Q3 2026 Energizer Holdings Inc Earnings Call

August 4, 2026

Operator: Good morning. My name is Kelsey, and I'll be your conference operator for today's call. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to Energizer's third fiscal year 2026 conference call. Please note at this time, all lines are in listen-only mode, and following the presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. If at any time during this call you require immediate assistance, please star 0 for the operator. This event is being recorded Tuesday, 4 August 2026. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Mr. Jon Poldan, Vice President, Global Finance, Treasurer, and Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Good morning. My name is Kelsey, and I'll be your conference operator for today's call. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Energizer's third fiscal year, 2026 conference call.

Speaker #1: note that all this time all lines are in listen-only mode, and following the presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. If at any time during this call you require immediate assistance, please press 0 for the operator.

Speaker #1: This event is being recorded on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. I would now like to turn the conference call over to Mr. Jon Poldan, Vice President, Global Finance, Treasurer and Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Good morning, and welcome to Energizer's third quarter fiscal 2026 conference call. Joining me today are Mark LaVigne, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Jon Dravik, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Jon Poldan: Good morning. Welcome to Energizer's Q3 fiscal 2026 conference call. Joining me today are Mark LaVigne, President and Chief Executive Officer, and John Drabik, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In just a moment, Mark will share a few opening comments. Then we'll take your questions. A replay of this call will be available on the investor relations section of our website, energizerholdings.com. In addition, please note that our earnings release, prepared remarks, and a slide deck are also posted on our website. During the call, we will make forward-looking statements about the company's future business and financial performance, among other matters. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

Speaker #2: In just a moment, Mark will share a few opening comments, and then we'll take your questions. A replay of this call will be available on the Investor Relations section of our website, energizerholdings.com.

Speaker #2: In addition, please note that our earnings release prepared remarks and a slide deck are also posted on our website. During the call, we will make forward-looking statements about the company's future business and financial performance, among other matters.

Speaker #2: These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risk and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from these statements.

Speaker #2: We do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements are included in reports we file with the SEC.

Jon Poldan: Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements are included in reports we file with the SEC. We also refer in our presentation to non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures is shown in our press release issued earlier today, which is available on our website. Information concerning our categories and estimated market share discussed on this call relates to the categories where we compete and is based on Energizer's internal data from industry analysis, and estimates we believe to be reasonable. The battery category information includes both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retail sales. Unless otherwise noted, all comments regarding the quarter and year pertain to Energizer's fiscal year. All comparisons to prior year relate to the same period in fiscal 2025. With that, I would like to turn the call over to Mark.

Speaker #2: We also refer in our presentation to non-GAAP financial measures. For reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, to comparable GAAP measures, as shown in our press release issued earlier today, which is available on our website.

Speaker #2: Information concerning our categories and estimated market share discussed on this call relates to the categories where we compete, and is based on Energizer's internal data, data from industry analysis, and estimates we believe to be reasonable.

Speaker #2: The battery category information includes both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce retail sales. Unless otherwise noted, all comments regarding the quarter and year pertain to Energizer's fiscal year, and all comparisons to prior year relate to the same period and fiscal 2025.

Speaker #2: With that, I would like to turn the call over to Mark.

Speaker #3: Good morning, and thanks for joining us today. As in prior quarters, we've posted prepared remarks on our website that provide a detailed review of our third quarter performance and our outlook.

Mark LaVigne: Good morning. Thanks for joining us today. As in prior quarters, we posted prepared remarks on our website that provide a detailed review of our Q3 performance and our outlook. I wanted to begin with a few brief comments. As we move through fiscal 2026, our priorities remain centered on strengthening the earnings power of the business, generating strong free cash flow, and continuing to improve our balance sheet. In Q3, we delivered organic growth across both batteries and lights, and auto care, while sustaining the margin recovery achieved since the beginning of the year. These results reflect the actions we've taken over multiple years to strengthen our brands, improve execution, streamline our cost structure, and build a more resilient organization.

