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Edgewell Personal Care(EPC) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-11-13 14:00
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2025, the company achieved organic net sales growth of 2.5%, aligning with expectations despite external pressures [7][22] - Adjusted gross margin rate decreased by 330 basis points, primarily due to unexpected year-end inventory adjustments and increased trade promotions [26][28] - Adjusted operating income was $40.3 million, representing 7.5% of net sales, down from 10.8% the previous year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - International organic net sales grew by 6.9%, driven by volume and price gains across all segments [22] - North America experienced a decline in organic net sales by 60 basis points, with wet shave sales declining approximately 1% [23] - Sun and skin care organic net sales increased by approximately 11%, with robust growth across each business segment [24] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International markets, representing about 40% of global sales, delivered strong growth for the fourth consecutive year, with Europe achieving its third straight year of growth [8][9] - The U.S. razor and blades category saw consumption down by 80 basis points, although market share improved sequentially [23] - The Billie brand achieved a 90 basis point share growth, indicating strong retail performance [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to divest its feminine care business to focus on core categories with competitive advantages, including shave, sun, and skincare [6][20] - A multi-year innovation roadmap is being implemented, with significant investments in brand building and marketing to restore brand equity [11][14] - The transformation plan aims to simplify the U.S. structure, enhance decision-making speed, and increase investment in growth capabilities [12][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging fiscal 2025 due to external pressures like tariffs and geopolitical tensions, but expressed optimism about durable international growth and innovation [8][20] - The outlook for fiscal 2026 anticipates a return to organic net sales growth, driven by mid-single-digit growth in international markets and stabilization in North America [16][34] - The company expects to face continued inflation and tariff impacts but is focused on productivity gains and margin recovery [16][36] Other Important Information - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share for Q4 and completed approximately $90 million in share repurchases for the fiscal year [29] - The anticipated divestiture of the feminine care business is expected to impact adjusted EPS by approximately $0.40-$0.50 annually [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook and EPS Expectations - The company expects a balanced and achievable plan for 2026, with EPS potentially at a loss in Q1 due to margin pressures and tax rate changes [40][41] Question: Strategy and Portfolio Focus - The strategy focuses on winning in shave, grooming, sun, and skin categories, with plans for potential M&A as asset values decline [45][46] Question: Productivity and Gross Margin Concerns - Management expressed confidence in the second-half-oriented plan, expecting higher sales growth and productivity improvements to enhance gross margin [50][52] Question: Use of Proceeds from Divestiture - Proceeds from the feminine care sale will primarily be used for debt reduction, with a focus on maintaining a disciplined capital allocation strategy [54][55] Question: Sun and Skin Category Outlook - The company plans conservatively for the sun category, expecting low single-digit growth while investing in brand campaigns for Hawaiian Tropic and Banana Boat [57][58]