Edgewell Personal Care Company (NYSE:EPC) 2025 Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Edgewell Personal Care Company - **Event**: 2025 Conference - **Date**: December 02, 2025 Key Points Organizational Changes and Strategy - Significant organizational changes have been made, including new leadership in North America and a shift to a regional hub model globally [4][5] - The recent divestiture of the FemCare business is seen as a strategic move to focus on core categories such as shave, grooming, sun, and skincare [17][19] - North America has been identified as an area needing a commercial reset, with a new leadership team in place to drive growth [7][8] Financial Performance and Growth - International growth accounts for 40% of the portfolio, with mid-single-digit growth expected to continue into fiscal 2026 [5][37] - The company has achieved consistent cost productivity improvements of 200-300 basis points year-on-year [6][26] - The divestiture of FemCare was completed for $340 million, providing financial flexibility and operational focus [18][20] Market Environment - The overall growth rate in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) categories is around 2%, with similar trends observed in the U.S. market [13][14] - The promotional environment in the U.S. has become more competitive, particularly in women's shave and FemCare categories [14][12] Capital Allocation and Investment - Post-divestiture, the focus will be on strengthening the balance sheet and paying down debt, with 80% of the FemCare proceeds expected to convert into cash [20][21] - Increased advertising and promotion (A&P) spending is planned for fiscal 2026, rising from 10% to 12% of sales, aimed at driving top-line growth [29][32] Product Categories and Innovation - The grooming category, including brands like Jack Black and Bulldog, is expected to grow at mid to high single-digit rates [45] - The wet shave category is less competitive than in previous years, with Edgewell positioned as a key player alongside Gillette [48][49] - New product innovations and campaigns are being launched to enhance market presence, particularly in the U.S. [30][31] Future Outlook - The company is optimistic about stabilizing organic sales growth in the U.S., with expectations of low single-digit growth in the back half of 2026 [41][42] - Internationally, growth is anticipated to be driven by the sun and grooming categories, with significant potential in markets like Europe and Asia [39][40] Key Risks and Considerations - The company acknowledges challenges in the lower middle-income consumer demographics, which may impact overall category performance [13][14] - There is a focus on managing stranded costs post-FemCare divestiture, with expectations of a $35-$45 million headwind in the short term [22][23] Conclusion - Edgewell Personal Care Company is at a pivotal moment with strategic changes aimed at enhancing growth and operational efficiency. The focus on core categories, coupled with increased investment in marketing and innovation, positions the company for potential recovery and growth in the coming years [51][52]