Speaker #3: But I wanted to begin with a few brief comments. As we move through fiscal 2026, our priorities remain centered on strengthening the earnings power of the business, generating strong free cash flow, and continuing to improve our balance sheet.

Speaker #3: In the third quarter, we delivered organic growth across both batteries and lights, and auto care, while sustaining the margin recovery achieved since the beginning of the year.

Speaker #3: These results reflect the actions we've taken over multiple years to strengthen our brands, improve execution, streamline our cost structure, and build a more resilient organization.

Speaker #3: While consumer demand moderated in the quarter, our business continues to benefit from the progress across key strategic initiatives, enabling Energizer to meaningfully outperform the battery category.

Mark LaVigne: While consumer demand moderated in the quarter, our business continues to benefit from the progress across key strategic initiatives, enabling Energizer to meaningfully outperform the battery category. We expanded distribution, advanced innovation, and made further progress on the transition of APS sales into the Energizer branded portfolio. At the same time, Project Momentum has improved our operational flexibility and positioned us to navigate a range of operating environments while maintaining a focus on profitability and cash generation. Looking ahead, we remain confident in our strategy and the actions already underway across the business. We expect strong Q4 earnings growth to be supported by productivity initiatives, supply chain optimization, and the work we have done throughout the year to strengthen the profitability of the business. We believe these actions position us well to continue creating value through strong free cash flow generation and disciplined capital allocation.

Speaker #3: We expanded distribution, advanced innovation, and made further progress on the transition of APS sales into the Energizer-branded portfolio. At the same time, project momentum has improved our operational flexibility and positioned us to navigate a range of operating environments while maintaining a focus on profitability and cash generation.

Speaker #3: Looking ahead, we remain confident in our strategy and the actions already underway across the business. We expect strong fourth-quarter earnings growth to be supported by productivity initiatives, supply chain optimization, and the work we have done throughout the year to strengthen the profitability of the business.

Speaker #3: We believe these actions position us well to continue creating value through strong free cash flow generation and disciplined capital allocation. Thank you for your continued interest in Energizer, and with that, let's open the call for questions.

Mark LaVigne: Thank you for your continued interest in Energizer. With that, let's open the call for questions.

Speaker #1: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll now begin the question-and-answer session. Should you have a question, please press the star followed by the 1 on your touchstone phone.

Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, we'll now begin the question and answer session. Should you have a question, please press the star followed by the one on your touchtone phone. You will hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press the star followed by the two. If you are using a speakerphone, please lift the handset before pressing any keys. One moment please for your first question. Your first question comes from Lauren Lieberman from Barclays. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: You will hear a prompt via your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press the star followed by the 2.

Speaker #1: If you are using a speakerphone, please lift the handset before pressing any keys. One moment, please, for your first question. Your first question comes from Lauren Lieberman from Barclays.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead.

Speaker #4: Great. Thanks so much. I wanted to start by just kind of getting more detail on the change in guidance. So, you know, one quarter left, and you moved to the low end of the range after an inline delivery this quarter.

Lauren Lieberman: Great. Thanks so much. I wanted to start by just kind of getting more detail on the change in guidance. One quarter less and you moved to the low end of the range after an inline delivery this quarter. Just wanted to better understand the drivers of that change. Thanks.

Speaker #4: So, I just wanted to better understand the drivers of that change. Thanks.

Speaker #3: Good morning, Lauren. When we spoke in May, our expectation at that time was that the back half of the year would deliver around 4% organic growth.

Mark LaVigne: Good morning, Lauren. When we spoke in May, our expectation at that time was that H2 of the year would deliver around 4% organic growth. Today, we expect H2 to be roughly flat to up 1%. Clearly, there's been a change in the demand outlook. The primary driver behind this is in the battery category. At the time of the Q2 call, we expected the category to be roughly flat through the balance of the year. Since then, consumers have remained more cautious than we anticipated, and the battery category trends have softened by roughly two to 300 basis points relative to those expectations. Those items have been reflected in the outlook we've provided today. This is more of a category adjustment than it is really an Energizer adjustment. The business is actually performing well within the environment that we're seeing.

