HARTSVILLE, S.C., July 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoco Products Company (“Sonoco” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SON), a Mid-cap Value global packaging company, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2026.
Summary:
- Net sales in the second quarter were $1.9 billion
- Industrial Paper Packaging segment results exceeded expectations as North America uncoated recycled paperboard (URB) trade ton sales volume grew 6%
- EMEA/APAC paper cans sales volume up 9%
- Reported GAAP net income of $105 million, or $1.05 diluted earnings per share, compared to $493 million, or $4.96, in the same period in 2025, which included a gain from the sale of the Thermoformed and Flexibles Packaging and global Trident (“TFP”) business totaling $425 million
- Improved quarterly adjusted net income by 10.6% to $151 million compared to the same period in 2025, and reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.51
- Reported GAAP operating profit of $193 million in the second quarter of 2026, compared with $176 million in the same period in 2025
- Second quarter adjusted operating profit of $242 million and adjusted EBITDA of $324 million
- Generated a second quarter record operating cash flow of $301 million, and used $(67) million of operating cash flow year-to-date, which included approximately $103 million in one-time taxes paid in 2026 on gains from the sales of the divested TFP and ThermoSafe businesses in 2025
2026 Guidance:
- Reaffirming full-year 2026 guidance for sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and operating cash flow as reported with our April first quarter results.
*Note: References in today’s news release to 2025 consolidated “net sales,” “operating profit,” and “adjusted operating profit,” and Consumer Packaging “segment operating profit” and “segment adjusted EBITDA,” do not include results of TFP, which was sold in April 2025 and is accounted for as discontinued operations in periods prior to the sale. “GAAP” refers to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Second Quarter2026Consolidated Results(Dollars in millions except per share data)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended GAAP ResultsJune 28, 2026June 29, 2025Change June 28, 2026June 29, 2025Change Net sales1 $1,885$1,910(1.3)% $3,562$3,620(1.6)% Net sales related to discontinued operations — —NM — 321NM Operating profit1 193 1769.8% 320 3035.8% Operating profit related to discontinued operations — 626NM — 664NM Net income attributable to Sonoco 105 493(78.7)% 172 548(68.5)% EPS (diluted) 1.05 4.96(78.8)% 1.73 5.51(68.6)% Three Months Ended Six Months Ended Non-GAAP Results2June 28, 2026June 29, 2025Change June 28, 2026June 29, 2025Change Adjusted operating profit1$242$247(1.8)% $443$460(3.6)% Adjusted EBITDA 324 328(1.2)% 601 666(9.8)% Adjusted net income attributable to Sonoco 151 13610.6% 270 273(1.1)% Adjusted EPS (diluted) 1.51 1.3710.2% 2.71 2.74(1.1)% NM = Not Meaningful 1Excludes results of discontinued operations. 2See the Company’s definitions of non-GAAP financial measures, explanations as to why they are used, and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures later in this release.
- Second quarter 2026 net sales of $1.9 billion were down (1.3)% compared to the corresponding prior-year quarter, driven primarily by the November 3, 2025 divestiture of the ThermoSafe business. Additionally, net sales benefited from higher prices implemented to offset the effects of inflation and tariffs and from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by lower volume/mix.
- GAAP operating profit for the second quarter was up 9.8% to $193 million compared to the corresponding prior-year quarter, due to productivity savings from fixed cost reduction initiatives and procurement savings. These positive factors were offset by the absence of operating profit from the divested ThermoSafe business and lower volume/mix.
- Effective tax rates on GAAP income from continuing operations before income taxes and adjusted income from continuing operations before income taxes, were 27.8% and 23.8%, respectively, in the second quarter, compared to 37.3% and 25.6%, respectively, in the same period in 2025.
“Our Sonoco team delivered solid second quarter results that met our expectations and exceeded consensus estimates as productivity and cost control initiatives helped offset global inflation headwinds stemming from higher logistics, chemicals, resins and other raw material costs,” said Howard Coker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Results from our Industrial Paper Packaging segment exceeded expectations with operating profit up 4% during the period and up 29% from the first quarter. The Industrial segment improvement was primarily driven by productivity gains which more than offset price/cost headwinds. North America URB trade tons grew 6% which boosted mill utilization to 95%, while the segment’s volume/mix was flat. Our Consumer Packaging segment operating profit declined approximately 5% during the period but was up 22% sequentially from the first quarter. Productivity and cost containment initiatives boosted Consumer segment results. Paper can volumes were up 9% in EMEA/APAC due to rising snack demand, but overall segment volumes were down 1.8% driven primarily by lower metal aerosol cans and adhesive and sealant tube demand.”
Paul Joachimczyk, Sonoco’s Chief Financial Officer, added, “Our businesses continue to demonstrate tremendous cash-generating capabilities, delivering a record second-quarter operating cash flow of $301 million and free cash flow of $237 million, increases of 56% and 139%, respectively, compared to the prior year. These results reflect disciplined working capital management and the earnings power of our portfolio. Year-to-date operating cash flow includes approximately $103 million of one-time tax payments related to gains from our 2025 divestitures, highlighting that our underlying cash flow performance is strong and supports our confidence in reaffirming full-year guidance.”
Second Quarter 2026 Segment Results
(Dollars in millions except per share data)
Sonoco reports its financial results in two reportable segments: Consumer Packaging (“Consumer”) and Industrial Paper Packaging (“Industrial”).
As previously announced, effective January 1, 2026, results of the Company’s industrial and specialty plastics business (“Industrial Plastics”), the only business remaining in the All Other group of businesses following the November 2025 divestiture of ThermoSafe, are now included in the Industrial segment. Therefore, the Company no longer provides results of the All Other group of businesses.
