Company News

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dole plc (NYSE: DOLE) ("Dole" or the "Group" or the "Company") today released its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026.

First Quarter Highlights:

• Solid start to the year: 11.6% revenue growth reflecting positive momentum across the Group
• Robust consumer demand across our key markets, supported by evolving dietary preferences, GLP-1 adoption, and broader health and wellness trends
• Strong performance in Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW and growth in Diversified Fresh Produce - EMEA partially offsetting lower result in Fresh Fruit
• Net Income of $37.7 million and Diluted EPS of $0.33
• Adjusted EBITDA ¹ of $100.3 million; in line with our expectations
• Adjusted Net Income ¹ of $31.2 million and Adjusted Diluted EPS ¹ of $0.33
• Post quarter end, regulatory approval received for sale of port in Ecuador; completion expected before end of second quarter

Commenting on the results, Carl McCann, Executive Chairman, said:

“We are pleased with our solid start to the year. Robust consumer demand in our key markets is driving revenue growth and contributing to positive momentum across the Group.

While we are experiencing complexity in the operating environment due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, we believe the strength of our broad and resilient business model positions us well to manage these evolving conditions.

We continue to target full year Adjusted EBITDA of at least $400 million.”

Group Results - First Quarter

Revenue increased 11.6%, or $242.8 million, primarily due to positive operational performance across all segments, mainly due to higher worldwide pricing in Fresh Fruit, and a favorable impact from foreign currency translation of $96.2 million. On a like-for-like basis², revenue increased 7.0%, or $146.6 million.

Gross Profit increased $2.8 million, primarily due to higher revenue, partially offset by higher cost of sales which were impacted by higher fruit sourcing costs in the Fresh Fruit segment.

Operating Income decreased $5.9 million primarily due to higher SMG&A expenses and higher gains on asset sales in the prior year following the sale of land in Hawaii.

Net Income decreased to $37.7 million from $44.2 million in the prior year. This decrease was due to lower Operating Income, higher tax charges and lower equity method earnings, as the prior year included the benefit of a non-cash gain of $6.9 million on a M&A transaction relating to an equity method investment. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in other income due primarily to fair value adjustments of financial instruments and lower interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 4.3%, or $4.5 million, primarily driven by higher fruit sourcing costs in the Fresh Fruit segment, partially offset by good performance in the Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW segment, as well as a favorable impact of foreign currency translation of $3.2 million.

Adjusted Net Income decreased 5.8%, or $1.9 million, predominantly due to the decrease in Adjusted EBITDA noted above and higher depreciation expense, partially offset by lower interest expense. Adjusted Diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was $0.33 compared to $0.35 in the prior year.

First Quarter Segmental Commentary

Fresh Fruit

Revenue increased 6.8%, or $59.5 million, primarily due to higher worldwide pricing of bananas, pineapples and plantains and higher volumes of bananas sold in Europe.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased 17.0%, or $10.8 million, primarily driven by higher fruit costs in bananas due to higher overall sourcing costs in the market and higher fruit sourcing costs in pineapples, particularly due to the strengthening of the Costa Rican Colón against the U.S. Dollar.

Diversified Fresh Produce – EMEA

Revenue increased 14.6%, or $130.2 million, primarily due to a favorable impact from foreign currency translation of $94.6 million, as a result of the strengthening of the Swedish krona, Euro and British pound against the U.S. Dollar, as well as underlying growth in France and Germany. On a like-for-like basis, revenue increased 4.0%, or $35.7 million.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 8.3%, or $2.3 million, primarily due to a favorable impact from foreign currency translation of $3.7 million, as well as strong performance in Scandinavia and Germany. These increases were partially offset by weaker performance in South Africa, the U.K. and the Netherlands. On a like-for-like basis, Adjusted EBITDA decreased 5.1%, or $1.4 million.

Diversified Fresh Produce – Americas & ROW

Revenue increased 15.6%, or $56.6 million, primarily driven by higher volumes and positive pricing in our southern hemisphere export business, as well as higher volumes in our North America import and marketing businesses, offsetting lower pricing, primarily in avocados.

Adjusted EBITDA increased 28.7%, or $4.0 million, driven by a positive impact in our southern hemisphere export business, a good performance in our North America import and marketing businesses, in part supported by the benefit of a partial restructuring of our operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, as well as good performance in our joint ventures operations.

Capital Expenditures

Cash capital expenditures from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2026 were $17.8 million. Expenditures included farming investments, investments in warehouse ripening rooms in France and the U.K., as well as other machinery and equipment related to blueberry and avocado packing in Europe.

Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations, Net Debt and Net Leverage

Free cash flow from continuing operations was an outflow of $40.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, compared to an outflow of $131.6 million in the prior year. The improvement in free cash flow was due to lower seasonal working capital outflows and lower capital expenditures in the current year. Net Debt and Net Leverage as of March 31, 2026 was $657.1 million and 1.7x, respectively.

Dividend

On May 8, 2026, the Board of Directors of Dole plc declared a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2026 of $0.085 per share, payable on July 8, 2026 to shareholders of record on June 17, 2026. A cash dividend of $0.085 per share was paid on April 8, 2026 for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Share Repurchase Program

During the quarter, we repurchased 306,570 shares at an average price of $15.13 per share, totaling $4.6 million. $95.4 million remained available for repurchase under the share repurchase program.

Outlook for Fiscal Year 2026 (forward-looking statement)

We are pleased with the solid start to the year and the positive momentum we are seeing across our operations.

Conditions in the Middle East continue to evolve, resulting in a more complex operating environment and directly impacting on our cost base. We anticipate increased shipping and fuel costs in the second quarter, particularly in our Fresh Fruit segment. However, as the year progresses, we expect to see the benefit of contract price adjustments, as well as the benefit of our dynamic pricing strategy in our diversified divisions, coming through.

We believe that our resilient and diversified business model positions us well to handle today's complex environment. Alongside this, demand for our products remains strong, supported by prevailing health and wellness trends. We also anticipate positive returns from our recent investments and remain committed to advancing our development pipeline.

Considering all relevant factors, we are maintaining our target of a full-year Adjusted EBITDA of at least $400 million for 2026.

We are maintaining our guidance for routine capex of approximately $100 million. In addition, we continue to explore a range of development opportunities which, if executed, will strengthen our business and continue to drive further growth in the years to come.

We are reducing our full year interest expense guidance by $2 million to approximately $58 million.

Footnote Index

1. Refer to the Appendix of this release for an explanation and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to comparable GAAP financial measures.
2. Like-for-like basis refers to the measure excluding the impact of foreign currency translation movements and acquisition and divestitures. Refer to the Appendix and "Supplementary Reconciliation of Prior Year Segment Results to Current Year Segment Results" for further detail on these impacts and the calculation of like-for-like basis variances

About Dole plc

A global leader in fresh produce, Dole plc produces, markets, and distributes an extensive variety of fresh fruits and vegetables sourced locally and from around the world. Dedicated and passionate in exceeding our customers’ requirements in over 85 countries, our goal is to make the world a healthier and a more sustainable place.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Dole plc will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 08:00 a.m. Eastern Time today to discuss the first quarter 2026 financial results. The webcast can be accessed at www.doleplc.com/investor-relations or directly at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/539437681.

Forward-looking information

Certain statements made in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future economic performance, considering the information currently available to management. These statements are not statements of historical fact. The words “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “objective,” “seek,” “strive,” “target” or similar words, or the negative of these words, identify forward-looking statements. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. Accordingly, there are, or will be, important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made except as required by the federal securities laws.

Appendix

Reconciliation from Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA - Unaudited

The following information is provided to give quantitative information related to items impacting comparability. Refer to the 'Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section of this document for additional detail on each item.

Reconciliation from Net Income attributable to Dole plc to Adjusted Net Income - Unaudited

The following information is provided to give quantitative information related to items impacting comparability. Refer to the 'Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section of this document for additional detail on each item. Refer to the following pages for supplementary reconciliations on these items.

Supplemental Reconciliation from Net Income attributable to Dole plc to Adjusted Net Income - Unaudited

The following information is provided to give quantitative information related to items impacting comparability. Refer to the 'Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section of this document for additional detail on each item.

Supplemental Reconciliation of Prior Year Segment Results to Current Year Segment Results – Unaudited

Net Debt and Net Leverage Reconciliation – Unaudited

Net Debt is the primary measure used by management to analyze the Company’s capital structure. Net Debt is a non-GAAP financial measure, calculated as cash and cash equivalents, less current and long-term debt. It also excludes debt discounts and debt issuance costs. Net Leverage is calculated as total Net Debt divided by Last Twelve Months ("LTM") Adjusted EBITDA as of the period end. The calculation of Net Debt and Net Leverage as of March 31, 2026 is presented below. Net Debt as of March 31, 2026 was $657.1 million and Net Leverage was 1.7x.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Dole plc’s results are determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

In addition to its results under U.S. GAAP, in this Press Release, we also present Dole plc’s Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations, Net Debt and Net Leverage, which are supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, U.S. GAAP (collectively, the "non-GAAP financial measures"). We present these non-GAAP financial measures, because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results, cash flows or any other measure prescribed by U.S. GAAP. Our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by any of the adjusted items or that any projections and estimates will be realized in their entirety or at all. In addition, adjustment items that are excluded from non-GAAP results can have a material impact on equivalent GAAP earnings, financial measures and cash flows.