Speaker #3: Today, we expect the back half to be roughly flat to up 1%. So clearly, there's been a change in the demand outlook. The primary driver behind this is in the battery category.

Speaker #3: At the time of the Q2 call, we expected the category to be roughly flat through the balance of the year. Since then, consumers have remained more cautious, and we anticipated in the battery category trends have softened by roughly 2 to 300 basis points relative to those expectations.

Speaker #3: And those items have been reflected in the outlook we've provided today. This is more of a category adjustment than it is really an Energizer adjustment.

Speaker #3: The business is actually performing well within the environment that we're seeing. We continue to gain share. We're expanding distribution. We're launching innovation, and we're outperforming the category.

Mark LaVigne: We continue to gain share. We're expanding distribution, we're launching innovation, and we're outperforming the category. While we've taken a more prudent view on our top-line demand, our confidence in the business has not changed at all. The actions we've been taking are working. We're improving the quality of the portfolio, rebuilding margins, strengthening the earnings power, and increasing financial flexibility. I would also point out the earnings and cash flow story remains very much intact. Gross margin has improved more than 430 basis points from Q1 levels. We expect Q4 gross margin to be north of 40%, and we expect 25% adjusted EPS growth at the midpoint in Q4. At the same time, we expect strong free cash flow generation and meaningful debt reduction.

Speaker #3: So while we've taken a more prudent view on our top-line demand, our confidence in the business has not changed at all. The actions we've been taking are working.

Speaker #3: We're improving the quality of the portfolio, rebuilding margins and strengthening the earnings power, and increasing financial flexibility. I would also point out the earnings and cash flow story remains very much intact.

Speaker #3: Gross margin is improved more than 430 basis points from first quarter levels. We expect fourth quarter gross margin to be north of 40%, and we expect 25% adjusted EPS growth at the midpoint in Q4.

Speaker #3: And at the same time, we expect strong free cash flow generation and meaningful debt reduction. So all in, that's kind of the way we were thinking about the balance of the year, and wanted to provide that outlook for Q4 as well. Ascension up 26.

Mark LaVigne: All in, that's kind of the way we were thinking about the balance of the year, and wanted to provide that outlook for Q4 as well as tension up 2026.

Speaker #4: Okay. Great. And just one you know, given the slowdown in category growth, that you're calling, I was just curious about your read on retailer inventory levels.

Lauren Lieberman: Okay, great. Just one, given the slowdown in category growth that you're calling, I was just curious about your read on retailer inventory levels. I know inventory, there's been some retailer inventory dynamics in H1 of the fiscal year, but with the incremental slowing in the category, is that something we should watch out for further from here?

Speaker #4: I know inventory—you know, there have been some retailer inventory dynamics in the first half of the fiscal year. But with the incremental slowing in the category, is that something we should watch out for further from here?

Speaker #3: Yeah, thanks, Lauren. It is something we watch. You know, we went through this. It occurred earlier this year, and there's actually a slide in the slides we've there's a reference in one of the slides we posted this morning where we reference that in the first half.

Mark LaVigne: Yeah. Thanks, Lauren. It is something we watch. We went through this, it occurred earlier this year, and there is actually a slide in the slides or there is a reference in one of the slides we posted this morning where we referenced that in the H1. It was really the first part of this year where we dealt with some inventory destocking. We do not expect it to be an additional meaningful headwind, and really it's embedded in the revised numbers that we provided today.

Speaker #3: It was really the first part of this year where we dealt with some inventory destocking. We do not expect it to be an additional meaningful headwind.

Speaker #3: And really, it's embedded in the revised numbers that we provided today.

Speaker #4: Okay, all right. Great, thanks so much. I'm going to pass it on.

Lauren Lieberman: Okay. All right, great. Thanks so much. I'm going to pass it on.

Speaker #3: Thanks, Lauren.

Mark LaVigne: Thanks, Lauren.

Speaker #1: Thank you. And your next question comes from Andrea Tixeria from JPMorgan. Please go ahead.

Operator: Thank you. Your next question comes from Andrea Teixeira from JPMorgan. Please go ahead.

