Marzetti shares slip after modest Q2 sales growth, margins improve

The Marzetti Company (Nasdaq: MZTI) shares were trading around $174, down about 1% in midday trading on Wednesday after the company reported second quarter fiscal 2026 earnings. The stock has traded within a 52-week range of roughly $153 to about $198, with recent price action showing modest volatility near the lower half of that range amid broader market caution on consumer-oriented equities. The Marzetti Company, a specialty foods manufacturer, posted modest sales growth in its latest quarter, driven by strength in its foodservice business but offset by softer retail results. Investors weighed the results against expectations in a market still adjusting to macroeconomic pressures that have dampened risk assets, including SaaS/software names, as higher rates and inflation concerns persist. Quarterly results: For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2025, consolidated net sales rose about 1.7% to $518.0 million from $509.3 million a year earlier. Adjusted net sales, excluding non-core items, were effectively flat, rising approximately 0.1%. Gross profit increased about 3.4% to a second-quarter record $137.3 million, with adjusted gross margin up roughly 80 basis points to 26.9%. At the segment level, Retail net sales declined about 1.1% to $277.5 million, reflecting weaker volume, while Foodservice net sales climbed roughly 5.2% to $240.4 million. Excluding non-core temporary supply sales, adjusted Foodservice growth was about 1.6%. • Reported operating income was $75.2 million, down slightly from $75.7 million a year earlier, with adjusted operating income about $76.9 million, modestly below the prior year.• Net income rose to $59.1 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, up from $48.99 million, or $1.78 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Six-month year-to-date: For the first half of fiscal 2026, net sales increased about 3.6% to roughly $1.011 billion, while reported operating income grew about 2.2% to $134.4 million. Net income of $106.3 million, or $3.86 per diluted share, compared with $93.7 million, or $3.40 per diluted share, a year earlier. Marzetti also increased its quarterly cash dividend to $1.00 per share, representing a year-over-year increase from $0.95 in the prior period. During the quarter the company repurchased about $20.1 million of its common stock. The company noted in its earnings release that SG&A expenses rose about $3.3 million as it continued brand investment and that restructuring and impairment charges modestly influenced operating costs. Gross profit and margin improvements reflected ongoing cost savings initiatives. Market and sector context: The Marzetti Company operates in the consumer staples sector. While not part of the technology or SaaS/software space, its shares nonetheless face cross-market sentiment pressures. Broader equities have seen volatility as investors balance inflation data, interest rate expectations, and slowing consumer demand in some categories. Growth-oriented segments, including SaaS and tech, have been particularly sensitive to macro uncertainty, influencing broader risk pricing across markets. 52-week trend: MZTI’s 52-week range, spanning roughly $152.95 to about $198.39, reflects moderate share price compression from highs reached in 2024. Recent trading has shown the stock near the lower end of that range, reflecting mixed earnings and consumption trends in foodservice and retail channels. The post Marzetti shares slip after modest Q2 sales growth, margins improve first appeared on AlphaStreet.