Boston Beer Reports Third Quarter Financial Results
Third Quarter 2026 Summary:
- Depletions decreased 5% and shipments decreased 4.9%
- Net revenue of
$520.1 million decreased 3.2% - Gross margin of 51.7% up 90 basis points year over year
- GAAP diluted income per share of
$4.21 , which includes non-recurring litigation expenses of$0.16 per share - Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of
$4.37
Year-to-date 2026 Summary:
- Depletions decreased 5% and shipments decreased 5.4%
- Net revenue of
$1.522 billion decreased 3.6% - Gross margin of 50.5% up 80 basis points year over year
- GAAP diluted loss per share of
$4.87 , which includes non-recurring litigation expenses of$14.51 per share - Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of
$9.64
Capital Structure
- Ended the third quarter with
$308.1 million in cash and no debt - Repurchased
$79.5 million in shares fromDecember 28, 2025 toOctober 16, 2026
“The demand environment remains challenging, and we are prioritizing actions within our control to strengthen our business and improve market share trends,” said Chairman, Founder and CEO
“We delivered strong gross margin expansion and are raising the low end of our gross margin and earnings guidance, while managing through a dynamic consumer demand and input cost environment,” said Interim CFO and Chief Accounting Officer
Details of the results were as follows:
Third Quarter 2026 (13 weeks ended
Depletions for the third quarter decreased 5% compared to the third quarter of the prior year. Shipment volume for the quarter was approximately 1.8 million barrels, a 4.9% decrease compared to the third quarter of the prior year, driven by declines in Twisted Tea, Truly, and Samuel Adams that were partially offset by growth in the Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard brands.
The Company believes distributor inventories as of
Revenue for the quarter decreased 3.2% due to decreases in volume that were only partially offset by favorable product mix and pricing.
Gross margin of 51.7% increased from the 50.8% margin realized in the third quarter of 2025, or an increase of 90 basis points year over year. Gross margin primarily benefited from favorable product mix, price increases, procurement savings and improved brewery efficiencies, which were partially offset by inflationary commodity and tariff costs.
The third quarter gross margin of 51.7% includes
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses in the third quarter were flat year over year. This reflected
General and administrative expenses decreased by
Litigation expenses of
In the third quarter of 2026, the combined pre-tax expense related to the supplier dispute litigation of
Impairment of brewery assets of
The Company’s effective tax rate for the third quarter was 26.7%. Excluding the impact of the supplier dispute litigation, the effective tax rate remained 26.7% compared to 28.1% in the prior year. This decrease in rate is due primarily to the impact of non-deductible stock compensation.
Year-to-date 2026 (39 weeks ended
Depletions year-to-date decreased 5% from the prior year. Shipment volume year-to-date was approximately 5.4 million barrels, a 5.4% decrease from the prior year, driven by declines in Twisted Tea, Truly, and Samuel Adams, partially offset by growth in the Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard brands.
Revenue year-to-date decreased 3.6% due to decreases in volume, partially offset by favorable product mix and pricing.
Gross margin year-to-date of 50.5% increased from the 49.7% margin realized in year-to-date 2025, or an increase of 80 basis points year over year. Gross margin primarily benefited from price increases, favorable product mix, procurement savings and improved brewery efficiencies, which were partially offset by increased inflationary commodity and tariff costs.
The year-to-date gross margin of 50.5% includes
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses year-to-date increased
General and administrative expenses year-to-date increased
Litigation expense of
The litigation expense of
Impairment of brewery assets of
The Company’s effective tax rate year-to-date was a benefit of 12.4%. Excluding the impact of the supplier dispute litigation, the effective tax rate was a provision of 29.9% compared to a provision of 28.8% in the prior year. This increase in rate is due primarily to the increased negative impact of non-deductible stock compensation.