Speaker #2: Thank you, Farida. And good morning, everyone. I was just hoping to see if you can comment a little bit on that decline of 200 to 300 basis points.

Andrea Teixeira: Thanks, operator. Good morning, everyone. I was just hoping to see if you can comment a little bit on that decline of 200 to 300 basis points from a volume perspective, from a pricing perspective. It seems like it's both, that consumers are also down-trading, not only like volume-wise, but down-trading from a value perspective. Can you elaborate on that and also speak to not only the US, but international?

Speaker #2: From a volume perspective, from a pricing perspective, it seems like it's both that consumers are also downtrading, not only, like, volume-wise, but downtrading from a value perspective.

Speaker #2: So, can you elaborate on that, and also speak to not only the US, but internationally?

Speaker #3: Sure, Andrea. Let me get started. I think it's important to separate near-term consumer environment from long-term health of the overall category. Consumers are being more selective today.

Mark LaVigne: Sure, Andrea, let me get started. I think it's important to separate near-term consumer environment from long-term health of the overall category. Consumers are being more selective today. They're looking for value. They're shopping across channels and pack sizes and managing overall basket spend more carefully. That can pressure dollars and mix in the short term. Energizer is winning in this environment. In the US, our value grew 1.8%, volume grew 5%, while the category declined. We also gained volume and value share globally as well.

Speaker #3: They're looking for value. They're shopping across channels and pack sizes and managing overall basket spend more carefully. That can pressure dollars and mix in the short term.

Speaker #3: Energizer's winning in this environment in the US. Our value grew 1.8%. Volume grew 5% while the category declined. We also gained volume and value share globally as well.

Speaker #3: You know, I think on the promotional front, we have no interest in buying share that I think, for our business, the category is more promotional today because consumers are seeking that value that I mentioned.

John Drabik: I think on the promotional front, we have no interest in buying share. I think for our business, the category is more promotional today because consumers are seeking that value that I mentioned. The improvement we're seeing on our business is broader than just price. We're benefiting from better distribution, stronger execution, innovation, and the breadth of our portfolio. The actions we're taking are resonating distribution gains. The strength of our brands and the breadth of our portfolio allow us to meet consumers across both premium and value. We're not assuming that the consumer improves from here, but we are managing the business to win with consumers where they are today. I think you're seeing that play out. I would say in the Q3, you are seeing a bit of a pricing headwind in Q3. We would expect that to be neutral in Q4.

Mark LaVigne: I think on the promotional front, we have no interest in buying share. I think for our business, the category is more promotional today because consumers are seeking that value that I mentioned. The improvement we're seeing on our business is broader than just price. We're benefiting from better distribution, stronger execution, innovation, and the breadth of our portfolio. The actions we're taking are resonating distribution gains. The strength of our brands and the breadth of our portfolio allow us to meet consumers across both premium and value. We're not assuming that the consumer improves from here, but we are managing the business to win with consumers where they are today. I think you're seeing that play out. I would say in the Q3, you are seeing a bit of a pricing headwind in Q3. We would expect that to be neutral in Q4.

Speaker #3: But the improvement we're seeing in our business is broader than just price. We're benefiting from better distribution, stronger execution, innovation, and the breadth of our portfolio.

Speaker #3: The actions we're taking are resonating. Distribution gains and the strength of our brands and the breadth of our portfolio allow us to meet consumers across both premium and value.

Speaker #3: So, we're not assuming that the consumer improves from here, but we are managing the business to win with consumers where they are today. I think you're seeing that play out.

Speaker #3: I would say in the Q3, you are seeing a bit of a pricing headwind in Q3. We would expect that to be neutral in Q4.

Speaker #3: So, I would not extrapolate the trends you're seeing in Q3 into Q4.

John Drabik: I would not extrapolate the trends you're seeing in Q3 into Q4.

Mark LaVigne: I would not extrapolate the trends you're seeing in Q3 into Q4.

