Âé¶¹Ó³» (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced today preliminary first quarter fiscal 2026 results ahead of its presentation at the CAGNY conference on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET, and reaffirmed its expected organic net sales1 and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 guidance for fiscal 2026.
The Company separately announced entry into a definitive agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business, reflecting its ongoing portfolio shaping efforts. The Company will release its first quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Preliminary First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Results
Âé¶¹Ó³» expects first quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of approximately $3 billion, reflecting 2% organic net sales1 growth compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2025. This will mark the Company’s fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year organic net sales1 growth.
Âé¶¹Ó³» expects preliminary first quarter fiscal 2026 diluted earnings per share of $0.33 and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 of $0.34.
“We are pleased with our preliminary first quarter results,” said Jeff Ettinger, interim chief executive officer. “They reflect a solid start to the year, are aligned with our expectations and give us confidence that we are focused on the right initiatives to return Âé¶¹Ó³» to profitable growth.”
At the 2026 CAGNY conference, Ettinger will reaffirm the Company’s fiscal 2026 organic net sales1 and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 guidance and review key initiatives for success in fiscal 2026. John Ghingo, president, will discuss the Company’s unique position in the food industry, and leadership’s expectations for achieving its previously announced long-term growth algorithm of 2-3% organic net sales1 growth and 5-7% operating profit growth.
Portfolio Shaping
The Company separately announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business to Life-Science Innovations (LSI), with the transaction expected to close by the end of the Company’s second quarter of fiscal 2026.
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The Company will provide additional information on the transaction as part of its first quarter earnings announcement. It currently estimates minimal impact on net sales and adjusted diluted earnings per share1 guidance for fiscal 2026.
Upcoming Presentations
The live webcast of the Company’s CAGNY presentation, together with materials for the event, will be accessible at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, on the Company’s investor website, investor.hormelfoods.com.
Âé¶¹Ó³» will provide a comprehensive review of its first quarter results along with its fiscal 2026 guidance during its regularly scheduled earnings conference call on Feb. 26, 2026, at 7 a.m. CT.
Estimates for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 presented in this release are preliminary and represent the most current information available to management.
END NOTES
1Non-GAAP measure. See Appendix: Non-GAAP Measures to this news release for more information.
APPENDIX: NON-GAAP MEASURES
This news release includes measures of financial performance that are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company utilizes these non-GAAP measures to understand and evaluate operating performance on a consistent basis. These measures may also be used when making decisions regarding resource allocation and in determining incentive compensation. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors because they aid analysis and understanding of the Company’s results and business trends relative to past performance and the Company’s competitors. Non-GAAP measures are not intended to be a substitute for GAAP measures in analyzing financial performance. These non-GAAP measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.
Reconciliation of Preliminary Q1 Fiscal 2026 Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP Measures:
| Quarter Ended January 25, 2026 | |
| Net Sales Growth (GAAP) | 1.3% |
| Justin's, LLC Divestiture | 0.3% |
| Organic Net Sales Growth (Non-GAAP) | 1.6% |
| Quarter Ended January 25, 2026 | |
| Diluted Earnings Per Share (GAAP) | $ 0.33 |
| Transform and Modernize Initiative | 0.01 |
| Gain on Justin's, LLC Divestiture | (0.03) |
| Corporate Restructuring Plan | 0.01 |
| Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP) | $0.34 |