Q1 EPS decline expected to reverse with back-half acceleration
KDP Q1 2026 results were modestly ahead of expectations, driven by robust US Refreshment Beverages and international growth, while the US Coffee segment faced the expected peak cost and inventory pressures. The integration of JDE Peet's is proceeding on plan, and management reaffirmed guidance, highlighting a clear trajectory of accelerating earnings growth in the back half of the year. US Refreshment Beverages was the standout, with double-digit net sales and operating income growth, though a couple of points of benefit came from lapping Ghost distribution which will not repeat.
Buzzberg readQ1 EPS decline expected to reverse with back-half accelerationKDP Q1 2026 results were modestly ahead of expectations, driven by robust US Refreshment Beverages and international growth, while the US Coffee segment faced the expected peak cost and inventory pressures. The integration of JDE Peet's is proceeding on plan, and management reaffirmed guidance, highlighting a clear trajectory of accelerating earnings growth in the back half of the year. US Refreshment Beverages was the standout, with double-digit net sales and operating income growth, though a couple of points of benefit came from lapping Ghost distribution which will not repeat.Read full analysisCollapse analysis
KDP Q1 2026 results were modestly ahead of expectations, driven by robust US Refreshment Beverages and international growth, while the US Coffee segment faced the expected peak cost and inventory pressures. The integration of JDE Peet's is proceeding on plan, and management reaffirmed guidance, highlighting a clear trajectory of accelerating earnings growth in the back half of the year. US Refreshment Beverages was the standout, with double-digit net sales and operating income growth, though a couple of points of benefit came from lapping Ghost distribution which will not repeat.
US Coffee segment profit declined 21.3% in Q1 due to peak green coffee cost and tariff pressures on a year-over-year basis; this is expected to be the most significant decline of the year.
The acquisition of JDE Peet's closed on April 1st, and the $400 million synergy target was reaffirmed, with JDE Peet's performance expected to mirror KDP's improving coffee cost trajectory.
Pod shipments declined 7%, significantly lagging point-of-sale trends due to trade inventory adjustments, but this dynamic is expected to normalize in the back half.
Revenue$3.976B
-12% QoQ
EPS$0.39
-35% QoQ
Gross margin52.77%
reported
Op margin19.01%
reported
What changed this quarter
01
Guidance
Q1 EPS decline expected to reverse with back-half acceleration
Guidance · revenue to $26.15B
02
Margins
Higher coffee costs peak in Q1, ease in back half
Reported gross margin was 52.77%, reinforcing the quarter's better-than-guided profitability.
03
Guidance
KDP reaffirms low double-digit EPS growth for 2026
Guidance · revenue to $26.15B
04
M&A
JDE Peet's acquisition closed, integration underway
The acquisition of JDE Peet's closed on April 1st, and the $400 million synergy target was reaffirmed, with JDE Peet's performance expected to mirror KDP's improving coffee cost trajectory.
Demand
Demand
Bookings & conversion
Ghost distribution benefit contributed couple points to Q1 growth. Management expressed confidence in their plans and visibility, reaffirming guidance and emphasizing progress on integration and transformation.
Tone · Confident
Management expressed confidence in their plans and visibility, reaffirming guidance and emphasizing progress on integration and transformation.
Supply-chain alpha
A1
Green coffee cost inflation is peaking on a year-over-year basis, providing a clear tailwind into 2027 for KDP's US coffee segment and the acquired JDE Peet's business.
“We would expect the Q1 decline will be the most significant for the year as the inflation cost pressures peak on a year-over-year basis. And as we've talked about in the past, it does lag market prices by about six to nine months, given ou…”
Q1 US Refreshment Beverages growth was inflated by roughly a couple of points from comparing against low prior-year Ghost distribution; this one-time benefit is now cycled.
“Q1 did benefit from some incremental year-over-year GHOST distribution benefits. And if I had to dimensionalize that, that's worth a couple of points, you know, in terms of that one-time impact as we lap that, a couple of points to the USR…”
Trade inventory adjustments for coffee pods significantly depressed Q1 pod shipments by 7%, a trend which is expected to normalize in the second half, implying a potential boost to shipments.
“And as previewed last quarter, trade inventory adjustments pressured pod shipments, which declined 7% and lagged point-of-sale trends weighing on operating income.”
Renewal and expansion of the K-Cup agreement with Nestle USA enables broader distribution and innovation for the Starbucks brand within the Keurig ecosystem, a positive for Nestle's coffee business in the US.
“We are continuing to execute our coffee partnership strategy, as evidenced by the recent renewal and expansion of our K-Cup agreement with Nestle USA.”
… visibility to improved top and bottom line trends over the balance of the year. Third, Despite the near-term profit pressure, we're thoughtfully investing in long-term growth initiatives. Let me provide a few examples. We're enhancing our premium owned and licensed segment through the well-supported Keurig Coffee Collective innovation launch, which is off to an encouraging start with strong retailer enthusiasm and early consumer trial. We are continuing to execute our coffee partnership strategy, as evidenced by the recent renewal and expansion of our K-Cup agreement with Nestle USA. This agreement deepens and extends a highly successful relationship and will enable us to expand distribution and innovation for the Starbucks brand in the Keurig ecosystem. And we continue to prepare the Keurig Alta system for its initial targeted direct-to-consumer launch planned for later this year. This disruptive next-generation coffee system will feature our Keurig brand, the newly acquired premium Peet's coffee brand, and over time, the likely participation of partner brands as well. Putting it all together, combining constructive category trends With our investments to support long-term …
Evolving the Suntory partnership to a concentrate supply model opens access to new consumers in Europe with a lower capital investment for KDP.
“We recently evolved our Suntory partnership in Europe to a more collaborative concentrate supply model that will provide access to incremental consumers through a capital light low-risk model.”
… strengthens, and we execute our commercial plans for the year, including summertime activations to drive engagement and celebrate soccer fandom. Overall, we continue to expect our international segment will remain a meaningful growth contributor over time, given our strong local share positions in attractive categories as well as portfolio and distribution expansion opportunities in both Canada and Mexico. We will also be disciplined and opportunistic in targeting other geographies. For example, we recently evolved our Suntory partnership in Europe to a more collaborative concentrate supply model that will provide access to incremental consumers through a capital light low-risk model. To close, we're starting the year on solid footing. We completed the J.D.E. Pete's acquisition. We're making steady progress advancing our transformation agenda, and we remain on track to achieve our full-year outlook. As we look ahead to the rest of the year, we're focused on sustaining base business momentum integrating J.D. Peets with excellence, and laying the groundwork for two strong standalone companies. With that, I'll turn the call over to Anthony to discuss the financials in more detail.
JDE Peet's performance is expected to be constrained in the first half but accelerate in the second half as green coffee cost pressures ease, aligning with KDP's overall coffee segment outlook.
“J.D.E. Peet's will have a profile that follows one that's similar to our U.S. coffee segment, right? As coffee prices improve, their quarterly performance will improve as well.”
Green coffee cost inflation is peaking on a year-over-year basis, providing a clear tailwind into 2027 for KDP's US coffee segment and the acquired JDE Peet's business.