IFF Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
IFF Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results
Delivered Strong Sales, Profit and Cash Flow Performance in Third Quarter 2026
Raising Low-End of Full Year 2026 Financial Guidance Ranges
Recently Completed $500M Share Repurchase Authorization
Food Ingredients Divestiture Progressing Well and On Track to Close by End of Second Quarter 2027
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IFF (NYSE: IFF) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026. Results are presented on a continuing operations basis, excluding the Food Ingredients business and other minor perimeter adjustments (the “Food Ingredients disposal group”), and the Soy Crush, Concentrates, and Lecithin businesses (the “SCL disposal group”). The Food Ingredients disposal group and the SCL disposal group are reported as discontinued operations.
Management Commentary
“IFF delivered a solid third quarter, with improved sales and profitability across all divisions,” said Erik Fyrwald, CEO of IFF. “Taste and Scent delivered strong top- and bottom-line results, and Health & Biosciences improved modestly as we continue to strengthen the business. We also generated strong cash flow through the first nine months of 2026 and recently completed our $500 million accelerated share repurchase program. The separation of Food Ingredients is progressing well, and we are on track with our timeline to close.”
“Heading into year-end, we are raising the low end of our full-year financial guidance ranges, supported by our year-to-date performance. Volumes remain solid as customers continue to value our strong R&D and innovation. At the same time, we expect fourth-quarter profitability to be softer, particularly in Health & Biosciences, reflecting higher costs as well as reinvestments to strengthen the business. Amid changing macroeconomic conditions, we remain focused on what we can control and are delivering on the financial commitments we set out earlier this year. Our continued execution and these actions give us confidence to deliver results within our full-year financial outlook and our ability to create long-term value for shareholders.”
Third Quarter 2026 Consolidated Financial Results1
- Reported net sales for the third quarter were $1.94 billion, an increase of 4% versus the prior-year period. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral sales2 increased 5% versus the prior-year period led by broad-based growth including mid-single digit performances in Scent and Taste and low-single digit growth in Health & Biosciences.
- Loss from continuing operations before taxes on a reported basis for the third quarter was $(134) million. Adjusted operating EBITDA2 for the third quarter was $403 million. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral adjusted operating EBITDA2 improved 6% versus the prior-year period, driven by volume growth.
- Reported earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter was $(0.50) per diluted share. Adjusted EPS excluding amortization2 was $0.83 per diluted share.
- Cash flows from operations for the first nine months of the year for continuing and discontinued operations were $820 million, increasing $288 million year-over-year, and free cash flow2, defined as cash flows from operations less capital expenditures, totaled $371 million, increasing $245 million year-over-year. Total debt to trailing twelve months net income at the end of the third quarter was 34.5x. Net debt to credit adjusted EBITDA2 at the end of the third quarter was 2.75x, and includes the effects of both continuing and discontinued operations.
Taste Segment
- On a reported basis, third quarter sales were $687 million. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral sales2 increased 6% with broad-based growth in all regions led by a double-digit increase in Greater Asia.
- Taste adjusted operating EBITDA2 was $128 million and adjusted operating EBITDA margin2 was 18.6% in the third quarter. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral adjusted operating EBITDA2 increased 7% driven by volume growth.
Health & Biosciences Segment
- On a reported basis, third quarter sales were $566 million. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral sales2 increased 1% with growth in nearly all businesses. Mid-single digit growth in Food Biosciences and Grain Processing more than offset a decline in Health.
- Health & Biosciences adjusted operating EBITDA2 was $136 million and adjusted operating EBITDA margin2 was 24.0% in the third quarter. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral adjusted operating EBITDA2 increased 2% with the contribution split evenly between volume growth and favorable net price to input costs.
Scent Segment
- On a reported basis, third quarter sales were $689 million. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral sales2 increased 6% led by high-single digit growth in Consumer Fragrances. Fine Fragrance, against a strong double digit year ago comparable, and Fragrance Ingredients both grew mid-single digits.