The Company expects that its
During the 39-week period ended
Depletions Estimate
Year-to-date depletions through the 42-week period ended
Full-Year 2026 Projections
The Company has updated its financial guidance for the full year 2026. The Company’s actual 2026 results could vary significantly from the current projection and are highly sensitive to changes in volume projections, supply chain performance, inflationary and commodity impacts and tariff policy. Tariff cost projections below, which are net of a
| Full Year 2026 | Current Guidance | Previous Guidance |
| Depletions and Shipments Percentage Change | Down mid-single digits | Down low-single digits to mid-single digits |
| Price Increases | 1% to 2% | 1% to 2% |
| Gross Margin (including Tariffs) | 49% to 50% | 48.5% to 50% |
| Tariff Costs ($ million) | ||
| Advertising, Promotion, and Selling Expense Year Over Year Change ($ million) | Approximately Flat | |
| GAAP Tax Rate (Benefit)/ Provision | (11.0%) to (12.0%) | (11.0%) to (12.0%) |
| Non GAAP Tax Rate Provision | 29% to 30% | 29% to 30% |
| GAAP EPS (Income/ (Loss)) | ( |
( |
| Non-recurring Litigation Expenses impact per share | ($14.76) | ($14.73) |
| Non GAAP EPS | ||
| Capital Spending ($ million) | ||
Underlying the Company's current 2026 projections are the following full-year estimates and targets:
- The Company is monitoring changes in commodity, fuel and transportation costs driven by macroeconomic factors. Freight costs remain elevated due to higher transportation rates, labor constraints within the transportation industry and higher fuel costs, while energy costs also impact aluminum input costs, given the energy intensive nature of aluminum production. The Company's current estimates of these cost increases are reflected in its guidance.
- Supply chain improvements implemented during 2025 resulted in more consistent levels of distributor inventory in terms of weeks on hand. The impact of these changes on prior-year shipment flows, together with the expected timing of shipments to meet customer demand in 2026, continues to influence the quarterly phasing of shipments. Accordingly, we currently expect modest shipment growth in the fourth quarter.
- The Company’s business is seasonal, with the fourth quarter typically a lower volume quarter and the lowest gross margin rate of the year. At the midpoint of the full year guidance range, the Company expects year-over-year gross margin rate improvement to be the most meaningful in the fourth quarter as shortfall fees are expected to be lower in 2026 versus 2025 and the Company typically expenses the majority of its shortfall fees in the fourth quarter.
- During full year 2026, the Company estimates shortfall fees and non-cash expense of third-party production pre-payments in total will negatively impact gross margins by 40 to 60 basis points.
- The advertising, selling and promotional expense projection does not include any changes in freight costs for the shipment of products to the Company’s distributors. Advertising investment levels are expected to decline year over year in the fourth quarter, reflecting lower planned full-year investment and a comparison against high levels of investment in the fourth quarter of 2025 that included production costs associated with preparation for 2026 programming.
Full-Year 2027 Projections
The Company is planning to provide full year 2027 financial guidance during its fourth quarter earnings call in
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Non-GAAP EPS and Non-GAAP Tax Rate are not defined terms under
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in this press release that state the Company’s or management’s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company’s
About the Company
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | ||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Thirteen weeks ended | Thirty-nine weeks ended | |||||||||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 555,458 | $ | 571,476 | $ | 1,624,792 | $ | 1,678,258 | ||||||||
| Less excise taxes | 35,357 | 33,982 | 102,423 | 98,948 | ||||||||||||
| Net revenue | 520,101 | 537,494 | 1,522,369 | 1,579,310 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 251,023 | 264,377 | 752,960 | 794,412 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 269,078 | 273,117 | 769,409 | 784,898 | ||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Advertising, promotional, and selling expenses | 165,182 | 164,739 | 491,138 | 461,987 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 42,855 | 44,913 | 144,035 | 138,615 | ||||||||||||
| Impairment of brewery assets | 2,888 | 1,416 | 3,124 | 6,401 | ||||||||||||
| Litigation expense | 1,824 | — | 194,471 | — | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 212,749 | 211,068 | 832,768 | 607,003 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | 56,329 | 62,049 | (63,359 | ) | 177,895 | |||||||||||
| Other income, net: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income, net | 2,714 | 2,696 | 6,604 | 7,320 | ||||||||||||
| Other expense, net | (138 | ) | (595 | ) | (950 | ) | (1,168 | ) | ||||||||
| Total other income, net | 2,576 | 2,101 | 5,654 | 6,152 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit) | 58,905 | 64,150 | (57,705 | ) | 184,047 | |||||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | 15,739 | 17,995 | (7,176 | ) | 53,047 | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 43,166 | $ | 46,155 | $ | (50,529 | ) | $ | 131,000 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – basic | $ | 4.21 | $ | 4.25 | $ | (4.87 | ) | $ | 11.83 | |||||||
