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Simply Good Foods: Simply Good Foods Co. Delivers Mixed Q1 Results Amidst Brand Variability

Simply Good Foods Co. reported net sales of $340.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, largely flat compared to the prior year. The company's gross profit declined 15.8% to $109.9 million, with a gross margin of 32.3% on a GAAP basis, down 590 basis points year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA was $55.6 million, down 20.6%, and diluted earnings per share came in at $0.26. The actual EPS was $0.39, beating estimates of $0.36.

SMPL

USD 21.4

3.63%

A-Score: 4.3/10

Publication date: January 8, 2026

Author: Analystock.ai

📋 Highlights
  • Flat Net Sales Total net sales remained at $340.2 million YoY, with Quest growing 10% and Atkins declining 17%.
  • Gross Profit Decline Gross profit fell 15.8% to $109.9 million, with a 590 bps drop in gross margin to 32.3%.
  • Aggressive Share Buybacks $150 million borrowed to repurchase 7% of stock, with a $200 million increase in repurchase authorization.
  • Full-Year Outlook Net sales growth -2% to 2%, adjusted EBITDA -4% to 1%, and gross margin decline of 100-150 bps.
  • Second-Half Recovery Q4 profit growth expected to rise double digits YoY, driven by pricing, productivity, and cocoa benefits.

Segment Performance

Quest net sales grew nearly 10%, driven by 12% consumption growth, while Atkins and OWYN declined 17% and 3%, respectively. Atkins' business has 75% of sales from SKUs in the top half of category velocity, and the company is working to replace slower-moving SKUs with faster-turning ones from Quest and OWYN. Quest Salty had a strong quarter, with 40% growth driven by innovation, new distribution, and merchandising gains.

Outlook and Guidance

The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, expecting net sales growth between -2% to 2%, with growth from Quest and OWYN offset by Atkins. Gross margins are expected to decline by 100-150 basis points, and adjusted EBITDA year-over-year is expected to be between -4% to 1%. The company expects Q2 net sales to decline 3.5-4.5%, but growth is expected to improve meaningfully in the second half.

Valuation and Share Buyback

The company's stock is currently trading at a P/E Ratio of 22.47 and an EV/EBITDA of 12.07. With its stock at attractive levels, the company borrowed an incremental $150 million to accelerate its share buyback program, repurchasing over 7% of its common stock since the start of the year. The Board authorized a $200 million increase to the existing share repurchase program, indicating the company's confidence in its long-term algorithm and its view that the stock is undervalued.

Growth Prospects and M&A

Analysts estimate next year's revenue growth at 4.3%. The company is confident in its long-term growth prospects, driven by its brands' differentiated positions in the RTD category. M&A is still a consideration, but the company is currently focused on share buybacks. The company's pipeline of new products, including innovations in OWYN and Quest, is expected to contribute to growth in fiscal '26.

Simply Good Foods's A-Score