Food distributor Sysco lifted its annual profit forecast and beat estimates for both second-quarter profit and sales on Tuesday, as strong demand for its steaks, fillets and frozen-food products helpe... ...

Core Viewpoint - Sysco's fiscal second-quarter net income decreased, but the company indicated it is on track to achieve the high end of its previous full-year adjusted-earnings forecast [1] Financial Performance - The net income for Sysco in the fiscal second quarter experienced a decline [1] - Despite the drop in net income, Sysco remains optimistic about reaching its adjusted-earnings target for the full year [1]

Financial Performance - Sales for the second quarter increased 3.0% to $20.8 billion compared to the same period in fiscal year 2025[5] - Gross profit increased 3.9% to $3.8 billion, with a gross margin of 18.3%, reflecting a 15 basis point increase[6] - Operating income decreased 2.8% to $692 million, while adjusted operating income increased 3.1% to $807 million[3] - Net earnings decreased 4.2% to $389 million, but adjusted net earnings increased 3.9% to $476 million[3] - Sales for the 13-week period ended December 27, 2025, were $20,762 million, an increase of 3.0% compared to $20,151 million for the same period in 2024[24] - Gross profit for the 26-week period ended December 27, 2025, was $7,693 million, up from $7,403 million in 2024, reflecting a growth of 3.9%[24] - Net earnings for the 26-week period ended December 27, 2025, were $866 million, a decrease of 3.3% from $896 million in the prior year[26] - Basic earnings per share for the 13-week period ended December 27, 2025, were $0.81, compared to $0.83 for the same period in 2024[24] - For the 26-week period, Sysco reported GAAP sales of $41,910 million, a 3.1% increase from $40,634 million in the prior year[36] - Diluted earnings per share (GAAP) decreased to $1.80, down 1.1% from $1.82[37] Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns - Cash flow from operations was $611 million, and free cash flow was $413 million for the first 26 weeks of fiscal year 2026[13] - The company returned $518 million to shareholders via dividends during the first 26 weeks of fiscal year 2026[13] - Free cash flow for the 26-week period ended December 27, 2025, was $413 million, up from $331 million in the prior year, reflecting an increase of $82 million[43] Sales Growth - U.S. Foodservice local case volume grew by 1.2%, contributing to overall positive case growth[1] - International Foodservice Operations sales increased 7.3% to $4.0 billion, with a gross profit increase of 9.5% to $832 million[11] - U.S. foodservice operations sales increased by $339 million, or 2.4%, reaching $14,383 million[38] - International foodservice operations sales grew by $271 million, or 7.3%, totaling $3,999 million[38] - Total Sysco sales rose by $611 million, or 3.0%, to $20,762 million[39] Operating Expenses - Operating expenses increased by 5.5% to $3,100 million, with adjusted operating expenses (Non-GAAP) at $2,985 million, reflecting a 4.1% increase[33] - Operating expenses for Total Sysco increased by 5.4% to $6,200 million, with adjusted operating expenses rising by 4.2% to $5,987 million[41] Debt and Leverage - Long-term debt stood at $12,440 million as of December 27, 2025, slightly up from $12,360 million as of June 28, 2025[25] - Total Debt (GAAP) stands at $13,590 million, with Net Debt (Non-GAAP) at $12,368 million[48] - The Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (Non-GAAP) is 2.86, indicating the company's leverage relative to its earnings[48] Adjusted Metrics - Adjusted net earnings for fiscal 2026 were $1,028 million, a 3.1% increase from $997 million in fiscal 2025[37] - Adjusted EBITDA growth is considered a key measure of financial performance, with management emphasizing its importance for consistent period comparisons[44] - Adjusted EBITDA for the 13-week period, after certain item adjustments, increased to $1,001 million, reflecting a 3.3% rise from $969 million in the previous year[45] - Adjusted EBITDA for the 26-week period was $2,071 million, an increase of 1.7% compared to $2,037 million in the prior year[46] Strategic Focus - Sysco continues to focus on growth through acquisitions, excluding acquisition-related costs from its non-GAAP financial measures to enhance comparability[31] - The company reported a significant increase in acquisition-related costs, rising to $23 million from $8 million year-over-year, indicating ongoing strategic investments[45] - The impact of restructuring and transformational project costs was significant, with a total impact of $114 million on operating expenses for Total Sysco[41] - The impact of restructuring and transformational project costs in fiscal 2026 included $21 million in severance charges and $93 million in transformation initiative costs[37]

HOUSTON, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) (“Sysco” or the “company”) today announced financial results for its 13-week second fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2025. Key financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 include the following (comparisons are to the same period in fiscal year 2025): Sales increased 3.0%; U.S. Foodservice volume increased 0.8%, U.S. local volumes increased 1.2%;Gross profit increased 3.9% to $3.8 billion;Operating income decreased 2.8% ...

