P&G Announces Results for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported first quarter fiscal year 2026 net sales of $22.4 billion, an increase of three percent versus the prior year. Organic sales, which excludes the impacts of foreign exchange and acquisitions and divestitures, increased two percent versus the prior year. Diluted net earnings per share were $1.95, an increase of 21 percent versus the prior year primarily due to higher non-core restructuring charges in the prior year. Core earnings per share were $1.99, an increase of three percent versus the prior year.

Operating cash flow was $5.4 billion, and net earnings were $4.8 billion for the quarter. Adjusted free cash flow productivity was 102 percent. Adjusted free cash flow productivity is calculated as operating cash flow less capital spending and certain other items, as a percentage of net earnings. The Company returned $3.8 billion of cash to shareowners via $2.55 billion of dividend payments and $1.25 billion of share repurchases.

“Our organic sales growth, earnings and cash results in the first quarter reflect strong execution of our integrated strategy,” said Jon Moeller, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. “These results keep us on track to deliver within our guidance ranges on all key financial metrics for the fiscal year in a challenging consumer and geopolitical environment. We remain committed to our integrated growth strategy of a focused product portfolio of daily use categories where performance drives brand choice, superiority — across product performance, packaging, brand communication, retail execution and consumer and customer value — productivity, constructive disruption and an agile and accountable organization. We are increasing investment in innovation and demand creation to improve value for consumers and drive category growth.”

July - September Quarter Discussion

Net sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 were $22.4 billion, a three percent increase versus the prior year. Organic sales, which exclude the impacts of foreign exchange and acquisitions and divestitures, increased two percent driven by a one percent increase from higher pricing and a one percent increase from favorable mix. Organic volume had a neutral impact on sales for the quarter.

Beauty segment organic sales increased six percent versus year ago. Hair Care organic sales increased low single-digits driven by volume increases and innovation-driven pricing in North America and Europe, partially offset by unfavorable geographic and product mix. Personal Care organic sales increased high single digits due to innovation-driven volume growth and pricing in North America, partially offset by negative impacts from geographic mix. Skin Care organic sales increased mid-single digits due to favorable premium product mix and higher pricing primarily in North America, partially offset by volume declines.
Grooming segment organic sales increased three percent versus year ago behind innovation-driven pricing, primarily in North America and Europe, and volume growth, partially offset by unfavorable product mix.
Health Care segment organic sales increased one percent versus year ago. Oral Care organic sales were unchanged as product mix from premium innovation was offset by volume declines. Personal Health Care organic sales increased low single digits due to higher pricing, primarily in Latin America and North America, partially offset by volume declines.
Fabric and Home Care segment organic sales were unchanged versus year ago. Fabric Care organic sales decreased low single digits driven by volume declines mainly in Europe. Home Care organic sales increased low single digits driven by higher pricing, primarily in North America and Europe, partially offset by volume declines, primarily in Europe.
Baby, Feminine and Family Care segment organic sales were unchanged versus year ago. Baby Care organic sales increased low single digits due to favorable premium product mix and a unit volume increase. Feminine Care organic sales were unchanged as the positive impacts of favorable product mix and innovation-driven pricing, primarily in North America, were offset by volume declines. Family Care organic sales decreased low single digits driven by merchandising investments.

Diluted net earnings per share increased by 21 percent to $1.95, driven primarily by higher restructuring charges related to the substantial liquidation of operations in certain Enterprise Markets, including Argentina, in the prior year period. Core earnings per share and currency-neutral core EPS increased three percent to $1.99.

Reported gross margin for the quarter decreased 70 basis points versus the prior year. Core gross margin for the quarter decreased 50 basis points versus the prior year and on a currency-neutral basis decreased 30 basis points. Benefits from gross productivity savings of 140 basis points, increased pricing of 50 basis points and 20 basis points of rounding and other items were more than offset by 100 basis points of unfavorable mix, 70 basis points of product reinvestments and 70 basis points of higher costs from tariffs and commodities.

Reported selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) as a percentage of sales declined 20 basis points versus year ago. Core SG&A as a percentage of sales decreased 40 basis points versus year ago and decreased 70 basis points on a currency-neutral basis. The decline was driven by 90 basis points of productivity savings, 40 basis points of net sales growth leverage and 10 basis points of rounding and other items, partially offset by 70 basis points of reinvestments.

Reported operating margin for the quarter decreased 50 basis points versus the prior year. Core operating margin for the quarter was unchanged versus the prior year and increased 40 basis points on a currency-neutral basis. Core operating margin included gross productivity savings of 230 basis points.

Fiscal Year 2026 Guidance

P&G maintained its guidance range for fiscal 2026 all-in sales growth to be in the range of one to five percent versus the prior year. The net impacts of foreign exchange rates and acquisitions and divestitures are expected to be a tailwind of approximately one percentage point to all-in sales growth. The company also maintained its outlook for organic sales growth in the range of in-line to up four percent versus the prior year.