Speaker #2: And then can you that's helpful. Can you comment on the on the cost side? How we should be thinking of your outlook now with oil prices, you get less impacted because your cargo is value-added, but just thinking of how to think about the commodity cost pressure also on the on the raw material side.

Andrea Teixeira: That's helpful. Can you comment on the cost side, how we should be thinking of your outlook now with oil prices? You get less impacted because your cargo is value-added, just thinking of how to think about the commodity cost pressure also on the raw material side.

John Drabik: Sure. Andrea, I think we've done a good job getting costs out of the system. We've seen improvement in gross margins from the beginning of the year to where we are now. As Mark mentioned, we're expecting Q4 gross margin to be in the low 40s, that's really a clean number for the first time this year. By clean, I mean, we've had a lot of these in and outs. For instance, there won't be any IEEPA credits in our Q4 number. We think that reflects a lot of the hard work that we've done, and we're in much better shape. There's still a number of moving parts, and we've been talking about it for the last 2 quarters, commodities, tariffs, FX, logistics. We're going to be disciplined about providing a full view to that when we're ready. That should be next Q.

Mark LaVigne: Sure. Andrea, I think we've done a good job getting costs out of the system. We've seen improvement in gross margins from the beginning of the year to where we are now. As Mark mentioned, we're expecting Q4 gross margin to be in the low 40s, that's really a clean number for the first time this year. By clean, I mean, we've had a lot of these in and outs. For instance, there won't be any IEEPA credits in our Q4 number. We think that reflects a lot of the hard work that we've done, and we're in much better shape. There's still a number of moving parts, and we've been talking about it for the last 2 quarters, commodities, tariffs, FX, logistics. We're going to be disciplined about providing a full view to that when we're ready. That should be next Q.

Speaker #3: Sure. Andrea, I think we've done a good job getting costs out of the system, and we've seen improvement in gross margins from the beginning of the year to where we are now.

Speaker #3: As Mark mentioned, we're expecting fourth quarter gross margin to be in the low 40s, and that's really a clean number for the first time this year.

Speaker #3: By clean, I mean, we've had a lot of these in-and-outs you know, for instance, there won't be any IEPA credits in our fourth quarter number.

Speaker #3: So we think that reflects, you know, a lot of the hard work that we've done and we're in a much better shape. There's still a number of moving parts, and we've been talking about it for the last couple of quarters.

Speaker #3: Commodities, tariffs, FX, logistics. We're going to be disciplined, you know, about providing a full view to that when we're ready. That should be next quarter.

Speaker #3: What I would say is we have a lot of levers that are available to us, including productivity, sourcing, network flexibility, operating efficiencies. And pricing, where appropriate.

John Drabik: What I would say is we have a lot of levers that are available to us, including productivity, sourcing, network flexibility, operating efficiencies, and pricing where appropriate. Our goal, as we go forward, is going to be to maintain the margins we've worked to recover, as well as the overall earnings profile of the business. I would say the other area where I think we're seeing as we move forward, some important factors that I think will bolster our free cash flow, which is really important to the story. First, we're finishing up Project Momentum this year. We expect related cash costs to execute that program, which were in large part like facility exits and severance. Those should be significantly reduced going forward.

Mark LaVigne: What I would say is we have a lot of levers that are available to us, including productivity, sourcing, network flexibility, operating efficiencies, and pricing where appropriate. Our goal, as we go forward, is going to be to maintain the margins we've worked to recover, as well as the overall earnings profile of the business. I would say the other area where I think we're seeing as we move forward, some important factors that I think will bolster our free cash flow, which is really important to the story. First, we're finishing up Project Momentum this year. We expect related cash costs to execute that program, which were in large part like facility exits and severance. Those should be significantly reduced going forward.

Speaker #3: So our goal as we go forward is going to be to maintain the margins. We've worked to recover, as well as the overall earnings profile of the business.

Speaker #3: I would say the other area where I think we're seeing as we as we move forward some, you know, important factors that I think will bolster our free cash flow, which is really important to the story, so first, you know, we're finishing up project momentum this year.

