Core Insights - Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is a leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America, with approximately $3.4 billion in sales [3] Group 1: Company Announcement - Nate Baxter, president and chief operating officer, and Mark Scheiwer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Raymond James 2025 TMT & Consumer Conference on December 9, 2025, at 2:20 p.m. ET [1] - Investors can listen to a live webcast of the presentation and fireside chat from the Company's investor relations website, with an archive available for at least 90 days [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Scotts Miracle-Gro's brands, including Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho®, and Tomcat®, are among the most recognized and market-leading in their categories within the lawn and garden industry [3]

Core Points - Starting in 2026, the Columbus Crew's stadium will be named ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, marking an expansion of the partnership between the Crew and ScottsMiracle-Gro Company, which has lasted over 15 years [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership Details - The multi-year agreement includes stadium naming rights and aims to enhance community initiatives, particularly focusing on youth soccer and outdoor activities [3][7] - ScottsMiracle-Gro has been the Official Lawn Care & Gardening Partner for the Crew, providing products for maintaining the natural grass playing surfaces and supporting community programs [3][11] Group 2: Stadium and Events - The Crew's downtown stadium, opened in 2021, has hosted a record streak of 35 MLS regular season matches with capacity crowds from 2023 to 2025 [4] - The stadium will also host major soccer events, including the 2024 MLS All-Star Game and multiple U.S. Men's National Team matches, alongside private events throughout the year [5] Group 3: Community Engagement - The partnership will include the "Soccer in Schools" program, which aims to inspire youth participation in soccer and promote healthy habits [8] - The program provides educational resources to local school districts and aligns with physical education standards [8]

Core Insights - The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company reported significant improvements in key financial metrics for fiscal 2025, including gross margin, EBITDA, and EPS, indicating strong growth potential for fiscal 2026 [2][3][7]. Financial Performance - U.S. Consumer net sales reached $2.99 billion, aligning with guidance, with POS units and dollars increasing by 8.5% and 1.4% respectively [7]. - GAAP gross margin rate improved to 30.6%, while non-GAAP adjusted gross margin rate reached 31.2%, reflecting increases of 670 and 490 basis points over the prior year [7]. - GAAP earnings per share were $2.47, and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share were $3.74, marking improvements of $3.08 and $1.45 per share over the previous year [7]. - Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was $581 million, an increase of $71 million compared to the prior year [7]. - Free cash flow of $274 million exceeded expectations, and net leverage improved to 4.10x, a reduction of 0.76x from the previous year [7]. Fiscal 2026 Guidance - The company anticipates continued growth, projecting non-GAAP adjusted gross margin of at least 32% and adjusted earnings per share between $4.15 and $4.35 for fiscal 2026 [7]. - Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is expected to show mid single-digit growth, with free cash flow projected at $275 million, further reducing the leverage ratio to the high 3's [7]. Operational Strategy - The company is implementing AI, robotic automation, and other efficiencies to achieve cost savings, which will be reinvested into brand innovation and channel expansion [3]. - The management expressed confidence in executing its growth strategy, supported by the strong financial performance and positive market trends observed in fiscal 2025 [3].