P&G maintained its fiscal 2026 diluted net earnings per share growth to be in the range of 3 percent to 9 percent versus fiscal 2025 diluted net EPS of $6.51. P&G also maintained its fiscal 2026 core earnings per share growth to be in the range of in-line to up four percent versus fiscal 2025 core EPS of $6.83. This outlook equates to a range of $6.83 to $7.09 per share, with a mid-point estimate of $6.96, or an increase of 2 percent.

P&G now expects a commodity cost headwind of approximately $100 million after tax and higher costs from tariffs of approximately $400 million after tax for fiscal 2026. The Company continues to expect a net headwind of roughly $250 million after-tax from modestly higher net interest expense and a higher core effective tax rate versus the prior year. The Company also continues to expect favorable foreign exchange rates will be a tailwind of approximately $300 million after tax. Collectively these impacts equate to a headwind of $0.19 per share for fiscal 2026.

The Company is unable to reconcile its forward-looking non-GAAP cash flow and tax rate measures without unreasonable efforts given the unpredictability of the timing and amounts of discrete items, such as acquisitions, divestitures, or impairments, which could significantly impact GAAP results.

P&G continues to expect a core effective tax rate to be in the range of 20 percent to 21 percent in fiscal 2026.

Capital spending is estimated to be in the range of four to five percent of fiscal 2026 net sales.

P&G continues to expect adjusted free cash flow productivity of 85 percent to 90 percent and expects to pay around $10 billion in dividends and to repurchase approximately $5 billion of common shares in fiscal 2026.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

Risks and uncertainties to which our forward-looking statements are subject include, without limitation: (1) the ability to successfully manage global financial risks, including foreign currency fluctuations, changes in global interest rates and rate differentials, currency exchange, pricing controls or tariffs; (2) the ability to successfully manage local, regional or global economic volatility, including reduced market growth rates, and to generate sufficient income and cash flow to allow the Company to effect the expected share repurchases and dividend payments; (3) the ability to successfully manage uncertainties related to changing political and geopolitical conditions and potential implications such as exchange rate fluctuations, market contraction, boycotts, variability and unpredictability in trade relations, sanctions, tariffs or other trade controls; (4) the ability to manage disruptions in credit markets or to our banking partners or changes to our credit rating; (5) the ability to maintain key manufacturing and supply arrangements (including execution of supply chain optimizations and sole supplier and sole manufacturing plant arrangements) and to manage disruption of business due to various factors, including ones outside of our control, such as natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism or disease outbreaks; (6) the ability to successfully manage cost fluctuations and pressures, including prices of commodities and raw materials and costs of labor, transportation, energy, pension and healthcare; (7) the ability to compete with our local and global competitors in new and existing sales channels, including by successfully responding to competitive factors such as prices, promotional incentives and trade terms for products; (8) the ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (9) the ability to protect our reputation and brand equity by successfully managing real or perceived issues, including concerns about safety, quality, ingredients, efficacy, packaging content, supply chain practices, social or environmental practices or similar matters that may arise; (10) the ability to successfully manage the financial, legal, reputational and operational risk associated with third-party relationships, such as our suppliers, contract manufacturers, distributors, contractors and external business partners; (11) the ability to rely on and maintain key company and third-party information and operational technology systems, networks and services and maintain the security and functionality of such systems, networks and services and the data contained therein; (12) the ability to successfully manage the demand, supply and operational challenges, as well as governmental responses or mandates, associated with a disease outbreak, including epidemics, pandemics or similar widespread public health concerns; (13) the ability to stay on the leading edge of innovation, obtain necessary intellectual property protections and successfully respond to changing consumer habits, evolving digital marketing and selling platform requirements and technological advances attained by, and patents granted to, competitors; (14) the ability to successfully manage our ongoing acquisition, divestiture and joint venture activities, in each case to achieve the Company’s overall business strategy and financial objectives, without impacting the delivery of base business objectives; (15) the ability to successfully achieve productivity improvements and cost savings and manage ongoing organizational changes while successfully identifying, developing and retaining key employees, including in key growth markets where the availability of skilled or experienced employees may be limited; (16) the ability to successfully manage current and expanding regulatory and legal requirements and matters (including, without limitation, those laws, regulations, policies and related interpretations involving product liability, product and packaging composition, manufacturing processes, intellectual property, labor and employment, antitrust, privacy, cybersecurity, data protection and data transfers, artificial intelligence, tax, the environment, due diligence, risk oversight, accounting and financial reporting) and to resolve new and pending matters within current estimates; (17) the ability to manage changes in applicable tax laws and regulations; and (18) the ability to continue delivering progress towards our environmental sustainability ambitions.

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