Tucker Marshall, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Frozen Handheld and Spreads, and Sweet Baked Snacks, will then provide a detailed analysis of the financial results and our updated fiscal 2026 outlook. Eastern Time today for a live question-and-answer session with management to further discuss our third quarter results and outlook for the full 2026 fiscal year. We delivered another quarter of strong top-line growth, driven by the ongoing demand for our leading and iconic brands and higher growth brands as we continue to realize the benefits of our transformed portfolio. First, we will continue to advance our long-term growth strategy and further the momentum of our portfolio of leading brands.

Second, we are highly focused on improving profitability and driving earnings growth across the company. We are focused on continuing this momentum by prioritizing resources towards our largest growth opportunities, the Uncrustables, Café Bustelo, Milk-Bone, and Meow Mix brands. Starting with the Uncrustables brand, which grew net sales 10% at the total company level. With household penetration at just 26%, we continue to see a long runway for growth.

Our next key growth platform, the Café Bustelo brand, continues to deliver strong results and remains one of the fastest growing brands in the at-home coffee category. The brand gained both dollar and volume share in every segment in which it competes, including the mainstream, pre-pack, one cup, and instant categories in the latest 13-week period. Through our brand-building efforts, we continue to see strong growth in brand awareness and household penetration, both of which have significant runway for continued growth. This fiscal year, we expect the brand to surpass $500 million in net sales, an increase of more than $100 million versus the prior year, driven by both volume and pricing.

What went well
  • Total company comparable net sales increased 8%, and 9% excluding contract manufacturing sales tied to the divested pet food brands, with third quarter results exceeding management's expectations.
  • The Uncrustables brand grew net sales 10% at the total company level, added approximately 3.5 million new households over the past year, and is on track to reach the $1 billion annual net sales aspiration this fiscal year with household penetration at just 26%.
  • Cafe Bustelo net sales increased 46% within U.S. Retail Coffee (including a 20% increase in volume mix), gaining dollar and volume share in every segment, and is expected to surpass $500 million in net sales this fiscal year, up more than $100 million versus the prior year.
  • U.S. Retail Coffee segment net sales increased 23%, driven by higher net pricing across the portfolio.
  • International and Away From Home net sales increased 12% and segment profit increased 17%, with Away From Home up 15% on coffee and Uncrustables sandwiches.
  • Third quarter free cash flow was $487 million, up from $151 million in the prior year, reflecting higher operating cash flow and lower capital expenditures.
What went wrong
  • The company recognized a $508 million goodwill impairment on the Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit and a $454 million impairment on the Hostess brand trademark, reflecting near-term underperformance and reduced long-term expectations; the reporting unit's projected long-term growth rate was cut to 2% and the Hostess trademark will begin amortizing in the fourth quarter.
  • Sweet Baked Snacks segment net sales decreased 19% (down 11% excluding non-comparable prior-year items) and segment profit decreased 78% on higher costs, unfavorable volume mix, and higher marketing spend.
  • Adjusted earnings per share was $2.38, a 9% decrease versus the prior year, and adjusted operating income decreased $32 million or 7%.
  • Tariffs drove approximately $79 million in expense in the quarter, primarily impacting the coffee portfolio, and adjusted gross profit decreased $28 million or 3% on higher commodity costs and tariffs.
  • Comparable net sales volume mix declined 2 percentage points, driven by decreases for sweet baked goods and fruit spreads.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodCurrent guidance
Uncrustables brand net salesFY2026Expected to achieve $1 billion annual net sales aspiration (On track to reach aspiration this fiscal year)
Cafe Bustelo net salesFY2026Expected to surpass $500 million, up more than $100 million versus prior year (Increase of more than $100 million)
Sweet Baked Snacks reporting unit long-term growth rateLong-termReduced to 2% (Reduced)

Performance Breakdown

MetricYoYNote
Total company comparable net sales +8% (+9% ex-divested pet contract manufacturing) Demand for leading and higher-growth brands; 10 ppt net price realization driven by coffee pricing, partially offset by 2 ppt volume mix decline
U.S. Retail Coffee net sales +23% Higher net pricing across the portfolio to recover increased costs; volume mix down 1 ppt on Dunkin' and Folgers declines, partially offset by Cafe Bustelo
U.S. Retail Coffee segment profit -5% Higher commodity costs and tariffs, unfavorable volume mix, and lapping favorable prior-year property taxes, partially offset by higher net price realization
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads net sales +2% Higher net pricing for Uncrustables sandwiches, partially offset by higher trade spend for peanut butter; volume mix neutral
U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads segment profit +4% Higher net price realization and lower pre-production expenses for the new Uncrustables facility, partially offset by higher costs and unfavorable volume mix
U.S. Retail Pet Foods net sales -1% Lapping divested pet food contract manufacturing and a dog snacks decline, partially offset by cat food growth
U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment profit +4% Lower marketing spend
Sweet Baked Snacks net sales -19% (-11% ex non-comparable items) Volume mix down 10 ppt on declines in snack cakes, donuts, and breakfast
Sweet Baked Snacks segment profit -78% Higher costs, unfavorable volume mix, and higher marketing spend
International and Away From Home net sales +12% 11 ppt net price realization driven by coffee pricing; Away From Home up 15% on coffee and Uncrustables, international up 6% on coffee
International and Away From Home segment profit +17% Higher net price realization, partially offset by higher costs, tariffs, and unfavorable volume mix
Adjusted earnings per share -9% to $2.38 Lower adjusted gross profit and operating income from higher costs and tariffs, partially offset by lower SD&A expenses

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious mentionCurrent periodTrend
Coffee pricing to recover costs and tariffsNet pricing drove 23 ppt of U.S. Retail Coffee growth and 10 ppt of total comparable net sales growth, with ~$79 million tariff expense mostly hitting coffeeRising
Uncrustables as a growth platform10% net sales growth, fridge-friendly and protein innovation, convenience-channel expansion, targeting top-three brand in the freezer aisleRising
Cafe Bustelo expansion46% segment net sales growth, share gains across all segments, targeting top-four at-home coffee brandRising
Sweet Baked Snacks / Hostess underperformanceImpairments of $508 million and $454 million, long-term growth rate cut to 2%, segment profit down 78%Declining
Disciplined capital deployment and debt paydownPrioritizing organic growth, debt paydown, dividends and buybacks while maintaining investment-grade ratingsSteady
Portfolio transformation post-pet divestitureLapping divested pet food contract manufacturing creating modest headwinds while two-thirds of portfolio grows or maintains dollar shareSteady

More on J M SMUCKER Co

Reported 2026-02-26 · figures from the J M SMUCKER Co Q3 2026 earnings call.

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