Fourth Quarter 2025 Highlights
Net sales were
Operating margin decreased to negative 14.3% compared with positive 0.5% in the prior year period. Normalized operating margin increased to 8.7% compared with 7.1% in the prior year period.
Net loss was
Diluted loss per share was
Normalized EBITDA increased 11.6% to
The Company initiated its full year 2026 outlook for net sales in the range of (1%) to 1%, core sales in the range of (2%) to flat and a normalized EPS range of
Fourth Quarter 2025 Operating Results
Net sales were
Gross margin was 33.1% compared with 34.2% in the prior year period, with the positive impact from gross productivity and pricing more than offset by headwinds from tariff costs and inflation. Normalized gross margin was 33.9% compared with 34.6% in the prior year period.
Operating loss was
Net interest expense was
Income tax benefit was
Net loss was
Diluted loss per share was
An explanation of non-GAAP measures disclosed in this release and a reconciliation of these non-GAAP results to comparable GAAP measures, if available, are included in the tables attached to this release.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Full year operating cash flow was
During the fourth quarter, the Company repaid the outstanding principal amount of its 3.9% senior notes due 2025, plus accrued and unpaid interest upon maturity. At the end of 2025,
Fourth Quarter 2025 Operating Segment Results
The Home & Commercial Solutions segment generated net sales of
The Learning & Development segment generated net sales of
Full Year 2025 Operating Results
Net sales for the full year ended
Gross margin was 33.8% compared with 33.6% in the prior year, as the positive impact from productivity savings and pricing more than offset headwinds from lower sales volume, inflation and tariffs. Gross margin would have expanded by 50 basis points for the full year if not for the temporary
Operating income was
Net interest expense was
Income tax benefit was
Net loss was
Diluted loss per share was
Outlook
The Company's 2026 outlook reflects expectations for a step up in core sales growth driven by a stronger innovation pipeline, net distribution gains and higher A&P spending. Additionally the outlook reflects continued margin improvement focus and stronger year over year operating cash flow generation.
The Company initiated its outlook for the first quarter and the full year 2026. Note that first quarter 2026 core sales, the Company's seasonally smallest quarter, is expected to be negatively impacted by shipment timing dynamics rather than underlying consumer demand, including the timing of shelf resets and associated innovation shipments, as well as lapping a prior-year period that included tariff-related ordering and timing dynamics.
Included in the full year 2026 outlook is the annualized impact of tariffs enacted during 2025. While the Company expects lower cash tariff payments in 2026 compared to 2025, the gross profit impact reflects a higher full-year annualized run rate, prior to mitigating actions in 2026, partially offset by productivity actions, targeted pricing and tariff-related business wins. Prior to mitigating actions, this annualized tariff impact is expected to create an incremental headwind of approximately
Q1 2026 Outlook Full Year 2026 Outlook
Net Sales (5%) to (3%) (1%) to 1%
Core Sales (7%) to (5%) (2%) to flat
Normalized Operating Margin 2.5% to 3.5% 8.6% to 9.2%
Normalized EPS ($0.12 ) to ($0.08 )$0.54 to$0.60
The Company initiated its outlook for full year 2026 operating cash flow to a range of
The Company has presented forward-looking statements regarding core sales, normalized operating margin and normalized EPS. These non-GAAP financial measures are derived by excluding certain amounts, expenses or income, from the corresponding financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The determination of the amounts that are excluded from these non-GAAP financial measures is a matter of management judgement and depends upon, among other factors, the nature of the underlying expense or income amounts recognized in a given period in reliance on the exception provided by item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K.
Conference Call
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release and the accompanying remarks contain non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures that are included in this press release, the additional financial information and accompanying remarks both to explain its results to stockholders and the investment community and in the internal evaluation and management of its businesses. The Company's management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures and the information they provide are useful to investors since these measures (a) permit investors to view the Company's performance and liquidity using the same tools that management uses to evaluate the Company's past performance, reportable segments, prospects for future performance and liquidity, and (b) determine certain elements of management incentive compensation.