Speaker #3: So we expect related cash costs, you know, to execute that program, which we're, you know, in large part, like, facility exits and severance. Those should be significantly reduced going forward.

Speaker #3: The capex that we've been spending, really, for digital transformation and some of that supply chain transformation, that's been elevated in recent years. In coordination with the momentum program, we expect that to be down pretty significantly.

John Drabik: The CapEx that we've been spending really for digital transformation and some of that supply chain transformation, that's been elevated in recent years, in coordination with the Project Momentum program, we expect that to be down pretty significantly. We're pushing for 1% of net sales or $30 million to come back into the run rate basis. We've talked about it last Q, and it's starting to occur, but we've already collected about $11 million of IEEPA tariffs. That's on the recovery side. We expect the remaining $53 million that we've booked to provide a meaningful source of cash generation as we kind of finish up this year and go into 2025. Cash flow should be a strong story for us as we finish out the year and go into 2027.

Mark LaVigne: The CapEx that we've been spending really for digital transformation and some of that supply chain transformation, that's been elevated in recent years, in coordination with the Project Momentum program, we expect that to be down pretty significantly. We're pushing for 1% of net sales or $30 million to come back into the run rate basis. We've talked about it last Q, and it's starting to occur, but we've already collected about $11 million of IEEPA tariffs. That's on the recovery side. We expect the remaining $53 million that we've booked to provide a meaningful source of cash generation as we kind of finish up this year and go into 2025. Cash flow should be a strong story for us as we finish out the year and go into 2027.

Speaker #3: We're pushing for, like, 1% in net sales or 30 million bucks to come back into the run-rate basis. And then, we've talked about it, you know, last quarter, and it's starting to occur, but we've already collected about 11 million dollars of IEPA tariffs.

Speaker #3: That's on the recovery side. You know, we expect the remaining 53 million that we've booked you know, to provide a meaningful source of cash generation as we kind of finish up this year and go into next year.

Speaker #3: So, cash flow should be a strong story for us as we finish up the year and go into '27.

Speaker #2: Great. Thank you.

Andrea Teixeira: Great. Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you. And just as a reminder, if you do have a question, please press star 1. And your next question comes from Rob Eidenstein from Evercore.

Operator: Thank you. Just as a reminder, if you do have a question, please press star one. Your next question comes from Rob Ottenstein from Evercore. Please go ahead.

Speaker #1: Please go ahead.

Speaker #4: Great, thank you very much. First, I just wanted to follow up on the category slowdown. Is this something that increased during the quarter?

Rob Ottenstein: Great. Thank you very much. First, just wanted to follow up on the category slowdown. Is this something that increased during the quarter, was fairly stable? Just kind of a little bit of color on the cadence of that. I think you mentioned two to 300 basis points. Would that have been split roughly equally between price and volume? Just any color around that. My second question is, we get the Circana data, in that, your main competitor had pretty dramatic declines. I mean, very high double-digit declines in volume in the period. I was wondering if you can give any color around that. It looks like a lost customer and any color in terms of if that's the fact, timing around that and circumstances, whether that's something that will likely benefit you going forward. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Was fairly stable? Just kind of a little bit of color on the cadence of that. And then, you know, if you're you think you mentioned 2 to 300 basis points.

Speaker #4: Would that have been split roughly equally between price and and volume? You know, just any color around that. And then and then my second question is, you know, we we get this accounted data, and and in that, your main competitor had a pretty dramatic declines.

Speaker #4: I mean, very high double-digit declines in in volume in the period. I was wondering if you can give any color around that. It looks like, you know, a lost customer and, you know, any color in terms of if that's the fact, timing around that, and, you know, circumstances whether that's something that will likely benefit you going forward.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

John Drabik: Good morning, Rob. I never like to speak on behalf of our competitors, so I think I would just direct questions that way. We see the scanner data just like you do. Rest assured, we are in the market competing, and trying to win distribution and do it the right way. It all plays out in the scanner data that you receive. I think into your first question around the dynamic in the battery category, I think we referenced it in our last quarter where we were seeing a bit of pressure on the consumer. I think as we worked our way through the quarter, we saw it accelerate a bit. We're not anticipating that it snaps back and improves in a meaningful way over the balance of the year, which led to the two to 300 basis call down that we made this morning.

