Second quarter 2026
Filed Jul 30, 2026ACCO Brands Reports Second Quarter Results
Reported sales, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS increased, and the Company raised full-year sales and adjusted EPS outlook. However, comparable sales declined, International adjusted operating income fell, GAAP operating income declined, and free cash flow remained an outflow year to date.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second quarter net salesGAAP | $415.1 million | – | 5.1 percent |
| Second quarter comparable salesnon-GAAP | declined 2.3 percent | – | declined 2.3 percent |
| Second quarter operating incomeGAAP | $30.3 million | – | – |
| Second quarter restructuring expenseGAAP | $1.3 million | – | – |
| Second quarter adjusted operating incomenon-GAAP | $48.1 million | – | – |
| Second quarter net incomeGAAP | $14.1 million | – | – |
| Second quarter diluted EPSGAAP | $0.15 per share | – | – |
| Second quarter adjusted net incomenon-GAAP | $27.4 million | – | – |
| Second quarter adjusted diluted EPSnon-GAAP | $0.29 | – | – |
| Six-month net salesGAAP | $758.8 million | – | 6.5 percent |
| Six-month EPOS acquisition sales contributionother | $37.6 million, or 5.3 percent | – | – |
| Six-month favorable foreign exchange sales contributionother | $26.0 million, or 3.7 percent | – | – |
| Six-month comparable salesnon-GAAP | decreased 2.5 percent | – | decreased 2.5 percent |
| Six-month operating incomeGAAP | $19.9 million | – | – |
| Six-month restructuring expense and litigation settlementGAAP | $12.0 million | – | – |
| Six-month adjusted operating incomenon-GAAP | $59.8 million | – | – |
| Six-month net incomeGAAP | $33.5 million | – | – |
| Six-month diluted EPSGAAP | $0.35 per share | – | – |
| Six-month adjusted net incomenon-GAAP | $29.2 million | – | – |
| Six-month adjusted diluted EPSnon-GAAP | $0.31 per share | – | – |
| Year-to-date free cash flownon-GAAP | free cash outflow was $38.6 million | – | – |
| Consolidated leverage ratioother | 4.3x | – | – |
| Year-to-date dividends paidother | $13.8 million | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCO Brands AmericasGrowth was driven by the EPOS acquisition of 2.7 percent and favorable foreign currency of 1.3 percent. Strong performance in the learning and creative category in North America and Mexico more than offset declines in workspace solutions and technology peripherals. | $262.9 million | – | increased 5.8 percent |
| ACCO Brands InternationalThe EPOS acquisition increased sales by 10.8 percent and favorable foreign exchange added 2.5 percent. Comparable sales were down 9.3 percent year-over-year, reflecting reduced demand for office product categories, particularly in EMEA and Australia, and a planned systems upgrade in EMEA. | $152.2 million | – | increased 4.0 percent |
Full Year 2026 and third quarter 2026 outlook
- RevenueFull-year reported sales to increase 2.0 percent to 5.0 percent; third-quarter reported sales in the range from down 1.0 percent to up 2.0 percent
- NoteFull-year adjusted EPS of $0.87 to $0.91
- Note2026 free cash flow of $75 million to $85 million
- Note2026 consolidated leverage ratio of 3.7x to 3.9x
- NoteThird-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.17 to $0.21
Capital returns
- Year to date, the Company has paid dividends of $13.8 million.
- The board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.075 per share, payable on September 9, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 21, 2026.
What drove it
- Second-quarter sales growth reflected 5.7 percent from the EPOS acquisition and 1.7 percent from favorable foreign exchange.
- Americas benefited from strong back-to-school sell-in, better-than-expected performance in Mexico, and learning and creative category performance.
- Adjusted operating income increased as cost savings were partially offset by lower organic volumes.
- The Company stated that the EPOS integration remains on track and that it is on target to achieve expected acquisition synergies.
- The Company continues to realize savings from its $100 million multi-year cost reduction program.
Concerns
- Second-quarter comparable sales declined 2.3 percent.
- International comparable sales were down 9.3 percent year-over-year, reflecting reduced demand for office product categories, particularly in EMEA and Australia.
- International adjusted operating income was $3.6 million compared with $12.4 million in the prior year as lower volumes more than offset cost savings and price increases.
- International sales were adversely affected by shipment disruptions from a planned systems upgrade at the largest distribution center in EMEA.
- Second-quarter operating income was $30.3 million compared with $33.0 million in 2025, and net income was $14.1 million compared with $29.2 million in 2025.
