Dole plc (DOLE) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Welcome to Dole plc's Second Quarter 2026 Results Webcast. Today's webcast is being broadcast live over the Internet and is also being recorded for playback purposes. [Operator Instructions] For opening remarks and introductions, I would like to turn the call over to the Head of Investor Relations with Dole plc, James O'Regan.

Thank you, Derrick. Welcome, everybody, and thank you for joining our results webcast. Joining me today is our Chief Executive Officer, Rory Byrne; our Chief Operating Officer, Johan Linden; and our Chief Financial Officer, Jacinta Devine. During this webcast, we will be referring to presentation slides to supplement her remarks, and these, along with our earnings release and other related materials, are available on the Investor Relations section of the Dole plc website. Please note, our remarks today will include certain forward-looking statements within the provisions of the federal securities safe harbor law. These reflect circumstances at the time they are made, and the company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied due to a wide range of factors, including those set forth in our SEC filings and press releases. Information regarding the use of non-GAAP financial measures may be found in our press release which also includes a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measures. With that, I'm pleased to hand over to Rory.

Thank you, James, and welcome, everybody, and thank you all for joining us today as we discuss our results for the second quarter and provide an update on the latest developments across the group. So turning firstly to Slide 4. Well, across the Group, we continue to see healthy consumer demand for our products. Fresh produce consumption remains resilient, supported by the long-term health and wellness trends, and we believe this augurs well for the future of our sector. Our second quarter results was in line with our expectations, reflecting the impact of higher fuel and shipping costs on Fresh Fruit profitability arising from the conflict in the Middle East. Despite these pressures, the quarter once again demonstrated the resilience of our diversified business model with the strength of our Diversified Americas in particular helping to offset the pressures experienced in Fresh Fruit. Since our last update, we've been active in advancing our development pipeline while maintaining our disciplined approach to capital allocation. Turning now to Slide 5 and focusing in more detail on this topic. As we said last quarter, our priority remains clear: to allocate capital where we can achieve the best long-term returns for our shareholders. As part of this approach, we were delighted to complete the Ecuador port sale on July 1. This transaction represents an important milestone, unlocking approximately $95 million of net proceeds, further strengthening our balance sheet and increasing our financial flexibility. Importantly, the sale is expected to have a negligible impact on our ongoing earnings and cash flow profile, making it a very attractive value-enhancing transaction for shareholders. We continue to explore an important strategic opportunity to invest in automation, AI and innovative warehouse solutions to better serve our core customer base in Scandinavia. As part of this strategy, we were very pleased to complete the acquisition of Greenfood Fresh Produce division in Scandinavia at the beginning of July. This acquisition strengthens our position in an attractive market where we already have meaningful and successful operational capabilities, and it also adds a state-of-the-art distribution facility in Helsingborg, which gives us a strong platform for the next phase of this automation and official intelligence investment. Alongside these larger projects, we continue to look at smaller bolt-on acquisitions that complement and strengthen our existing operations. During the quarter, we completed a bolt-on acquisition within our Irish growing operations, further strengthening our sourcing capabilities and supply base. The fresh produce market remains fragmented, and we continue to see opportunities for disciplined acquisitions that add value across our core markets. Finally, returning capital to shareholders remains an important component of our capital allocation framework. During the quarter, we repurchased just over 700,000 shares for $10 million at an average price of $13.88 per share. As always, we weigh share repurchases against the returns available from our development projects and acquisitions. We remain focused on balancing investment for growth with the returns to shareholders. Turning now to the operational review and beginning with the Fresh Fruit slide on Slide 8. As we flagged on our first quarter call, we anticipated higher fuel and shipping costs to arise from the conflict in the Middle East, and that is how the quarter played out. Looking at our main product categories. Bananas, we saw strong volumes in Europe with pricing broadly in line with the prior year. In North America, volumes were lower, reflecting market conditions and our focus on disciplined profitability, although underlying pricing was slightly higher than the prior year. For pineapples, weather affected availability during the quarter, while the continued strength of the Costa Rica colon, which pressured profitability. These challenges are not unique to Dole and continue to affect the producers across the industry. Positively, overall demand for our products remained resilient. As we move through the second half, we expect to benefit from contractual pricing mechanisms, including [ very good ] fuel surcharges, together with increasing benefits from our recent investments in production and sourcing and the cost-saving actions we continue to advance across the segment. Taken together, these initiatives are expected to help offset a portion of the cost pressures experienced during the second quarter and support Fresh Fruit improved performance in the second half of the year relative to the prior year. Turning now to Diversified EMEA. The segment delivered a solid quarter overall, with revenue broadly stable, although profitability was slightly below the strong prior year comparative. Sweden was again a strong contributor, and we continue to see the benefits of our investments in logistics, infrastructure and automation. The lower year-on-year result was driven largely by South Africa, which had our greatest exposure to the disruption in the Middle East during the quarter. Turning to Diversified Americas. Diversified Americas had another strong quarter and was again an important contributor to Group performance. The segment benefited from strong category performance, disciplined execution and the continued benefits of investments made over recent years. The dynamic pricing model continues to support profitability and gives us flexibility to manage changing market conditions. The strong performance through the first half again highlights the value of our diversified business model and helped offset the pressures in Fresh Fruit. With that, I'll hand you over to Jacinta to give the financial review for the second quarter.

