicators point to a rebound later in the fiscal year. Source

Capital, cash and returns

  • Repurchased $7.8 million of shares: The company bought back 39,500 shares for $7.8 million in the quarter, compared with $3.6 million of treasury purchases a year earlier. Source
  • $21.8 million left on authorization: Of the $50.0 million repurchase plan, $21.8 million remained available at November 30, 2025. Source
  • Dividend target above half of earnings: Management said annual dividends remain a priority and are targeted at more than 50 percent of earnings. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $10.0 million against $14.9 million a year earlier; cash ended the quarter at $48.6 million. Source
  • Revolver borrowing and dividends paid: Net revolving credit borrowing was $4.5 million, and dividends paid in the quarter were $12.8 million. Source

Strategy and growth potential

  • Must-Win Battles guide priorities: Management said its Must-Win Battles focus on accelerating maintenance product revenue growth, with execution on those goals ongoing. Source
  • Large unrealized growth potential cited: Management said WD-40 Multi-Use Product has captured about 25 percent of its global growth potential after 72 years, leaving about $1.4 billion. Source
  • Americas homecare brands for sale: Management previously announced intent to sell its homecare and cleaning portfolios in the Americas; guidance excludes those assets. Source

Full-year guidance reaffirmed

  • Fiscal 2026 guidance reaffirmed: The company reaffirmed fiscal 2026 guidance previously issued in October 2025, with no change to the stated ranges. Source
  • Visibility into upcoming initiatives: Management said visibility into upcoming initiatives gives it confidence in a solid fiscal year result. Source
  • Guidance excludes pending divestitures: Guidance is presented pro forma, excluding the financial impact of assets the company expects to divest in fiscal 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 January 2026

  • Second quarter started well: Management said the second quarter is already off to an excellent start, with growth across all three trade blocs. Source
  • Upcoming initiatives expected: Management said it has visibility into a number of upcoming initiatives. Source
  • Second-half activities scheduled: Chief financial officer cited numerous activities scheduled for the second half of the fiscal year. Source
  • Dividend payment dates set: The quarterly dividend is payable January 30, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business January 16, 2026. Source
  • Buyback authorization expires August 2026: The repurchase plan's expiration date was extended to August 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
WD-40 Specialist sales growth Source18 percent
E-commerce sales growth Source22 percent
Maintenance product sales growth in direct markets Source8 percent

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management attributes first-quarter softness to distributor order timing rather than to end-user demand decline. Source
  • Operational: Guidance would change if the Americas homecare divestiture is not completed, as the company may be unsuccessful. Source
  • External: Management cautioned that unanticipated inflationary headwinds and other unforeseen events may further affect financial results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The October 2025 release stated plans to accelerate repurchases and fully utilize the authorization in fiscal 2026; this release restates that plan.
  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the fiscal 2026 guidance first issued in October 2025. 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.