- Year-to-date free cash flow was an outflow of $38.6 million.
What to watch
- Third-quarter reported sales outlook of down 1.0 percent to up 2.0 percent and adjusted EPS outlook of $0.17 to $0.21.
- Whether the completed EMEA warehouse management system upgrade improves International shipment execution.
- Demand trends in office products, technology peripherals and workspace solutions.
- Progress toward EPOS synergies and savings from the $100 million multi-year cost reduction program.
- Delivery of full-year free cash flow of $75 million to $85 million and a consolidated leverage ratio of 3.7x to 3.9x.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Year to date, free cash outflow was $38.6 million compared with an outflow of $40.2 million in the prior year.
- The Company's consolidated leverage ratio was 4.3x as of June 30, 2026.
- The Company continues to expect 2026 free cash flow and the consolidated leverage ratio to be within the ranges of $75 million to $85 million and 3.7x to 3.9x, respectively.
Analysis
Second-quarter reported net sales increased 5.1 percent to $415.1 million, supported by the EPOS acquisition and favorable foreign exchange. Underlying demand was weaker, as comparable sales declined 2.3 percent. Americas generated growth from back-to-school sell-in, Mexico and learning and creative products, while declines in workspace solutions and technology peripherals remained a drag.
The geographic mix was uneven. Americas net sales increased 5.8 percent to $262.9 million and comparable sales were up 1.8 percent versus prior year. International net sales increased 4.0 percent to $152.2 million, but acquisition and foreign exchange contributions masked comparable-sales pressure. International comparable sales were down 9.3 percent year-over-year amid lower office-product demand in EMEA and Australia and disruption from the EMEA systems upgrade.
Profitability improved on an adjusted basis but weakened under GAAP results. Adjusted operating income increased to $48.1 million from $47.1 million as cost savings partly offset lower organic volumes, while adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.29 from $0.28. GAAP operating income declined to $30.3 million from $33.0 million and GAAP diluted EPS fell to $0.15 from $0.31. The prior year included a $6.9 million gain on the sale of assets and a net discrete tax benefit of $13.4 million from settling Brazilian tax assessments. International adjusted operating income declined to $3.6 million from $12.4 million, making that segment the principal earnings pressure point.
For the first six months, sales increased 6.5 percent to $758.8 million and adjusted operating income increased to $59.8 million from $54.0 million, while comparable sales decreased 2.5 percent. Six-month GAAP net income was $33.5 million and included a $36.5 million bargain purchase gain related to the preliminary EPOS purchase price allocation. Cash conversion remains an important issue, with year-to-date free cash outflow of $38.6 million and a consolidated leverage ratio of 4.3x as of June 30, 2026.
Management raised full-year reported-sales growth outlook to 2.0 percent to 5.0 percent and adjusted EPS outlook to $0.87 to $0.91, while reiterating free cash flow of $75 million to $85 million and leverage of 3.7x to 3.9x. The third-quarter outlook calls for reported sales ranging from down 1.0 percent to up 2.0 percent and adjusted EPS of $0.17 to $0.21. The guide places focus on whether the completed EMEA systems upgrade, EPOS integration and cost-reduction program can offset continued International demand softness.
Management, verbatim
We delivered a strong second quarter, with sales and adjusted EPS exceeding both prior-year results and our outlook. In the Americas segment, sales benefited from strong back-to-school sell-in and better-than-expected performance in Mexico. The International segment faced market softness and shipment disruptions from a planned systems upgrade at our largest distribution center in EMEA. The system upgrade is now complete, resulting in an improved and modernized warehouse management system. Based on our first half performance, we are raising our full-year sales and EPS outlook. We remain disciplined in this dynamic global operating environment as we position ACCO Brands for long-term growth.
Tom Tedford, President and Chief Executive Officer
The EPOS integration remains on track, and we are in the early stages of expanding the brand across our global platform. We are on target to achieve the expected synergies from this acquisition and continue to realize savings from our $100 million multi-year cost reduction program. These cost savings along with our cash flow allow us the flexibility to invest in organic and inorganic growth initiatives.
Tom Tedford, President and Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Gross margin and gross-margin comparison
- Operating cash flow
- Cash balance
- Debt balance
- Share repurchases
- Quarterly operating-expense metric
- Quarterly tax-rate metric
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics
- Segment revenue prior-quarter comparisons
- Full-year gross-margin, operating-expense and tax-rate guidance
- Prior-outlook section provided separately for comparison
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.