Q4 2026 Empire Company Ltd Earnings Call Transcript
Key Points
- Empire Co Ltd (EMLAF) reported an adjusted EPS growth of 8.7% for fiscal '26, aligning with their long-term financial framework.
- The company achieved a 27% year-over-year increase in adjusted EPS for Q4, driven by strong top-line growth and operating leverage.
- Empire Co Ltd (EMLAF) plans to accelerate new store openings, with over 20 stores planned for fiscal '27 and more than 70 new stores over the next three years.
- The company announced a 10.2% increase in its dividend, marking the 31st consecutive year of dividend growth.
- Empire Co Ltd (EMLAF) is focusing on strategic growth areas such as discount, pharmacy, e-commerce, and retail media, with plans to expand its discount banner into new regions.
- The company's gross margin was negatively impacted by higher wholesale contributions and increased supply chain costs, including fuel prices.
- Empire Co Ltd (EMLAF) experienced slower e-commerce growth compared to peers, partly due to the closure of its Calgary CFC.
- The company faces ongoing cost increase requests from suppliers, although it is pushing back on fuel-related surcharges.
- Empire Co Ltd (EMLAF) reported a lower dependence on real estate-related income, which could impact overall earnings growth.
- The company anticipates a decline in contribution from other income and share of earnings from equity investments in fiscal '27.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Empire Company Q4 2026 conference call. (Operator Instructions) This call is being recorded on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
I would now like to turn the conference over to Katie Brine, VP Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Thank you, Joelle. Good morning, and thank you for joining us today for Empire's fourth quarter fiscal 26 conference call. Today we will provide summary comments on our results and then open the call for questions. This call is being recorded, and the audio recording will be available on the company's website at empireco.ca. There is a short summary document outlining the points of our quarter on our website as well. Joining me on the call this morning are Pierre St. Laurent, President and Chief Executive Officer, Costa Pafanis, Chief Financial Officer, and Luc L'Archeveque, Chief Customer Officer.
Before we begin, I would like to remind you that today's discussion includes forward-looking statements.
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