Sysco Q1 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Sales Increase 3.2% Y/Y

Core Insights - Sysco Corporation (SYY) started fiscal 2026 strongly, showing significant progress in sales performance, margin management, and supply chain operations [1] - The company's bottom line exceeded estimates, driven by robust local business performance, particularly in the U.S. Foodservice (USFS) local segment, which outperformed broader industry trends [2][3] Financial Performance - Sysco's adjusted earnings were $1.15 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12, marking a 5.5% year-over-year increase [4][10] - Total sales reached $21.1 billion, a 3.2% increase year-over-year, nearly aligning with estimates, with foreign exchange contributing 0.4% to sales growth [4][10] - Gross profit rose 3.9% to $3.9 billion, with gross margin improving by 13 basis points to 18.5% [5] - Operating expenses increased by 5.3% year-over-year to $3.1 billion, while adjusted operating income rose 2.9% to $898 million [6] Segment Performance - U.S. Foodservice Operations saw sales rise 2.9% to $14.8 billion, with gross profit growing 2.8% to $2.8 billion [7] - International Foodservice Operations reported a 4.5% sales increase to $4 billion, with gross profit climbing 6.7% to $826 million [8][9] - The SYGMA segment's sales increased by 4.1% year-over-year to $2.129 billion, while the Other segment's sales decreased by 3.2% to $273 million [11] Financial Health - Sysco ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $844 million and total liquidity of $3.5 billion [12] - Cash flow from operations was $86 million, while free cash flow was negative $50 million [12] - The company returned $259 million to shareholders through dividends during the quarter [13] Fiscal 2026 Outlook - Sysco reaffirmed its guidance for fiscal 2026, expecting sales growth of 3-5% and adjusted earnings per share growth of 1-3% [14] - The guidance includes a $100 million headwind related to lower incentive compensation from the previous year, with adjusted EPS growth anticipated to be 5-7% excluding this impact [14] Stock Performance - Sysco shares have declined by 2.9% over the past three months, compared to a 7.3% decline in the industry [15]