| Revenue of $1.80B (12.26% Y/Y) misses by $29.65M
Somnigroup International Inc. (SGI) Q1 2026 Earnings Call May 7, 2026 8:00 AM EDT
Company Participants
Lauren Avritt – Director of Investor Relations
Scott Thompson – Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Bhaskar Rao – Executive VP & CFO
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Good morning. Thank you for joining us on our first quarter 2026 Earnings Call. I’ll begin with some highlights from the quarter and then turn the call over to Bhaskar to review our financial performance in more detail and discuss our reaffirmed 2026 earnings guidance. After that, we’ll open up the call for Q&A.
In the first quarter of 2026, net sales increased a healthy 12% to $1.8 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 20% to $297 million, and adjusted EPS increased a robust 20% to $0.59 per share. We are pleased with these results, particularly against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and winter weather disruptions in the U.S., all of which weighed on the industry demand.
We believe global bedding demand declined mid-single digits in the first quarter, which was below our expectation that demand would be flat to slightly positive during the quarter. We believe our performance reflected the strength of our business model and its ability to perform across varying market conditions. This has allowed us to continue to extend our leadership position in the industry.
Turning to our first highlight. We expanded EBITDA margin by over 100 basis points and grew adjusted EPS by 20%. We accomplished this on 12% sales growth, demonstrating the operating leverage embedded in our business model. We also delivered record first quarter operating cash flow, which we deployed towards debt reduction. We ended the first quarter at 3.1x leverage, and are on track to return to our targeted range of 2 to 3x adjusted EBITDA in the next few months.
Our second highlight. Our North American Tempur Sealy business outperformed the broader market. Tempur Sealy North America delivered mid-single-digit wholesale sales growth year-over-year on a like-for-like basis, driven by investments in high-quality advertising, continued momentum in Sealy Posturepedic line and increased balance of share at Mattress Firm. Looking to the back half of the year, we expect the launch of our new Stearns & Foster lineup to optimize price architecture within the broader portfolio, support higher average selling price for our retail partners, strengthen our position at higher pricing points.
We expanded our offering with additional SKUs at the top of the price range, targeting the customer who has demonstrated continued resilience through this cycle, and represents a significant growth opportunity. We’ll support the launch with new national campaign advertising focused on differentiated luxury product and on broader health and wellness benefits with sleep.
Our third highlight, our international business continued to capitalize on long-term growth opportunities, delivered double-digit growth on a reported basis and mid-single-digit growth on a constant currency basis. Tempur International outperformed the broader industry in the quarter, extending a multiyear track record of solid growth across our key markets. This performance reflects continued disciplined investment in distribution and marketing, a resilient supply chain, strong local execution and the strength of our Tempur brand. We’re pleased with our results in a challenging environment, and our international business remains well positioned for continued growth over the long term.
Our U.K.-based bedding retailer, Dreams, once again outperformed the market this quarter, reinforcing its position as a category leader. Strong brand awareness and share of voice, combined with effective execution drove solid customer engagement and healthy order volume. Our ongoing operational discipline and a continued focus on product quality and customer experience supports further growth in this very competitive U.K. market.
Our fourth highlight, Mattress Firm outperformed the broader U.S. market, supported by its scale, depth of category expertise, and a well-curated merchandising assortment. Merchandising actions taken over the past year have better positioned Mattress Firm business to meet customer needs across price points while maintaining a strong focus on quality and innovation. During the quarter, we further deepened relationships with suppliers aligned with our quality standards and marketing commitment.
Our proprietary sleep expert model continues to differentiate the in-store experience, supported by one of the industry’s largest and most highly trained sales force, which has been augmented by ongoing technology investments. We remain on track with our previously announced $150 million store refresh program targeting completion in 2027. To date, we have spent approximately $40 million on the store refresh program, all funded operating cash flow. Additionally, the rollout of Tempur brand walls is progressing well with national completion expected by year-end.