- Scent adjusted operating EBITDA2 was $139 million and adjusted operating EBITDA margin2 was 20.2% in the third quarter. On a comparable basis3, currency neutral adjusted operating EBITDA2 increased 10% driven by volume growth.
Financial Guidance1
The Company provides financial guidance for continuing operations to reflect the separation of the Food Ingredients disposal group and SCL disposal group as discontinued operations. The Company now expects full year 2026 sales to be in the range of $7.5 billion to $7.6 billion (versus $7.4 billion to $7.6 billion previously). For the full year 2026 adjusted operating EBITDA is now expected to be in the range of $1.55 billion to $1.60 billion (versus $1.53 billion to $1.60 billion previously).
On a continuing operations basis, the Company now expects comparable currency neutral sales growth to be between 3% to 4% (versus 2% to 4% previously), and comparable currency neutral adjusted operating EBITDA growth to be 5% to 8% (versus 4% to 8% previously).
Based on recent market foreign exchange rates, the Company continues to expect that foreign exchange will have an approximately 1% positive impact on sales growth and have an approximately 2% positive impact on adjusted operating EBITDA growth in 2026.
Audio Webcast
A live webcast to discuss the Company’s third quarter 2026 financial results will be held on November 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET. The webcast and accompanying slide presentation may be accessed on the Company’s IR website at ir.iff.com. For those unable to listen to the live webcast, a recorded version will be made available on the Company’s website approximately one hour after the event and will remain available on IFF’s website for one year.
Cautionary Statement Under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This press release includes statements that are not historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on management’s current assumptions, estimates and expectations, including with respect to our financial and operational outlook (sales, adjusted operating EBITDA and cash flow), portfolio optimization initiatives (including the pending divestiture of our Food Ingredients disposal group and the expected timing and benefits thereof), pricing, productivity and cost-discipline actions, capital allocation, future operations, growth potential, strategic investments and the expected effects of foreign exchange. These statements reflect management’s present views, are based on a series of expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company, are subject to change, and involve uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.
Certain of such forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “outlook”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “estimate”, “should”, “predict”, “plan”, “project”, “could”, “potential”, “seek”, “target”, “continue”, “future”, and similar terms or variations thereof. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could lead to materially different outcomes.
Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: (1) demand trends, competitive dynamics and customer concentration in our end markets; (2) execution of our strategic transformation and other strategic transactions, divestitures, acquisitions, collaborations and joint ventures; (3) working capital and inventory management; (4) outcomes of legal claims, disputes, regulatory investigations and litigation; (5) tariffs and trade actions, supply chain disruptions and macro events, including geopolitical developments, climate events, natural disasters, public health crises; (6) volatility in input costs (such as raw materials, transportation and energy); (7) attraction, retention and turnover of key employees and executives; (8) product innovation, time-to-market, product safety and quality; (9) cybersecurity incidents, artificial intelligence related risks, data privacy and compliance with data protection laws; (10) exposure to emerging markets, foreign currency fluctuations and international regulatory and political risks; (11) capital allocation, dividend policy and potential impairments of tangible or intangible assets; (12) our indebtedness, credit rating, liquidity, and access to capital; (13) pension and postretirement obligations; (14) compliance with federal, state, local and international rules and regulations, and regulatory, environmental, anti-corruption and sanctions laws and related ethical business practices; (15) protection and enforcement of intellectual property; (16) changes in tax laws and policies, tax audits and outcomes, including potential tax liabilities related to prior transactions; and (17) changes in federal, state, local and international rules and regulations.
The foregoing list of important factors does not include all such factors, nor necessarily present them in order of importance. Important factors are described under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, and those disclosures are incorporated herein by reference.
We intend our forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of such statements and do not undertake or plan to update or revise them as more information becomes available or to reflect changes in expectations, assumptions or results, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence of, or any material adverse change in, one or more of the risk factors or risks and uncertainties referred to in this press release or included in our other periodic reports filed with the SEC could materially and adversely impact our operations and our future financial results.