Mark LaVigne: Good morning, Rob. I never like to speak on behalf of our competitors, so I think I would just direct questions that way. We see the scanner data just like you do. Rest assured, we are in the market competing, and trying to win distribution and do it the right way. It all plays out in the scanner data that you receive. I think into your first question around the dynamic in the battery category, I think we referenced it in our last quarter where we were seeing a bit of pressure on the consumer. I think as we worked our way through the quarter, we saw it accelerate a bit. We're not anticipating that it snaps back and improves in a meaningful way over the balance of the year, which led to the two to 300 basis call down that we made this morning.

Speaker #3: Hey, good morning, Robert. I I never like to speak on behalf of our competitors, but I think I would just direct questions that way.

Speaker #3: We see the scanner data just like you do. Rest assured, we are in the market, competing and trying to win distribution—and do it the right way.

Speaker #3: So, it all plays out in the scanner data that you receive. I think, to your first question around the dynamic in the battery category, I think we referenced it in our last quarter, where we were seeing a bit of pressure on the consumer.

Speaker #3: And I think as we were worked our way through the quarter, we we saw it accelerate a bit. We're not anticipating that it snaps back and improves in a meaningful way over the balance of the year, which led to the the the 2 to 300 basis call down that we that we made this morning.

Speaker #3: I do think that's a a near-term dynamic, and I I don't think it impacts our our longer-term view of the category. Devices still continue to be healthy.

John Drabik: I do think that's a near-term dynamic, I don't think it impacts our longer-term view of the category. Devices still continue to be healthy, usage continues to be healthy, change-out frequency is healthy. All the fundamentals behind category demand are in place. What you are seeing, though, is consumers reacting to in more near-term environment where they're making choices. They're making choices about

Mark LaVigne: I do think that's a near-term dynamic, I don't think it impacts our longer-term view of the category. Devices still continue to be healthy, usage continues to be healthy, change-out frequency is healthy. All the fundamentals behind category demand are in place. What you are seeing, though, is consumers reacting to in more near-term environment where they're making choices. They're making choices about

Speaker #3: Usage continues to be healthy. Changeout frequency is healthy. So all the fundamentals behind category. Demand are in place. And what you are seeing, though, is consumers reacting to in more near-term environment where they're making choices.

Speaker #3: They're making choices about frequency of their spend. They're they're stretching dollars further. And as a result, they're seeking value, and they're more cautious. And you're seeing that play out in the battery category, which results in our making a call for the Q4 that we did this morning.

Mark LaVigne: Frequency of their spend, they're stretching dollars further, as a result, they're seeking value, they're more cautious. You're seeing that play out in the battery category, which results in our making a call for the Q4 that we did this morning.

Speaker #4: And and and again, just is is this this weakness split equally between volume and and and value and price, or is it biased in one direction or the other?

Rob Ottenstein: Again, is this weakness split equally between volume and value and price, or is it biased in one direction or the other?

Speaker #3: It's well, so what you saw in the quarter is it it's there's a little bit of promotional activity, and there's a little bit of volume erosion in the quarter.

Mark LaVigne: Well, what you saw in the quarter is there's a little bit of promotional activity, there's a little bit of volume erosion in the quarter. I think going forward, It's going to be split a little bit between both. I think it's just our job to manage continuing to connect with consumers, invest in promotion where it makes sense, drive the appropriate volume dynamics, keep the margin that we've worked hard to preserve intact so that we can go into 2027 with a stable margin, which allows the rest of our investment thesis to hold.

Speaker #3: I think going forward, you're going to see that split be you know, it's going to be split a little bit between both. And so I I think it's just our job to manage continuing to to connect with consumers, invest in promotion where it makes sense, drive the appropriate volume dynamics, keep margin you know, keep the margin that we've worked hard to preserve intact so that we can go into '27 with a stable margin, which allows the rest of our investment thesis to to hold.

