Full-year results 2025 and strategic update: Strong momentum, accelerating strategic change

Core Insights - Nestlé reported a positive performance in 2025, achieving a real internal growth (RIG) of 0.8% and organic growth of 3.5%, despite a challenging external environment [2][4][29] - The company is accelerating its strategic focus on four core businesses: Coffee, Petcare, Nutrition, and Food & Snacks, which together account for approximately 70% of sales [3][8][16] - Nestlé's financial performance included a free cash flow of CHF 9.2 billion and a proposed dividend increase to CHF 3.10 per share, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns [4][43][44] Financial Performance - Total reported sales decreased by 2.0% to CHF 89.5 billion, with a gross profit margin of 45.6%, down 110 basis points from the previous year [4][33][41] - Underlying trading operating profit (UTOP) was CHF 14.4 billion, a decrease of 8.4%, with a UTOP margin of 16.1% [4][36] - Net profit fell by 17.0% to CHF 9.0 billion, with basic earnings per share decreasing to CHF 3.51 [4][41] Strategic Focus - The company is prioritizing RIG-led growth and expanding its high-potential growth platforms to represent 30% of sales, supported by an additional CHF 0.6 billion investment in 2026 [3][19][28] - Nestlé is simplifying its organizational structure to enhance local accountability and drive efficiencies, with a target of CHF 1 billion in annual savings by 2027 [21][22][26] - The integration of Nutrition and Nestlé Health Science into a single business aims to strengthen category leadership and drive synergies [8][17] Market Trends - Organic growth in developed markets was 2.3%, while emerging markets saw a higher growth rate of 5.4%, indicating a robust performance across various regions [32][51] - E-commerce sales grew by 13.5%, reaching 20.5% of total Group sales, highlighting the importance of digital channels in driving growth [32][82] - The company experienced significant improvements in market share trends, with billionaire brands showing positive growth for the first time in over a decade [30][31] Cost Management - Nestlé's Fuel for Growth program exceeded its savings target, achieving CHF 1.1 billion in savings, which supported margin delivery despite inflationary pressures [35][36] - The company is focused on optimizing working capital and capital expenditures, with a disciplined approach to cash generation and capital allocation [23][24] Future Guidance - For 2026, Nestlé expects organic growth to be in the range of 3% to 4%, with RIG anticipated to accelerate, despite potential impacts from the infant formula recall [10][14][28] - The UTOP margin is expected to improve compared to 2025, with free cash flow projected to exceed CHF 9 billion [14][28]