US Foods (NYSE:USFD) Announces Earnings Results

US Foods (NYSE:USFD) posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.82 by ($0.04), FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $9.61 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.66 billion. US Foods had a net margin of 1.71% and a return on equity of 19.37%. US Foods’s revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.68 earnings per share. US Foods updated its FY 2026 guidance to 4.696-4.935 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from US Foods’ conference call:

• Independent restaurant momentum: Organic independent case growth accelerated to ~4.4% (strongest in >2 years) and US Foods recorded its 20th consecutive quarter of market-share gains with independents, underpinning continued customer wins.
• Guidance reaffirmed but conditional: Management reiterated 2026 targets of adjusted EBITDA growth of 9%–13% and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 18%–24% (includes a 53rd week), while noting outcomes depend on fuel and macro trends.
• Weather and fuel pressure near term: Severe winter storms and higher fuel costs materially hit Q1 (nearly 2x DC closure days vs. prior year), cutting adjusted EBITDA growth by ~4 percentage points and prompting Q2 growth guidance of mid-to-upper single digits if fuel stays elevated.
• Product, tech and channel growth initiatives scaling: AI tools (MenuIQ) saw rapid adoption (15% of independents in two months), US Foods launched the new Signature hospitality solution, and Pronto expanded to its 47th market with a $1.5B 2027 sales target.
• Self-help, margins and capital deployment: Adjusted gross profit rose 4.4% and adjusted EBITDA grew 6.2%; cost-of-goods savings target increased to $300M through 2027, UMOS and indirect-spend programs are driving productivity, and the company repurchased $125M of stock (net leverage 2.6x, $1B repurchase capacity remaining).

US Foods Trading Down 2.8%

USFD traded down $2.44 on Friday, hitting $84.44. The company had a trading volume of 3,388,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,144,802. The company has a market cap of $18.60 billion, a PE ratio of 28.43, a PEG ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.90. US Foods has a 12-month low of $69.88 and a 12-month high of $102.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $91.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $83.96.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on USFD. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on US Foods from $95.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Barclays lifted their target price on US Foods from $90.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley set a $94.00 target price on US Foods and gave the stock a “mixed” rating in a report on Friday, February 13th. Zacks Research cut US Foods from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, April 20th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $106.00 target price on shares of US Foods in a report on Friday, February 13th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $106.75.

Key US Foods News

Here are the key news stories impacting US Foods this week:

• Positive Sentiment: US Foods said first-quarter case volume rose 1.4%, with independent restaurant case volume up 4.6%, while net sales increased 2.8% to $9.6 billion and adjusted EBITDA climbed 6.2% to $413 million. US Foods Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: The company reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for 9% to 13% adjusted EBITDA growth and issued full-year EPS guidance of $4.696 to $4.935, signaling confidence in its operating plans despite near-term cost pressures. US Foods reaffirms 2026 outlook for 9%-13% adjusted EBITDA growth amid elevated fuel costs
• Neutral Sentiment: Management highlighted continued profit improvement on the earnings call, but investors are weighing that against weather disruptions, higher fuel costs, and other headwinds that could pressure margins in coming quarters. US Foods Earnings Call Highlights Profits Amid Headwinds
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly EPS of $0.78 missed estimates of $0.82, and revenue of $9.61 billion also came in below expectations, which is the main reason the stock is under pressure today. US Foods (NYSE:USFD) Reports Sales Below Analyst Estimates In Q1 CY2026 Earnings

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider James David Works, Jr. sold 65,737 shares of US Foods stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.52, for a total value of $6,344,935.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 88,176 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,510,747.52. This trade represents a 42.71% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in USFD. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new position in US Foods in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in US Foods by 120.1% in the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 482 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in US Foods in the third quarter worth about $49,000. AlphaCentric Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of US Foods during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in shares of US Foods by 68.5% during the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,198 shares of the company’s stock valued at $92,000 after buying an additional 487 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.76% of the company’s stock.

US Foods Company Profile

US Foods (NYSE: USFD) is a leading foodservice distributor in the United States that supplies a wide range of products and services to professional food operators. The company provides fresh, frozen and dry food items as well as non-food restaurant supplies and kitchen equipment. Its customer base includes independent restaurants, multi-unit chains, healthcare and senior living facilities, hospitality businesses, government and educational institutions, and other foodservice operators.

Beyond commodity and branded food products, US Foods offers value-added solutions designed to help customers run their businesses.