Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 13, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company Participants Anthony Scaglione - CFO J.T. Rieck - EVP of Finance and Investor Relations Mitchell Pinheiro - SVP and Director of Fundamental Equity Research Ryals McMullian - Chairman and CEO Conference Call Participants Ryals McMullian Okay, thanks, J.T. Good morning, everybody. Welcome to the fourth quarter call. I'm pleased with the progress that we're making to transform our business, led by the strong performance of our ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a net sales increase of 11% year-over-year, with a price mix increase of 70 basis points, while volume declined by 2.2% [16][17] - Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased by 30 basis points to 48.5%, influenced by increased outside purchases related to the Simple Mills business model [17] - GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter was a loss of $0.32, a decrease of $0.52 from the prior year, primarily due to a $136 million non-cash impairment of intangible assets [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fresh packaged bread category saw Flowers maintain unit share, with Dave's Killer Bread gaining 20 basis points, while traditional loaf unit sales declined by 4% in Q4 [3][4] - The cake business experienced a 5% growth in unit sales, driven by Wonder's brand recognition, despite a 3% decline in category unit sales [11] - Specialty Premium Loaf gained 60 basis points of unit share, largely driven by DKB, which added 50 basis points [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall bread category experienced a 2% decline, while the food category saw a modest increase in unit sales [4] - The competitive environment remained rational but challenging, with a 1.1% increase in average price per unit in the bread category [26] - Consumer behavior is shifting towards value-seeking, with increased sales in club stores and a decline in center store volumes [28][29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is conducting a comprehensive review of operations to reignite top-line growth and expand margins, focusing on brand portfolio optimization and supply chain enhancements [4][5] - Investments in marketing and innovation are expected to create near-term margin pressure but are deemed essential for long-term growth [5][22] - The integration of Simple Mills is progressing well, with expectations for significant growth driven by innovation and expanded distribution [12][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for 2026, anticipating continued category headwinds, particularly in traditional loaf, and inflationary pressures [21][22] - The company plans to balance investments in leading brands with the need to manage costs and maintain profitability [22][30] - Management emphasized the importance of adapting to consumer trends by prioritizing better-for-you products and innovative offerings [29][30] Other Important Information - The company generated cash flow from operating activities of $446 million in 2025, an increase of $34 million over the prior year [20] - Capital expenditures decreased to $127 million, while dividends paid increased to $209 million [20] - The company is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet, with a net debt to trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 3.3 times [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for growth in 2026? - The company expects fiscal 2026 net sales to be between $5.163 billion and $5.267 billion, with adjusted EBITDA of $465 million to $495 million, and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.80 to $0.90 [24][25] Question: How is the integration of Simple Mills progressing? - The integration is progressing well, with expectations for double-digit sales growth driven by expanded distribution and innovation [24]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales increased by 11% year-over-year, with a price mix increase of 70 basis points, while volume declined by 2.2% [16][17] - Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased by 30 basis points to 48.5% compared to the same quarter last year [17] - GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter was a loss of $0.32, a decrease of $0.52 from the prior year, while adjusted diluted EPS was $0.22, consistent with the prior year [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fresh packaged bread category saw Flowers maintain unit share, with Dave's Killer Bread gaining 20 basis points, while traditional loaf unit sales declined by 4% in Q4 [3][4] - The cake business improved revenues, with Flowers' cake unit sales growing by 5%, while the overall category unit sales declined by 3% [10] - Simple Mills contributed $57.5 million in net sales and $6.3 million to Adjusted EBITDA, indicating strong performance in the snacking categories [19][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall bread category experienced a 2% decline, while the food category saw a modest increase in units [4] - The competitive environment remained rational but challenging, with a 1.1% increase in average price per unit in the bread category [27] - Consumer behavior is shifting towards value-seeking, with increased sales in club stores and a decline in center store volumes [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is conducting a comprehensive review of operations to reignite top-line growth and expand margins, focusing on brand portfolio optimization and supply chain enhancements [4][5] - Investments in marketing and innovation are expected to create near-term margin pressure but are deemed essential for long-term growth [5][23] - The company aims to leverage leading brands to uncover growth opportunities in specialty premium loaf, sandwich buns, and breakfast segments [7][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for 2026, anticipating continued category headwinds, particularly in traditional loaf [22] - The company expects total sales to be down 180 basis points to up 20 basis points, with inflationary pressures impacting margins [22][23] - Management emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong balance sheet and managing capital structure prudently amid a challenging macro environment [20][21] Other Important Information - A non-cash impairment of $136 million was recognized due to a review of the brand portfolio, indicating a lower long-term outlook for certain brands [18][19] - The company is committed to enhancing margins through efficiency initiatives and strategic acquisitions, with a focus on better-for-you products [31][32] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for 2026 sales growth? - The company expects fiscal 2026 net sales to be between $5.163 billion and $5.267 billion, with adjusted EBITDA of $465 million to $495 million, and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.80 to $0.90 [25][26] Question: How is the Simple Mills acquisition performing? - Simple Mills is expected to drive double-digit sales growth, supported by expanded distribution and innovation, despite higher costs impacting margins [25][30]