National Beverage stock reports a profit miss after flat sales

Published on 10/06/2026 at 13:35 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

National Beverage stock was last at USD 29.84 on October 5, 2026, down 1.58 percent. Q1 fiscal 2027 EPS fell to USD 0.50 from USD 0.60.

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National Beverage stock (ISIN US6350171061) was last at USD 29.84 on Nasdaq on October 5, 2026, down 1.58 percent, as investors weighed weaker quarterly profitability against essentially flat sales. The company reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 results on September 10, 2026, with diluted EPS of USD 0.50 versus USD 0.60 a year earlier.

Profit pressure follows flat sales

According to Business Wire, National Beverage generated net sales of USD 330.662 million in the three months ended August 1, 2026, compared with USD 330.515 million in the prior-year quarter. That nearly unchanged revenue figure did not prevent net income from falling to USD 47.004 million from USD 55.760 million, a decline of 15.7 percent.

The margin trend was weaker still. Gross margin fell to 35 percent from 38 percent in the comparable quarter, while the company said higher packaging, ingredient, fuel and freight costs weighed on results; aluminum costs were a specific pressure in the release.

Volume remains the key operating test

The sales comparison points to a difficult balance between pricing and demand. National Beverage said average selling price increases were offset by volume declines, while it described August orders and improving volume and mix as areas that could support later performance.

The company also ended the quarter with USD 107 million in cash after paying a USD 3.25 per-share special dividend on July 30, 2026. The payout totaled USD 304 million, making capital allocation an important counterweight to the margin deterioration described in the first-quarter release.

Analysts see limited upside

MarketBeat reported on September 14, 2026, that UBS lowered its Sell price target for National Beverage from USD 32.00 to USD 31.00. The site lists a Sell consensus based on 2 analysts, with a USD 31.00 average, high and low target.

Against the USD 29.84 Nasdaq price on October 5, 2026, the consensus target stands USD 1.16 higher, or 3.9 percent above the share price. The market capitalization was USD 2.8 billion, and the 52-week range was USD 28.97 to USD 38.21, leaving the stock USD 8.37 below its yearly high.

Next earnings date is December 3

Investing.com lists December 3, 2026, as National Beverage's next earnings date. For the business, the next report will show whether pricing actions can offset the volume pressure and restore the 38 percent gross margin recorded in the prior-year quarter.