Third fiscal quarter 2026
Filed Aug 4, 2026Energizer Holdings, Inc. Announces Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results
Net sales increased 1.2% and organic Net sales increased 2.7%, but reported gross margin fell to 38.2% from 55.1%, Adjusted Gross margin declined 560 basis points to 39.2%, and the company updated full-year Adjusted Earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA expectations to the low end of its original ranges.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net salesGAAP | $734.1 million | – | 1.2% |
| Organic Net salesother | 2.7% increase | – | 2.7% |
| Gross marginGAAP | 38.2% | – | – |
| Adjusted Gross marginnon-GAAP | 39.2% | – | decrease of 560 basis points |
| SG&A, excluding restructuring and acquisition costsother | $122.1 million | – | – |
| SG&A, excluding restructuring and acquisition costs, as a percentage of Net salesother | 16.6% of Net sales | – | – |
| A&P expense, as a percentage of Net salesother | 5.7% of Net sales | – | – |
| A&P expenseother | decreased $1.7 million | – | – |
| Net earningsGAAP | $39.9 million | – | – |
| Diluted net earnings per common shareGAAP | $0.58 | – | – |
| Adjusted Net earningsnon-GAAP | $51.6 million | – | – |
| Adjusted Diluted net earnings per common sharenon-GAAP | $0.75 | – | – |
| Adjusted Diluted net earnings per common share excluding out of period production creditsnon-GAAP | $0.75 | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $138.7 million | – | – |
| Adjusted EBITDA excluding out of period production creditsnon-GAAP | $138.7 million | – | – |
| Currency neutral Adjusted Diluted net earnings per common sharenon-GAAP | $0.73 | – | – |
| Currency neutral Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $136.7 million | – | – |
| Operating cash flow for the nine months ended June 30, 2026GAAP | $156.0 million | – | – |
| Free cash flow for the nine months ended June 30, 2026non-GAAP | $105.0 million | – | – |
| Free cash flow as a percentage of Net sales for the nine months ended June 30, 2026non-GAAP | 4.9% of Net sales | – | – |
Fiscal year 2026 outlook
- Revenueorganic Net sales to be down low single digits
- NoteAdjusted Earnings per share for the full year at the low end of the originally provided range of $3.30 to $3.60
- NoteAdjusted EBITDA at the low end of the originally provided range of $580 to $610 million
- NoteFourth quarter organic Net sales: flat to down low single digits year-over-year
- NoteFourth quarter Adjusted Earnings per share of $1.25 to $1.35
- NoteFourth quarter Adjusted Earnings per share guidance represents approximately 25% growth versus the prior year at the midpoint
Capital returns
- Dividend payments in the quarter were $20.6 million, or $0.30 per common share.
What drove it
- Global distribution gains and new product development in Batteries & Lights drove volume increases of 1.9%.
- Auto care, primarily driven by higher refrigerant distribution in North America, contributed volume growth of 2.2%.
- Pricing declines of 1.4%, driven by increased promotional investments in Batteries & Lights, partially offset volume improvement.
- The expiration of the acquired brand license resulted in a decline of net sales under the licensed brands of $17.2 million.
- Project Momentum savings of approximately $8 million and lower stock compensation expense reduced SG&A.
- Lower A&P and R&D spending partially offset the effect of lower Gross margin on earnings measures.
Concerns
- Adjusted Gross margin decreased 560 basis points to 39.2%, reflecting the production-credit comparison, unfavorable product mix, and increased promotional investment.
- Reported gross margin was 38.2% versus 55.1% in the prior year, when the company recorded estimated production credits of $112.4 million.
- Acquisition impact decreased Net sales 2.4%.
- Increased legal fees partially offset SG&A savings.
- The company expects fiscal-year organic Net sales to be down low single digits and updated Adjusted Earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA to the low end of their original ranges.
What to watch
- Fourth-quarter organic Net sales are expected to be flat to down low single digits year-over-year.