Adjusted EBIT is calculated from GAAP net income by: (1) subtracting the income or adding the loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes; (2) adding the income tax expense or subtracting the income tax benefit; (3) adding interest expense; (4) adding mark to market losses or subtracting mark to market gains related to unrealized impacts from certain derivative instruments and foreign currency denominated borrowings, realized impacts on noncash settled foreign currency denominated borrowings, net foreign currency impacts on liquidated entities and fair value movements on contingent consideration; (5) other items which are separately stated based on materiality, which during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025, included subtracting the gain or adding the loss on the disposal of business interests, subtracting the gain or adding the loss on asset sales for assets held for sale and actively marketed property or sales-type leases, adding impairment charges or held for sale classification losses on property, plant and equipment and lease assets, subtracting interest income on deferred transaction consideration, adding acquisition and transaction costs and adding restructuring charges and costs for legal matters not in the ordinary course of business; and (6) the Company’s share of these items from equity method investments.

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated from GAAP net income by: (1) subtracting the income or adding the loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes; (2) adding the income tax expense or subtracting the income tax benefit; (3) adding interest expense; (4) adding depreciation charges; (5) adding amortization charges on intangible assets; (6) adding mark to market losses or subtracting mark to market gains related to unrealized impacts from certain derivative instruments and foreign currency denominated borrowings, realized impacts on noncash settled foreign currency denominated borrowings, net foreign currency impacts on liquidated entities and fair value movements on contingent consideration; (7) other items which are separately stated based on materiality, which during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025, included subtracting the gain or adding the loss on the disposal of business interests, subtracting the gain or adding the loss on asset sales for assets held for sale and actively marketed property or sales-type leases, adding impairment charges or held for sale classification losses on property, plant and equipment and lease assets, subtracting interest income on deferred transaction consideration, adding acquisition and transaction costs and adding restructuring charges and costs for legal matters not in the ordinary course of business; and (8) the Company’s share of these items from equity method investments.

Last Twelve Months ("LTM") Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA, as defined above, for the last twelve months as of the period end, which for the three months ended March 31, 2026, is calculated as subtracting the Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2025 from the Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025 and then adding Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2026. LTM Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025 is the same as Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Adjusted Net Income is calculated from GAAP net income attributable to Dole plc by: (1) subtracting the income or adding the loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes; (2) adding amortization charges on intangible assets; (3) adding mark to market losses or subtracting mark to market gains related to unrealized impacts from certain derivative instruments and foreign currency denominated borrowings, realized impacts on noncash settled foreign currency denominated borrowings, net foreign currency impacts on liquidated entities and fair value movements on contingent consideration; (4) other items which are separately stated based on materiality, which during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025, included subtracting the gain or adding the loss on the disposal of business interests, subtracting the gain or adding the loss on asset sales for assets held for sale and actively marketed property or sales-type leases, adding impairment charges or held for sale classification losses on property, plant and equipment and lease assets, adding acquisition and transaction costs and adding restructuring charges and costs for legal matters not in the ordinary course of business; (5) the Company’s share of these items from equity method investments; (6) excluding the tax effect of these items and discrete tax adjustments; and (7) excluding the effect of these items attributable to non-controlling interests.

Adjusted Earnings per Share is calculated from Adjusted Net Income divided by diluted weighted average number of shares in the applicable period.

Net Debt is a non-GAAP financial measure, calculated as GAAP cash and cash equivalents, less GAAP current and long-term debt. It also excludes GAAP unamortized debt discounts and debt issuance costs.

Net Leverage is a non-GAAP financial measure, calculated as Net Debt divided by LTM Adjusted EBITDA, both of which are defined above.

Free cash flow from continuing operations is calculated from GAAP net cash used in or provided by operating activities for continuing operations less GAAP capital expenditures.

Like-for-like basis refers to the U.S. GAAP measure or non-GAAP financial measure excluding the impact of foreign currency translation movements and acquisitions and divestitures. The impact of foreign currency translation represents an estimate of the effect of translating the results of operations denominated in a foreign currency to U.S. Dollar at prior year average rates, as compared to current year average rates.

Dole is not able to provide a reconciliation for projected FY'26 results without taking unreasonable efforts.

Category: Financial