Thank you, Rory, and good day, everyone. Turning firstly to the Group results on Slide 11. Group revenue of $2.5 billion was 2.9% higher on a reported basis, reflecting positive operational performance across the Group, together with favorable foreign exchange movements. Excluding foreign exchange impacts, on a like-for-like basis, revenue was 1.7% ahead. While revenue remained resilient, profitability was impacted by higher costs within Fresh Fruit as discussed by Rory. Cost of sales increased at a proportionally higher rates than revenue, primarily reflecting the higher costs in Fresh Fruit. And as a result, gross profit decreased by $23 million. SG&A expenses were higher year-over-year, primarily due to a nonrecurring charge recorded in connection with the settlement of a historical [indiscernible] matter. In Q2, 2025, we booked gains from asset sales in Hawaii, which also contributed to the overall decrease in operating income. Offsetting this, other income increased by $22.6 million, primarily reflecting favorable unrealized foreign exchange movements on foreign currency denomination borrowings compared with an unrealized loss in the prior year. Interest expense decreased by $2.7 million due to lower average borrowings and lower base interest rates. Overall, net income from continuing operations was $35.1 million, compared to $52.9 million in the prior year. However, total net income increased year-on-year as the prior year included a loss from discontinued operations associated with the Fresh Vegetable business, which was divested in August 2025. Looking now at the non-GAAP performance measures. Adjusted EBITDA was $117 million, a decrease of $20.4 million, mainly driven by the higher costs within Fresh Fruits and partially offset by another strong performance from Diversified Americas. Adjusted net income decreased to $9.4 million, predominantly due to the decrease in adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by lower interest expense and a lower tax charge. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.46, compared to $0.55 in Q2 2025. Turning now to the divisional updates, starting with Fresh Fruit on Slide 13. Revenue of $972.8 million was broadly in line with the prior year as higher banana volumes in Europe and higher underlying pricing in North America was partially offset by lower banana volumes in North America and lower pineapple volumes across all markets. Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $22.5 million to $50.3 million, primarily reflecting elevated fuel and shipping costs, higher food sourcing costs, higher pineapple growing costs and the continued depreciation of the Costa Rican colon. In Diversified Fresh Produce EMEA, reported revenue increased 1%, primarily due to favorable foreign exchange and underlying growth in Scandinavia, partially offset by lower revenue in Spain relative to a strong comparator quarter. On a like-for-like basis, revenue decreased by 1.7% or $19 million. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 6%, compared with a very good performance in Q2 '25, as continued strength in Scandinavia and a favorable foreign exchange impact was offset by weaker performance in South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain. On a like-for-like basis, adjusted EBITDA decreased $4 million. Finally, Diversified Americas delivered another strong result this year. Revenue increased 14%, driven primarily by higher volumes in North American business, particularly in kiwi, avocados and North American cherries, together with more positive season and pricing for our Southern Hemisphere export business. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $5.2 million to [ $20.6 ] million driven by a strong performance in our North American business together with the continued benefits of the partial restructuring of our [ Berry ] operations in the fourth quarter of 2025. Turning to Slide 16 for a view of key cash items and net leverage. Capital expenditure was circa $25 million, including investments designed to support future growth, expand capacity and improve operating efficiency. For full year 2026, we are maintaining our guidance for routine CapEx of approximately $100 million. As expected, working capital remained an outflow during the first half of the year, reflecting the normal seasonal profile of the business. However, as discussed in our Q1 call, first half free cash flow significantly improved compared to the prior year. Net debt in the quarter was impacted by the first step of the Ecuador port sale transaction. As part of that transaction, we completed our pre-closing ownership restructuring in May, acquiring the remaining minority interest in the port business. The second and final step closed on July 1, and the associated proceeds will be recognized in the third quarter. Overall, net proceeds are now expected to be approximately $95 million. We ended the quarter with net debt of $746 million and net leverage of 2x, reflecting the completion of the Ecuador port sale on July 1 and the expected net proceeds of approximately $95 million. Pro forma net leverage would have been approximately 1.6x at quarter-end. This remains a conservative level of leverage and provides us with significant flexibility as we continue to execute our capital allocation strategy. Now I will hand you back to Rory, who will provide an update on our outlook for 2026.