Any public statements or disclosures made by us following this press release that modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained in or accompanying this press release will be deemed to modify or supersede such outlook or other forward-looking statements in or accompanying this press release.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We provide in this press release non-GAAP financial measures, including: (i) comparable currency neutral sales; (ii) adjusted operating EBITDA and comparable currency neutral adjusted operating EBITDA; (iii) adjusted operating EBITDA margin; (iv) adjusted EPS ex amortization; (v) free cash flow; and (vi) net debt to credit adjusted EBITDA. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts and percentages in this press release reflect the results from continuing operations, with the exception of the Statements of Cash Flows and net debt to credit adjusted EBITDA which are presented on a combined continuing and discontinued basis.
Our non-GAAP financial measures are defined below.
Currency Neutral metrics eliminate the effects that result from translating non-U.S. currencies to U.S. dollars. We calculate currency neutral numbers by translating current year invoiced sale amounts at the exchange rates used for the corresponding prior year period. We use currency neutral results in our analysis of segment performance. We also use currency neutral numbers when analyzing our performance against that of our competitors.
Comparable results for the third quarter exclude the impact of divestitures.
Adjusted operating EBITDA and adjusted operating EBITDA margin exclude depreciation and amortization, interest expense, other expense, net, and certain non-recurring or unusual items that are not part of recurring operations such as impairment of goodwill, restructuring and other charges, losses (gains) on business disposals, loss on assets classified as held for sale, divestiture costs, strategic initiatives costs, regulatory costs, gain on debt extinguishment, entity realignment and other items.
Adjusted EPS ex Amortization excludes the impact of non-operational items including restructuring and other charges, divestiture costs, losses (gains) on business disposals, strategic initiatives costs, regulatory costs and other items that are not a part of recurring operations.
Free Cash Flow is operating cash flow (i.e., cash flow from operations) less capital expenditures.
Net debt to credit adjusted EBITDA is the leverage ratio used in our credit agreements and defined as net debt (which is debt for borrowed money less cash and cash equivalents) divided by the trailing 12-month credit adjusted EBITDA. Credit adjusted EBITDA is defined as income (loss) before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, specified items and non-cash items.
These non-GAAP measures are intended to provide additional information regarding our underlying operating results and comparable year-over-year performance. Such information is supplemental to information presented in accordance with GAAP and is not intended to represent a presentation in accordance with GAAP. In discussing our historical and expected future results and financial condition, we believe it is meaningful for investors to be made aware of and to be assisted in a better understanding of, on a period-to-period comparable basis, financial amounts both including and excluding these identified items, as well as the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company’s results under GAAP and may not be comparable to other companies’ calculations of such metrics.
The Company cannot reconcile its expected adjusted operating EBITDA or comparable currency neutral growth rates under "Financial Guidance" to the most directly comparable GAAP measures without unreasonable effort because certain items that impact net income and other reconciling metrics are out of the Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted at this time. These items include but are not limited to divestiture costs, gains (losses) on business disposals, and regulatory costs, and their probable significance cannot be determined at this time but could be material to the Company’s GAAP results.
Welcome to IFF
At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in flavors, fragrances, and health and biosciences, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products—advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
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1 Unless otherwise noted, results are presented on a continuing operations basis, reflecting the Food Ingredients disposal group and the SCL disposal group as discontinued operations. See pages 5-6 for further information, including the basis of presentation included in this release. |
2 Schedules at the end of this release contain reconciliations of reported GAAP to Non-GAAP metrics. See Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for explanations of our Non-GAAP metrics. |
3 Comparable results for the third quarter exclude the impact of divestitures. |
Contacts
Media Relations:
Jennifer McGowan
848.358.1680
Media.request@iff.com
Investor Relations:
Michael Bender
212.708.7263
Investor.Relations@iff.com