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Thank you, Bhaskar. Well done. Before opening the call up for Q&A, I want to quickly address our recent announced agreement to combine Leggett & Platt. As we announced last month, we signed a definitive agreement to combine with Leggett, an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $2.5 billion, including the assumption of debt. We expect this transaction to close by year-end, subject to satisfactory customary closing conditions.
Following the close of the transaction, Leggett is expected to operate as a separate business unit within Somnigroup, similar to Tempur Sealy, Mattress Firm and Dreams. And to maintain its offices, including its primary location in Carthage, Missouri. We’re proud to have Leggett & Platt join us and believe the combination is beneficial to all stakeholders of both companies. We expect the combination to leverage the individual strengths of Somnigroup and Leggett & Platt to realize 5 strategic benefits.
First, this combination continues our vertical integration strategy and enables us to closer collaborate between component engineering, manufacturing design, and customer trends, supporting accelerated innovation cycle and more cost-effective consumer-centric product construction. Second, this combination provides access to incremental addressable markets beyond bedding, expanding Somnigroup’s long-term growth opportunities and cash flow generation. Third, the combination is expected to lower Somnigroup’s net financial leverage and increase its flexibility. Fourth, the combination is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share before synergies and in the first year post closing, and significantly increased SGI’s peak earnings in a normalized bedding market. And fifth, the combination presents cost synergy opportunities. In total, we expect synergies to result in at least $50 million of EBITDA on a fully implemented annual run rate basis.
Susan Maklari Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
I want to focus on demand, Scott, especially with the comments around pricing and consumer confidence. Can you talk about price elasticity across the business and how you’re thinking of your ability to continue to drive industry relative outperformance despite all the headwinds that we are seeing on the consumer?
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Sure. And thank you for your question, Susan. I think when you look at elasticity, I guess the best thing to look at is really the closing rate. And if we look at closing rate, either whether it be in our own Tempur stores or you look at Mattress Firm, it continues to improve. So what that tells me is, when customers show up at the store, they’re looking for products. They then get full discovery of price, and we’re — the closing rates going up. So it doesn’t appear the elasticity is very high. I think that’s probably the best evidence in looking at that particular issue.
As far as outperforming the industry, as we’ve talked about numerous times, over the years, we continue to improve our competitiveness in the marketplace. And where I look, whether it be in our recent price increase, which I think will be among the lowest by any of the manufacturers, and that has to do with the way we handle the inflation is certainly a competitive advantage.
When I look at our advertising share of voice in the marketplace, this would be around the world. It continues to be, call it, top of class. What information I get informally on other manufacturers, they would appear to be not dealing with the current market conditions as well and maybe being a little challenged from a capital standpoint. So certainly, our cash flows and balance sheet are a competitive advantage. So I think we’ll continue to outperform the industry, and I think the industry will normalize once you get through some of the geopolitical issues that we all know about.
Robert Griffin Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division
Scott, I wanted to first — I want to ask on the Stearns & Foster launch in 2H. We’ve been around the business a lot. We’ve seen a few different launches from Stearns, some starts and go kind of in the product. But the structure of SGI is much different today with all the advantages you’ve highlighted. So can you maybe unpack how that launch is set up to play out and how this launch might be a little different and where that opportunity is for that product?
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Sure. Great question, Bobby. First of all, we talked about Stearns, you have to realize that we have cannibalized some of Stearns as we moved Sealy Posturepedic up from a price standpoint. So we self did that. And so this is the last piece of getting our pricing architecture right between all 3 brands. Tempur, Sealy and Stearns. And so that opens up some more addressable market, and we also moved the price bracket up at Stearns & Foster. Primarily, you might find interesting, we’re being pushed by our retailers who wanted a higher-price Stearns & Foster. So that is new. We also leaned into hybrids in that area, and hybrids have been good in the bedding market in the U.S., as I know you know. And quite frankly, the last Stearns & Foster hybrid, we didn’t hit the mark perfectly. So that’s a major upgrade.