The Company's management believes that core sales provides a more complete understanding of underlying sales trends by providing sales on a consistent basis as it excludes the impacts of acquisitions, divestitures, retail store openings and closings, certain market and category exits, changes in foreign exchange and customer returns due to a product recall from year-over-year comparisons. The effect of changes in foreign exchange on reported sales is calculated by applying the prior year average monthly exchange rates to the current year local currency sales amounts (excluding acquisitions and divestitures), with the difference between the current year reported sales and constant currency sales presented as the foreign exchange impact increase or decrease in core sales. The Company's management believes that 'normalized' gross margin, 'normalized' overheads, 'normalized' operating income, 'normalized' operating margin, 'normalized EBITDA', 'normalized' net income, 'normalized' diluted earnings per share and 'normalized' income tax benefit or expense, which exclude restructuring and restructuring-related expenses; impairment charges; amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets; divestiture costs; costs related to the acquisition, integration and financing of acquired businesses; inflationary adjustments and one-time and other events such as expenses related to certain legal proceedings, costs related to the extinguishment of debt; certain tax benefits and charges; pension settlement charges; costs related to a product recall; certain facility fire related costs; write-off of assets not placed into service and certain other items, are useful because they provide investors with a meaningful perspective on the current underlying performance of the Company's core ongoing operations and liquidity. 'Normalized EBITDA' is an ongoing liquidity measure (that excludes non-cash items) and is calculated as normalized earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expense.
The Company uses a 'with' and 'without' approach to calculate normalized income tax expense or benefit. At an interim period, the Company determines the year to date tax effect of the pretax items excluded from normalized results by allocating the difference between the calculated GAAP and calculated normalized tax expense or benefit.
The Company defines 'net debt' as short-term debt, current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents.
While the Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company's performance and liquidity, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for or superior to the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures presented by other companies.
About
This press release and additional information about
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this press release and its exhibits, particularly those anticipating future financial performance, business prospects, growth, operating strategies, future macroeconomic conditions and similar matters, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements generally can be identified by the use of words or phrases, including, but not limited to, 'guidance,' 'outlook,' 'intend,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'project,' 'target,' 'plan,' 'expect,' 'setting up,' 'beginning to,' 'will,' 'should,' 'would,' 'could,' 'resume,' 'remain confident,' 'remain optimistic,' 'seek to,' or similar statements. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
the Company's ability to optimize costs and cash flow and mitigate the impact of soft global demand and retailers' inventory rebalancing through discretionary and overhead spend management, advertising and promotion expense optimization, demand forecast and supply plan adjustments and actions to improve working capital;
the Company's dependence on the strength of retail and consumer demand and commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various countries around the world;
the Company's ability to improve productivity, reduce complexity and streamline operations;
risks related to the Company's substantial indebtedness and current leverage profile, ability to refinance upcoming revolver and bond maturities on favorable terms, and potential increases in interest rates or changes in the Company's credit ratings including the failure to maintain financial covenants which if breached could subject us to cross-default and acceleration provisions in our debt documents;
the impact on the Company's operations and financial condition resulting from the current global macroeconomic environment, including the impact of tariffs imposed by the
competition with other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products;
major retailers' strong bargaining power and consolidation of the Company's customers;
supply chain and operational disruptions in the markets in which we operate, including as a result of geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions and any global military conflicts including those between
changes in the prices and availability of labor, transportation, raw materials and sourced products, including significant inflation, and the Company's ability to offset cost increases through pricing and productivity in a timely manner;
the Company's ability to effectively execute its turnaround plan, including the Global Productivity Plan announced in
the Company's ability to develop innovative new products, to develop, maintain and strengthen end-user brands and to realize the benefits of increased advertising and promotion spend;
the risks inherent to the Company's foreign operations, including currency fluctuations, exchange controls and pricing restrictions;
future events that could adversely affect the value of the Company's assets and/or stock price and require additional impairment charges;
unexpected costs or expenses associated with dispositions;
the cost and outcomes of governmental investigations, inspections, lawsuits, legislative requests or other actions by third parties, the potential outcomes of which could exceed policy limits, to the extent insured;
the Company's ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;
risk associated with the use of artificial intelligence in the Company's operations and the Company's ability to properly manage such use;
a failure or breach of one of the Company's key information technology systems, networks, processes or related controls or those of the Company's service providers;
the impact of
the potential inability to attract, retain and motivate key employees;
changes in tax laws and the resolution of tax contingencies resulting in additional tax liabilities;
product liability, product recalls or related regulatory actions;
the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property rights;
the impact of climate change and the increased focus of governmental and non-governmental organizations and customers on sustainability issues, as well as external expectations related to environmental, social and governance considerations;
significant increases in the funding obligations related to the Company's pension plans; and
other factors listed from time to time in our
The consolidated condensed financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in
The information contained in this press release and the tables is as of the date indicated. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company has correctly identified and assessed all of the factors affecting the Company or that the publicly available and other information the Company receives with respect to these factors is complete or correct.
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