Thank you, Jacinta. So looking beyond the quarter, we are very encouraged with the strength and diversity of our portfolio, the quality of our market position [indiscernible] and the strategic progress achieved during the first half of the year. So we move into the second half with fuel and shipping costs remain elevated and geopolitical developments continue to create uncertainty. With some of the sharp cost increases experienced during the second quarter appear to be moderating, the operating environment is still complex. Consumer demand across our key markets has remained resilient, supported by long-term health and wellness trends. We also expect to benefit from contractual pricing mechanisms and cost-saving initiatives in Fresh Fruit, the effectiveness of our dynamic pricing model across the diversified businesses and positive returns from recent investments and development activity. Taking all these factors together, we are targeting full year adjusted EBITDA of approximately $400 million for 2026. And with that, I'll hand you back to the operator to open the line for questions.

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Christopher Barnes with Deutsche Bank.

First, I guess, could we just start on the EBITDA guidance. I know now it's approximately $400 million, down from at least $400 million before. But I just want to get more perspective on what you're expecting for the second half. Last quarter, you mentioned that the second half would always be the stronger [indiscernible] for the year given the pricing fuel surcharge recoveries and other opportunities to take out cost division by division. But I guess, are you able to size in the second quarter how much of a headwind was the fuel cost versus recovery mismatch this quarter? And as we sit here today, like how should we think about those benefits in 3Q relative to higher fuel logistics costs and other inflationary pressures you might be incurring currently?

Okay, Christopher. Yes, I mean, I think the main problem we've got here is that it's just such a difficult backdrop in which to predict anything. Certainly, if you look at the world, you look at the general impact on fuel prices and fertilizer prices, knock-on effects to inflation, consumer impacts, I think there's an overwhelming incentive around the world to try and solve this issue. But it's dragging on longer than we would have liked, and that obviously has some impact on our ability to get clear visibility over the back half of the year. We put all the factors into the mix. We do have fuel surcharges that come in a quarter and [indiscernible] and they will -- we will see the benefit of that flow through in Q3. And then with the way pricing has been, I feel likely to be the similar benefit in Q4. Some negative impact in Europe where fuel has been a little bit higher versus what we would have liked it to have been, but there's some offsets and ups and downs. So I think really just, Christopher, just the backdrop for being very precise about forecasts, it just remains so complex. But if we can achieve a $400 million EBITDA outcome with all of the challenges that are being thrown at us at the moment, I think it will be a pretty satisfactory outcome for the full year. And we expect that to be split across Q3 and Q4.

Understood. And just switching gears, how are your scenario-planning around potential disruption related to a super El Nino on your banana and pineapple businesses? I know in the past, you've mentioned improved irrigation for some of the drought-prone areas and better drainage where flooding might occur. But any perspective on contingency plans in place at your own farms or those where you're sourcing from, would be helpful. And if you're willing to offer any insight into how protected or expose the broader industry might be, that would also be helpful.

Johan will do that, Christopher.