I think the other thing I would point to is with Mattress Firm as part of the family, we have very strong support from Mattress Firm, from an advertising, slot commitment, training and probably a higher degree of support than we would have had without having them in the family. I think those factors probably combined with some national advertising gives us more momentum on this launch than we’ve probably had in any launch in Stearns & Foster’s history.
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
So I think the other thing I’d point out when you talk about the inflation is when you look at the price increase that we took, it’s probably overall about a 4% increase, and a 4% increase in this business is not disruptive to customers. Because quite frankly, customers don’t shop for the product but once every 8 years. So it’s not nearly as sensitive as something like gas prices.
Bradley Thomas KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., Research Division
I wanted to ask, Scott, about the performance at the non-Mattress Firm third-party channels that you sell into in North America. I believe you said that, that was down 4% in the quarter. So it looks like maybe in line to slightly better than how the market performed. But can you just give us a sense of what you’re hearing from those partners? And any specific strategies, or goals as you think about partner growth, door growth, slot growth, et cetera?
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Sure. We call those the other, other. And to be clear, that would be U.S. retailers, non-Mattress firm, doesn’t include Canada and Mexico. That number was up 4%, I guess? Yes, up 4% — excuse me, down 4%. And so I think you said it right, with a market that was probably down 5% plus a little is probably a slight outperformance in the other, other category.
I think those retailers are focused — what they’ve always been focused on the success of their business, which is giving them a popular product, help drive customers into their showroom, deliver on time and all those things. I think they’re excited to see Stearns & Foster come. I think they know there’s some upside there. The Sealy Posturepedic line continues to do very well. Constant frustration with the other, other retailers just on traffic, and I think that’s universal. And they certainly appreciate the strength of our advertising.
As far as additional slots, we will get some incremental slots in the new Stearns launch, but they aren’t going to be material to the total revenues of North America. But those would be — we’ll get some incremental slots there. Haven’t seen any deterioration in our positions at any of the other, other retailers. And I think on the go forward, it’s really about velocity. And that goes to having a great sales force, with quality and quantity of our advertising. And quite frankly, what our competitors do and how they perform.
Peter Keith Piper Sandler & Co., Research Division
I wanted to circle back on the chemical shortage. We’ve been getting a lot of questions on it. So it was only a $10 million impact for Q2, which I think is a positive. But could you address two things. Number one, how much inventory of chemicals in terms of months of supply, are you keeping on hand now? And then secondarily, with this polyol shortage, could that play out into the back half of the year, perhaps with some shipment delays or product outages. I know in the past, you lean more towards high-end product like back in 2021. So if you could just address the kind of the puts and takes around this polyol shortage. I’d appreciate it.
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Yes. I’m going to take a crack at it. I think when it first showed its ugly head, there was a worst-case scenario that was worked through and mitigated and the word shortage was probably an appropriate possibility. I think with what we know today, I don’t think the industry is going to have shortages as far as outages from a supply standpoint. There is pricing impact, okay? And that’s been rolled through the industry. But I’m not nearly as concerned about shortages, and I’m not hearing comments about shortages. And that’s an industry comment.
When you then go to Tempur Sealy specifically, obviously, we have an advantaged situation because of our volumes. And then obviously, we have a large amount of safety stock safety stock is in place for one, these kind of events, which you’ve referenced, but also possible hurricane issues and stuff, what do you want to say? 3, 4 months?
Bhaskar Rao Executive VP & CFO
That’s fair, yes.
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
Yes. It varies a little bit, but for talking terms, I think, 3 or 4 months. Also you can bend in your volumes to products that don’t use as much foam at times. But I think from where it was, what would that happened about 1.5 months ago?
Bhaskar Rao Executive VP & CFO
A couple of months ago.
Scott Thompson Chairman of the Board, CEO & President
A couple of months ago. That situation continues to get better and better. in my outlook on that right now is that it’s a pricing event, and the pricing event has generally run through the industry.
