Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4, 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 [27][28] - Adjusted operating income was $40.3 million, representing 7.5% of net sales, down from 10.8% in 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 down 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, now holding a 15% share at Walmart and 13% at Target [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][19] - 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, enabling faster decision-making and increased investment in growth capabilities [12][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management acknowledged a challenging fiscal 2025 due to external pressures like tariffs and geopolitical tensions, but expressed confidence in the foundation for future growth [8][19] - For fiscal 2026, the company anticipates a return to organic net sales growth, driven by mid-single-digit growth in international markets and stabilization in North America [16][33] - The macro environment is expected to remain challenging, with muted category growth and cautious consumer spending [15][16] Other Important Information - The company generated productivity savings of 270 basis points in fiscal 2025, with expectations of approximately 310 basis points in fiscal 2026 [10][30] - Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 is projected to be in the range of $290 million to $310 million, approximately flat to the prior year [37] - The divestiture of the feminine care business is expected to impact adjusted EPS by approximately $0.40 to $0.50 annually [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Outlook and EPS Expectations - The company expects a balanced and achievable plan for 2026, with low single-digit category growth assumptions and flexibility to maintain profit goals [41][43] Question: Strategy and M&A Intentions - The focus is on winning in shave, grooming, sun, and skin categories, with potential for M&A as asset values decline [51][53] Question: Productivity and Gross Margin Concerns - The company is confident in its second-half-oriented plan, expecting higher sales growth and productivity improvements to offset margin pressures [63][64] Question: Sun and Skin Category Insights - The company plans conservatively for the sun season, expecting low single-digit growth while focusing on brand campaigns and distribution gains [81][84]

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]

Core Insights - Not all cash-generating companies are successful; some fail to reinvest effectively, limiting growth potential [1] - StockStory aims to identify companies with genuine upside potential [1] Companies to Sell - **Elastic (ESTC)** - Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 20.2% [2] - Current stock price is $88.32, with a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.3x [4] - **Edgewell Personal Care (EPC)** - Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 1.9% [5] - Current stock price is $18.53, with a forward P/E ratio of 6.4x [7] Company to Watch - **Laureate Education (LAUR)** - Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 15.6% [8] - Estimated sales growth of 12.5% for the next 12 months, indicating a slowdown from previous trends [8] - Operating margin increased by 7.7 percentage points over the last year [8] - Free cash flow margin expected to decrease by 2.4 percentage points in the coming year [8] Performance Concerns - **Laureate Education (LAUR)** - Organic revenue has underperformed over the past two years, suggesting a need for acquisitions to stimulate growth [9] - Earnings per share declined by 2.6% annually over the last three years, with flat revenue indicating reduced profitability per sale [9] - Free cash flow margin decreased by 4.9 percentage points over the last year due to increased investments [9] Positive Aspects - **Laureate Education (LAUR)** - Strong operating margin of 23.5% over the past two years due to disciplined cost controls [11] - Free cash flow generation is superior to most peers, enabling exploration of new investment opportunities [11] - Increasing returns on capital as previous investments begin to yield results [11]