Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total net sales of $354.4 million for the quarter, with U.S. consumer sales at $328.5 million, exceeding expectations due to early season load-in activities [30] - Gross margin improved to 25%, up 90 basis points year-over-year, while non-GAAP adjusted gross margin was 25.4%, compared to 24.5% a year ago [34] - The GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $47.8 million, or $0.83 per share, an improvement from a loss of $66.1 million, or $1.15 per share, in the prior year [36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on high-margin branded products, with a notable increase in e-commerce sales, which were up 12% in dollars and 17% in units [33] - Indoor gardening POS was up 7.7% in dollars and 9% in units, while Roundup saw a 24% increase in dollars and 27% in units [33] - The divestiture of the Hawthorne business is expected to contribute positively to gross margin and has already improved it by 40 basis points [12][28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing a shift in consumer demographics, with a growing focus on engaging millennials and Gen Z consumers [18] - E-commerce sales represented 14% of overall POS in Q1, a 150 basis point increase over the prior year, indicating a strong growth area [33] - Retailer shipments in January were at a record pace, suggesting positive momentum heading into the spring and summer lawn and garden season [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is investing nearly $1 billion annually in marketing and innovation to drive sales of high-margin branded products [5] - A new multi-year, $500 million share repurchase program has been approved, aiming to reduce share count to around 40 million shares over time [6][10] - The company plans to achieve $1 billion in top-line sales growth and total EBITDA of $1 billion by 2030, with a focus on modest tuck-in M&A to fill gaps in the lawn and garden portfolio [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in outperforming fiscal 2026 guidance, driven by innovation and strong retail partnerships [9][43] - The company is focused on long-term growth and is not overly concerned with quarterly results, emphasizing milestone achievements instead [54] - Management highlighted the importance of engaging a broader consumer base and adapting marketing strategies to attract emerging consumers [18] Other Important Information - The company is implementing a comprehensive plan to enhance its digital presence, including a new website that consolidates all brands and offers AI-driven consumer guidance [23] - The company is also increasing investments in CapEx to support fertilizer innovation and supply chain automation [24] - The sale of Hawthorne is expected to close this quarter, allowing the company to focus on its core lawn and garden business [12] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you discuss the confidence in outperforming guidance this year? - Management indicated that confidence stems from gross margin improvements and strong retail partnerships, with expectations to exceed the 32% gross margin target [40][41][43] Question: How has early retailer activity influenced your view on inventory loads? - Management noted that early activity has shown positive momentum, but emphasized the importance of not overreacting to short-term fluctuations due to weather impacts [55][56] Question: What is the potential size of the e-commerce business and its margin compared to brick-and-mortar? - Management believes the e-commerce business can be substantial, with a margin delta of less than five percentage points compared to traditional retail, indicating strong growth potential [78]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total company net sales for the quarter were $354.4 million, with U.S. consumer sales at $328.5 million, exceeding expectations due to early season load-in activities [29][30] - GAAP gross margin rate improved to 25%, up 90 basis points year-over-year, while non-GAAP adjusted gross margin rate was 25.4%, compared to 24.5% a year ago [34] - The GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $47.8 million, or $0.83 per share, an improvement from a loss of $66.1 million, or $1.15 per share in the prior year [36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The divestiture of the Hawthorne business has been classified as a discontinued operation, contributing to a 40 basis point improvement in gross margin [12][28] - POS for indoor gardening increased by 7.7% in dollars and 9% in units, while Roundup saw a 24% increase in dollars and 27% in units [33] - E-commerce POS dollars for branded products were up 12% and units were up 17%, representing 14% of overall POS in Q1, a 150 basis point increase over the prior year [33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on expanding household penetration, which is currently as low as 10% in some categories, while shifting demographics show a growing interest from Millennials and Gen Z [17][18] - Retailer shipments in January were at a record pace, indicating strong early season demand [30] - The company is enhancing its digital platform to consolidate brands and improve e-commerce capabilities, which is expected to drive further growth [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is investing nearly $1 billion annually in marketing and innovation to drive