Yes, Christopher. Firstly, you mostly actually answered the question yourself, which is good, we appreciate that. But remember, weather is not new to us. We farm in the tropics. Managing weather is what we do every day. And also, this event is building. We don't know any potential or how potentially strong it will be. It's just starting to build as we are speaking. However, also the pattern is well understood. Ecuador will get more rain -- Ecuador in Northern Peru. Central America and Colombia will be drier. And we have been building resilience for this for a long period of time, not only us, but also the industry as a whole. But we've been building resilience by expanding irrigation in areas that are likely to be more dry. We've been building dikes and drainages in areas that are likely to be more impacted by rain. We elevate up pump stations so they're not at flood levels. And also if you take some of the other products, not talking about bananas and pineapples, but if you take grapes or if you take berries, which we are not as exposed to as bananas and pines, the farmers that we're working with are experimenting with new varieties that are more tolerance to drought and to weather overall, to drought and rain. On top of that, we are building our portfolio when it comes to being diversified. So we have a lot of the volumes south of the equator as well as north of the equator. So when you put all this together, we are keeping an eye on it. but we are not losing sleep on it right now, Christopher.

Your next question comes from the line of Gary Martin with Davy.

Just a few questions on my side. I'll start with the capital allocation, just to begin with, and I'm cognizant that you bought back shares during the quarter. How do you think about just general capital allocation into the future and just kind of weigh in the different return differentials between choices of capital usage, be it more organic investments in the Scandinavian area versus buybacks versus other potential M&A? How do you kind of think about the whole picture? That's my first question.

Yes, Gary. I mean, I think as always in the question of capital allocation, we do take a very dynamic approach to it. So I think the dividend is well established, and we've held our dividend at a decent level. It gives an acceptable yield. Most of our shareholders are happy with that. And there clearly are some small bolt-on acquisitions that very obviously give the right level of return compared to buybacks. We have some development CapEx. And I suppose if you look at Scandinavia, it's a combination of acquisition that gave us a strong platform. It's a smallish business, some $250 million revenue business, but has a very attractive facility that we believe we can utilize much better for the future development of our business. Over the last while, we've enhanced our investment of the production side and strengthening our position in production JVs. Across our European business, we've been upgrading our riping facilities in Ireland, in France, in Spain, normal growth, small add-on developments, all part and parcel of the ongoing and continuing and successful development of the Group. So I think we look at everything. We look at the investment return opportunities. We obviously look at the interest rate environment that's out there at the moment. We look at our free cash flow development from our business. And we make some variable judgments around all of those factors. We've carried out an element on the buyback program. I think since we announced it last November, something like a $15 million buyback so far with a consistent dividend. So the return to shareholding, we think, is sensible and reasonable. But it's a dynamic process. I think we had flagged obviously the Scandinavia investment, which is probably one of the longer term more significant uses of the Ecuador, a very strong $95 million net proceed outcome as well. So I hope that covers it, Gary.

I do have a part two, Rory, just on the -- just on your answer there. Just around the general returns profile, I will say some of that organic investment in Scandinavia. And I know that you called out AI and automation spend in particular. I mean how does that shift premium to the overall average of Dole right now? Like is it materially higher in terms of the opportunities?

Yes. I mean, our business is not one where we've quantum-leaped growth by making investments. We have a target level of return. And I guess the easiest way to look at it is we measure what our return would be against buybacks. And we try to ensure that our investments get a return -- a reasonable premium to that return. And we would like to grow the business, we'd like to develop business. So we think there are interesting elements across, particularly in Scandinavia, where we will go to a further level of automation in conjunction with our -- some of our key customers in that area where we will utilize the latest robots, picking technology, will utilize the latest AI developments that are there and improve the efficiencies that strengthen both the profitability and our long-term positioning with our key customers in that marketplace and hopefully get the right return to enhance shareholder value over the long term as well.

That makes sense. And maybe just to ask a different kind of line of questioning, just around the revenue performance in the quarter and just expectations since the back half in particular. So just one for Diversified North America in particular. It's been several very strong quarters now in a row. Are we expecting moderation at any point here? Was some of the performance, was it kind of timing based in Q2 and should we expect that to moderate into the back half?