Speaker #3: Yeah. And I think our fourth quarter call specifically for us is the pricing would be neutral to a slightly positive.

John Drabik: Yeah. I think our Q4 call, specifically for us, is that pricing would be neutral to slightly positive.

Mark LaVigne: Yeah. I think our Q4 call, specifically for us, is that pricing would be neutral to slightly positive.

Speaker #4: Great. Great. Thank you very much.

Mark LaVigne: Great. Thank you very much.

Rob Ottenstein: Great. Thank you very much.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Robert.

Mark LaVigne: Thank you, Robert.

Speaker #1: Thank you. And your next question comes from Brian McNara from Gannet Core Ingenuity. Please go ahead.

Operator: Thank you. Your next question comes from Brian McNamara from Canaccord Genuity. Please go ahead.

Madison Callinan: Hi, this is Madison Callinan on for Brian. Thanks for taking our questions. Not to beat a dead horse, but can you comment on the battery category struggles there? Is there something structural going on, whether it's a push towards battery-free technologies or something else? Is it pantry destocking? Thanks for any color you guys can give.

Speaker #2: Hi. This is Madison Calanan on for Brian. Thanks for taking your questions. Not to beat a dead horse, but can you comment on, like, the battery category and struggles there?

Speaker #2: Is there something structural going on, whether it's a push towards battery-free technologies or something else? Is it pantry desocking? Thanks for whatever you guys can give.

Speaker #3: Yep. Sure. Appreciate the question. No, there's nothing structural going on that that foundational health of the battery category, is intact. Again, I mentioned devices.

Mark LaVigne: Yeah, sure. Appreciate the question. No, there's nothing structural going on. The foundational health of the battery category is intact. Again, I mentioned devices continue to be stable in the household usage frequency. If anything, you're seeing a little bit of increased frequency because the power that these devices require is greater than it used to be. Structurally, the battery category is healthy. I think what you are seeing play out in the scanner data numbers is simply a reflection of consumer caution, value-seeking behavior, and the dynamic nature with which they shop. They're changing channels, they're changing pack sizes. All of that plays out in the scanner data. No, we feel as positive about the battery category today as we ever have.

Speaker #3: continue to be stable in the household usage. Frequency if anything, you're seeing a little bit of increased frequency because the power that these devices require is is greater than it used to be.

Speaker #3: So so structurally, the battery category is healthy. I think what you are seeing play out in the scanner data numbers is simply a a reflection of consumer caution.

Speaker #3: Value-seeking behavior, and the dynamic nature with which they shop—and they're changing channels; they're changing pack sizes. All of that plays out in the scanner data.

Speaker #3: But no, we feel as as positive about the battery category today as as we as we ever have.

Speaker #2: Great. And then are there any nuances to holiday shipment timing that we should be mindful of for Q4 and Q1 of fiscal '27? Thank you.

Madison Callinan: Great. Then are there any nuances to holiday shipment timing that we should be mindful of for Q4 and Q1 of fiscal 2027? Thank you.

Mark LaVigne: Holiday timing? Anything that we're aware of was built into our call today. Again, our back half is right now between Q3 and Q4 will be flat to plus one, and that's built into any sort of pacing and phasing we have relative to holiday.

Speaker #3: Holiday timing? No. Anything that we're aware of was built into our call today. And, you know, again, our our back half is is right now between Q3 and Q4 will be flat to plus 1.

Speaker #3: And and that's built into any sort of pacing and phasing we had relative to holiday.

Speaker #2: Thank you.

Madison Callinan: Thank you.

Speaker #3: Thank you.

Mark LaVigne: Thank you.

Speaker #1: Thank you. And then no further questions at this time. Mark, you may please proceed.

Operator: Thank you. There are no further questions at this time. Mark, you may please proceed.

Speaker #3: Great. Thanks for joining us today and your interest in Energizer. Hope everyone has a great rest of the day.

Mark LaVigne: Great. Thanks for joining us today and your interest in Energizer. Hope everyone has a great rest of the day.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, this does conclude your conference call for today. We thank you very much for your-

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