sales of high-margin branded products [5][6] - A new multi-year, $500 million share repurchase program has been approved, aiming to reduce share count to around 40 million shares over time [6][10] - The company plans to achieve $1 billion in top-line sales growth and total EBITDA of $1 billion by 2030, with a focus on modest tuck-in M&A to fill gaps in the lawn and garden portfolio [8][9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in outperforming fiscal 2026 guidance due to strong retailer relationships and innovative product offerings [39][43] - The company is focused on long-term growth rather than quarterly results, emphasizing the importance of achieving milestones [54][56] - Management highlighted the positive consumer engagement in the lawn and garden category, which is expected to drive future sales growth [18][25] Other Important Information - The company is planning to hold an Investor Day in the summer to share more details about its long-term financial priorities [37] - The sale of Hawthorne is expected to close this quarter, which will further strengthen the company's balance sheet and eliminate cannabis sector volatility [12][14] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you discuss the confidence in outperforming guidance this year? - Management indicated that improvements in gross margin and strong retailer relationships contribute to their confidence in outperforming guidance [40][43] Question: How has early retailer activity influenced your view on inventory loads? - Management noted that early retailer shipments have shown positive momentum, suggesting a return to more traditional inventory patterns [56][59] Question: What is the potential for e-commerce growth and its margin compared to brick-and-mortar? - Management believes e-commerce can be a significant growth area, with margins closely aligned to brick-and-mortar, showing less than a five percentage point delta [78]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total net sales of $354.4 million for Q1 2026, with US consumer sales at $328.5 million, exceeding expectations due to early season load-in activities [26][27] - GAAP gross margin rate improved to 25%, up 90 basis points year-over-year, while non-GAAP adjusted gross margin rate was 25.4%, compared to 24.5% a year ago [32] - The GAAP net loss from continuing operations was $47.8 million, or $0.83 per share, an improvement from a loss of $66.1 million, or $1.15 per share in the prior year [34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on high-margin branded products, with e-commerce POS dollars for branded products up 12% and units up 17% in Q1 [31] - Indoor gardening POS was up 7.7% in dollars and 9% in units, while Roundup saw a 24% increase in dollars and 27% in units [31] - The divestiture of the Hawthorne business is expected to contribute to a 40 basis point improvement in gross margin [10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retailer shipments in January 2026 were at a record pace, indicating strong early season demand [27] - The company is expanding its e-commerce presence, with branded product e-commerce sales representing 14% of overall POS in Q1, a 150 basis point increase over the prior year [31] - The company is targeting a 5% annual top-line growth through innovation, pricing, volume, and M&A [6] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is investing nearly $1 billion annually in marketing and consumer activation to drive purchases of high-margin branded products [4] - A new multi-year, $500 million share repurchase program was approved to reduce share count to around 40 million shares [4][9] - The company plans to focus on lawn and garden, divesting non-core operations like Hawthorne to strengthen its primary business [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in outperforming fiscal 2026 guidance, citing strong retailer support and positive early season indicators [38][41] - The company is committed to a long-term growth trajectory, with a goal of $1 billion in top-line sales growth and EBITDA by 2030 [6][13] - Management emphasized a shift away from quarterly performance focus, aiming for milestone achievements instead [52] Other Important Information - The company is implementing a comprehensive plan for long-term growth, with a focus on innovation and expanding product offerings [14][16] - The company is enhancing its digital platform to improve consumer engagement and e-commerce capabilities [20] - A phased approach to share repurchases is planned, with flexibility to adjust based on financial performance [25] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you discuss the confidence in outperforming guidance this year? - Management highlighted improvements in gross margin due to the Hawthorne divestiture and positive sales momentum from retailers as key factors for confidence [39][41] Question: How has early retailer activity influenced your view on inventory loads? - Management noted that early activity has shown optimism from retailers, but emphasized a focus on long-term milestones rather than quarterly results [52][56] Question: What is the potential size of the e-commerce business and its margin compared to brick-and-mortar? - Management indicated that e-commerce presents a significant growth opportunity, with margins being competitive and improving as retailers invest in infrastructure [77][79]