Core Viewpoint - Sysco Corporation (SYY) is expected to report growth in both revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenue estimated at $20.8 billion, reflecting a 3.3% increase year-over-year [1]. Revenue Expectations - The consensus estimate for Sysco's earnings per share (EPS) remains at 97 cents, indicating a 4.3% growth compared to the same quarter last year [2]. - Revenue growth is anticipated to be driven by improvements in U.S. Foodservice local volumes, which showed positive trends in the first quarter and are expected to improve by at least 100 basis points sequentially in the second quarter [3][10]. - The International segment is also expected to contribute to revenue growth, although it may face challenges due to the year-over-year comparison with the Mexico joint venture divestiture completed in fiscal 2025 [4]. Profitability Insights - Profitability in the second quarter is projected to benefit from sustained gross profit performance and disciplined expense management, with gross margin expansion and productivity gains noted in the first quarter [5][10]. - Management has expressed confidence that structural improvements and continued volume momentum will support year-over-year earnings growth in the upcoming quarter [5]. Earnings Prediction - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for Sysco, as it holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and an Earnings ESP of 0.00% [6].

Core Viewpoint - Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) is recognized as one of the best food stocks to buy in 2026, reflecting its strong market position and growth potential in the foodservice distribution sector [1]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Citi has maintained a neutral rating on Sysco Corporation, reducing its price target from $82 to $81 as part of a broader upgrade for the food distributors category, indicating a stronger position for distributors compared to restaurants [2]. - Barclays has confirmed an Overweight rating for Sysco, increasing its price target from $86 to $88, driven by a positive outlook for the restaurant group despite ongoing sales challenges in the industry [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Projections - As of January 9, 2026, Sysco's stock has increased by 1.11% year-to-date. The company anticipates sales growth of 3% to 5% for fiscal 2026, with adjusted profit expected to rise by 1% to 3% annually [4]. - In the latest quarter, sales in the U.S. foodservice segment increased by 2.9%, a decrease from 4.6% growth a year ago. Sysco holds a significant market share, accounting for 17% of the $370 billion U.S. foodservice distribution market [4].

Core Insights - Sysco Corporation's U.S. Foodservice business demonstrated improved execution in Q1 of fiscal 2026, with better operational performance and local volume trends [1][6] Group 1: Sales and Volume Performance - U.S. Foodservice sales increased by 2.9% year over year to $14.8 billion, with total case volume rising by 0.1% sequentially from the previous quarter [2][9] - Local case volume within U.S. Foodservice decreased by 0.2%, impacted by an intentional business exit in the FreshPoint business, which negatively affected local volumes by over 50 basis points; excluding this, local volumes increased by 0.3% [2] - The U.S. Broadline local business achieved a volume growth of 0.4%, reflecting a 130-basis-point sequential improvement compared to the prior quarter, outperforming the 60-basis-point improvement in industry restaurant traffic [3] Group 2: Operational Improvements - Sysco experienced significant gains in customer service levels, including enhancements in on-time and in-full deliveries, alongside strengthened supply-chain performance due to better colleague productivity and reduced product shrink [4] - The momentum in U.S. Foodservice execution is expected to continue into Q2, with management indicating that local volume is anticipated to improve by at least 100 basis points compared to Q1 [5][9] Group 3: Market Position and Stock Performance - Sysco's first-quarter results highlight the benefits of tighter execution and improved service reliability, even amid uneven broader industry demand [6] - Sysco's shares have risen by 0.5% over the past year, contrasting with a 15.7% decline in the industry [7]

Core Insights - Sysco Corporation will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its second quarter fiscal year 2026 financial results on January 27, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET [1] - Interested parties can listen to the conference call online, and a news release along with a slide presentation will be available on the investor relations section of Sysco's website [2] Company Overview - Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food and related products to customers who prepare meals away from home, including restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions [4] - The company operates 337 distribution centers across 10 countries, employing 75,000 colleagues and serving approximately 730,000 customer locations [4] - Sysco generated sales of over $81 billion in fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 28, 2025 [4] Services and Offerings - As the largest food-away-from-home distributor, Sysco provides customized supply chain solutions, specialty product offerings, and culinary support to help customers innovate and optimize their operations [5] - The company acts as a trusted business partner, offering a portfolio that includes fresh produce, premium proteins, specialty products, sustainably focused items, equipment, supplies, and innovative culinary solutions [5]

Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) is included among the 12 Best Income Stocks to Buy Now. Piper Sandler Maintains Neutral View on Sysco (SYY) Despite Demand Pressures On December 12, Piper Sandler lowered its price target on Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) to $80 from $81 and kept a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm said restaurant stocks have pulled back recently, driven mostly by concerns around demand trends in the restaurant industry. That matters because restaurants remain the largest customer base for ...

Core Viewpoint - Sysco Corp. is identified as a valuable investment opportunity for value investors, offering strong performance at a reasonable price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio within a stable industry [1] Company Summary - Sysco Corp. is highlighted as a high-performing company that is not facing significant industry challenges, making it an attractive option for investors [1]