| Net income (loss) per common share – diluted | $ | 4.21 | $ | 4.25 | $ | (4.87 | ) | $ | 11.82 | |||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares – basic | 10,254 | 10,855 | 10,369 | 11,073 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares – diluted | 10,224 | 10,830 | 10,369 | 11,050 | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 43,166 | $ | 46,155 | $ | (50,529 | ) | $ | 131,000 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | 27 | (161 | ) | (207 | ) | 233 | ||||||||||
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) | 27 | (161 | ) | (207 | ) | 233 | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 43,193 | $ | 45,994 | $ | (50,736 | ) | $ | 131,233 | |||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||
| (in thousands, except share data) | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 308,072 | $ | 223,378 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 83,032 | 57,094 | ||||||
| Inventories, net | 98,078 | 92,532 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 24,668 | 20,316 | ||||||
| Income tax receivable | 2,096 | 24,259 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 515,946 | 417,579 | ||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment, net | 542,645 | 578,125 | ||||||
| Operating right-of-use assets | 23,000 | 30,229 | ||||||
| 112,529 | 112,529 | |||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 13,483 | 14,753 | ||||||
| Third-party production prepayments | 5,324 | 7,099 | ||||||
| Note receivable | 7,826 | 11,218 | ||||||
| Other assets | 18,635 | 22,063 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 1,239,388 | $ | 1,193,595 | ||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 107,640 | $ | 94,975 | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 146,382 | 144,797 | ||||||
| Accrued litigation expenses | 194,471 | - | ||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | 7,871 | 12,762 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 456,364 | 252,534 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes, net | 21,524 | 64,785 | ||||||
| Non-current operating lease liabilities | 21,667 | 25,111 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 4,103 | 4,885 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 503,658 | 347,315 | ||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||||
| Class A Common Stock, |
81 | 84 | ||||||
| Class B Common Stock, |
21 | 21 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 713,081 | 698,811 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (587 | ) | (380 | ) | ||||
| Retained earnings | 23,134 | 147,744 | ||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 735,730 | 846,280 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 1,239,388 | $ | 1,193,595 | ||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||
| (in thousands) | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| Thirty-nine weeks ended | ||||||||
2026 |
2025 |
|||||||
| Cash flows provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (50,529 | ) | $ | 131,000 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 63,478 | 67,726 | ||||||
| Impairment of brewery assets | 3,124 | 6,401 | ||||||
| Gain on sale of property, plant, and equipment | (88 | ) | (47 | ) | ||||
| Litigation expense | 194,471 | — | ||||||
| Change in right-of-use assets | 8,342 | (5,654 | ) | |||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 15,126 | 14,408 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | (43,261 | ) | (15,496 | ) | ||||
| Other non-cash income | (374 | ) | (32 | ) | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | (25,961 | ) | (22,866 | ) | ||||
| Inventories | (6,585 | ) | 13,816 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (4,502 | ) | (3,329 | ) | ||||
| Income tax receivable | 22,163 | 4,925 | ||||||
| Third-party production prepayments | 1,775 | 6,058 | ||||||
| Brewery-related assets and cloud computing | 4,968 | 4,975 | ||||||
| Other non-current assets | (498 | ) | (1,148 | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable | 14,320 | 16,042 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 7,916 | 8,205 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | (9,450 | ) | 4,958 | |||||
| Other non-current liabilities | (233 | ) | 276 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 194,202 | 230,218 | ||||||
| Cash flows used in investing activities: | ||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant, and equipment | (31,234 | ) | (36,717 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from disposal of property, plant, and equipment | 88 | 47 | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (31,146 | ) | (36,670 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows used in financing activities: | ||||||||
| Repurchases and retirement of Class A common stock | (75,338 | ) | (152,423 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options and sale of investment shares | 1,495 | 1,242 | ||||||
| Cash paid on finance leases | (1,092 | ) | (1,288 | ) | ||||
| Payment of tax withholding on stock-based payment awards and investment shares | (3,427 | ) | (2,444 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (78,362 | ) | (154,913 | ) | ||||
| Change in cash and cash equivalents | 84,694 | 38,635 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 223,378 | 211,819 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 308,072 | $ | 250,454 | ||||
| Copies of |
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| Investor Relations Contact: | Media Contact: |
| (617) 368-5390 | (914) 261-6572 |
| nora.doherty@bostonbeer.com | dave.dececco@bostonbeer.com |
Source: Boston Beer Company