- Fourth-quarter Adjusted Earnings per share guidance is $1.25 to $1.35.
- The effect of productivity initiatives, supply chain optimization, and actions intended to strengthen profitability.
- Product mix and promotional investment trends in Batteries & Lights.
- The transition to legacy brands following expiration of the acquired brand license.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Operating cash flow for the nine months ended June 30, 2026 was $156.0 million.
- Free cash flow for the nine months ended June 30, 2026 was $105.0 million, or 4.9% of Net sales.
Analysis
Energizer reported third-quarter Net sales of $734.1 million, compared with $725.3 million in the prior-year period. Organic Net sales increased 2.7%, supported by global distribution gains and new product development in Batteries & Lights and by Auto Care refrigerant distribution in North America. Those gains were partly offset by pricing declines of 1.4% tied to increased promotional investment in Batteries & Lights. Acquisition impact reduced Net sales 2.4% following the expiration of an acquired brand license, which resulted in a $17.2 million decline in licensed-brand sales.
Profitability weakened materially against a prior-year production-credit comparison. Reported gross margin was 38.2%, versus 55.1% in the prior-year quarter, while Adjusted Gross margin declined 560 basis points to 39.2% from 44.8%. The prior-year quarter included estimated production credits of $112.4 million, including $78.5 million relating to production retroactive to January 1, 2023. The company also cited unfavorable product mix and increased promotional investment as current-year pressures on adjusted gross margin.
The lower margin flowed through earnings measures. Net earnings were $39.9 million and diluted net earnings per common share were $0.58, compared with $153.5 million and $2.13, respectively, in the prior-year period. Adjusted Net earnings were $51.6 million, Adjusted Diluted net earnings per common share were $0.75, and Adjusted EBITDA was $138.7 million. SG&A excluding restructuring and acquisition costs declined to $122.1 million from $123.6 million, aided by Project Momentum savings of approximately $8 million and lower stock compensation expense. A&P expense declined $1.7 million to 5.7% of Net sales.
Cash generation remained a central management message. Operating cash flow for the nine months ended June 30, 2026 was $156.0 million, and free cash flow was $105.0 million, or 4.9% of Net sales. The company paid $20.6 million of dividends in the quarter, or $0.30 per common share.
The outlook points to a stronger earnings finish but weaker sales expectations. Fourth-quarter organic Net sales are expected to be flat to down low single digits year-over-year, while Adjusted Earnings per share are guided to $1.25 to $1.35. For fiscal 2026, organic Net sales are expected to be down low single digits, and the company now expects full-year Adjusted Earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA at the low end of the originally provided ranges of $3.30 to $3.60 and $580 to $610 million, respectively. Management attributes the expected fourth-quarter earnings improvement to productivity initiatives, supply chain optimization, and profitability actions.
Management, verbatim
We delivered a solid third quarter in an operating environment that remains dynamic, with organic Net sales growth across both segments and continued progress against the strategic priorities we outlined at the beginning of the year.
Mark LaVigne, Chief Executive Officer
At the core of our investment thesis is a resilient business capable of generating strong free cash flow across a range of operating environments. We believe that durable cash generation, combined with disciplined capital allocation, provides a compelling path to long-term shareholder value creation.
Mark LaVigne, Chief Executive Officer
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Individual segment revenue, prior-year segment revenue, and segment growth rates were not provided.
- Operating income and adjusted operating income were not provided in the supplied filing text.
- Operating expenses guidance was not provided.
- Gross margin guidance was not provided.
- Tax-rate guidance was not provided.
- Cash balance, debt balance, and net debt were not provided.
- Share repurchases were not provided.
- Quarterly operating cash flow and quarterly free cash flow were not provided.
- Prior-year comparisons for nine-month operating cash flow and free cash flow were not provided.
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported metrics were not provided.
- A previous-release outlook was not provided, so no comparison of actual results with prior guidance is available.
- The current-quarter dollar amount of A&P expense was not provided.
- Research and development expense was referenced but no amount was provided.
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.