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended ConsumerJune 28, 2026 June 29, 2025Change June 28, 2026 June 29, 2025Change Net sales1$1,242 $1,227 1.2% $2,339 $2,294 2.0% Segment operating profit1$152 $160 (5.4)% $277 $301 (7.9)% Segment operating profit margin1 12.2% 13.1% 11.9% 13.1% Segment Adjusted EBITDA1, 2$207 $213 (3.1)% $383 $403 (4.9)% Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin1, 2 16.6% 17.4% 16.4% 17.6%- Consumer segment net sales grew 1.2%, reflecting successful pricing actions to recover inflation and tariff-related costs, along with favorable foreign exchange. Volume trends remained below prior-year levels.
- Solid manufacturing productivity improvements and disciplined cost management helped mitigate the impact of softer volumes on segment operating profit and adjusted EBITDA.
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended IndustrialJune 28, 2026 June 29, 2025Change June 28, 2026 June 29, 2025Change Net sales3$643 $617 4.2% $1,223 $1,205 1.5% Segment operating profit3$89 $86 4.0% $159 $162 (2.2)% Segment operating profit margin 13.9% 13.9% 13.0% 13.5% Segment Adjusted EBITDA2, 3$122 $119 2.9% $222 $226 (1.9)% Segment Adjusted EBITDA margin2 19.0% 19.2% 18.1% 18.8%
- Industrial segment net sales increased 4.2% to $643 million, reflecting successful pricing actions and favorable foreign exchange.
- Segment operating profit margin remained resilient at 13.9%, consistent with the prior year, while adjusted EBITDA margin of 19.0% benefited from strong productivity initiatives related to procurement savings and fixed cost reduction that helped offset higher raw material, freight and other operating costs.
1 Excludes results of discontinued operations.
2 Segment adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See the Company’s reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures later in this release.
3 Net sales, segment operating profit, and segment adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 29, 2025 include results from Industrial Plastics of $29 million, $5 million, and $6 million, respectively, previously included in All Other, to provide clearer year-over-year comparisons.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights
- The Company maintained strong liquidity of $1.3 billion at June 28, 2026, consisting of $1.1 billion of available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility and cash on hand.
- Cash and cash equivalents were $169 million as of June 28, 2026, compared to $378 million, as of December 31, 2025.
- Total debt and net debt were $4.5 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively, as of June 28, 2026, primarily reflecting seasonal working capital requirements within the Company's metal packaging business.
- Cash flow from operating activities for the period ended June 28, 2026 was a use of $(67) million, compared to a use of $(15) million in the same period of 2025. The main drivers of the year-over-year change in operating cash flow were a one-time payment of taxes in 2026 on the gains from the 2025 divestitures of the TFP and ThermoSafe businesses and the seasonal need for working capital for the Company’s metal packaging business.
- Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sales of fixed assets, for 2026 were $124 million, compared to $186 million last year.
- Free Cash Flow for the period ended June 28, 2026 improved to $(191) million compared to $(201) million in the same period in 2025, reflecting the factors impacting operating cash flow discussed above.
- The Company returned $106 million to shareholders through dividends during the first half of 2026, compared to $104 million in the prior year period.
Guidance(1)
Full-Year 2026
- Net Sales: $7.25 billion to $7.75 billion, in line with previous guidance
- Adjusted EPS(2): Maintaining annual adjusted EPS guidance of $5.80 to $6.20 per diluted share and continuing to expect results toward the low end of the range
- Adjusted EBITDA(2): Guidance of $1.25 billion to $1.35 billion is unchanged from previous guidance
- Cash flow from operating activities: Guidance remains unchanged at $700 million to $800 million, including the effect of payments of prior year taxes on gains from divestitures and restructuring costs
Commenting on Sonoco’s outlook, Howard Coker said, “Entering the second half of the year we are encouraged that several key indicators are strengthening in our favor as we begin our busiest period of the year. Demand for our URB in North America is very strong as a result of entering new markets, such as saturating URB for laminated products, along with share gains that have expanded our backlogs and require that we import paper from our Europe and Latin America mills through the third quarter. In our Consumer segment, projected paper can growth in Europe, Asia, and South America has us exploring additional capacity expansion plans while customer promotions and new product launches are projected to lift both paper and metal can volumes as we enter the important seasonal pack season in both the U.S. and EMEA. While we remain mindful of external macroeconomic risks, we are confident in our strategy, portfolio and ability to execute through economic cycles.”
Joachimczyk added, “As pricing actions and contract resets take effect, we expect improved margin performance across our portfolio. Combined with ongoing productivity initiatives, disciplined cost management and execution of our profitability performance plan, we remain confident in achieving our long-term goal of improving margins by 200 basis points by the end of 2028.”
(1)Although the Company believes the assumptions reflected in the range of guidance are reasonable, given the uncertainty regarding the future performance of the overall economy, the effects of tariffs, trade policy and inflation, the challenges in global supply chains, potential changes in raw material prices, other costs, and the Company’s effective tax rate, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those related to the integration of Eviosys and described below, actual results could vary substantially. Further information can be found in the section entitled “Forward-looking Statements” in this release.
(2) Full year 2026 GAAP guidance is not provided in this release due to the likely occurrence of one or more of the following, the timing and magnitude of which we are unable to reliably forecast without unreasonable efforts: restructuring costs and restructuring-related impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related costs, gains or losses from the sale of businesses and the income tax effects of these items and/or other income tax-related events. These items could have a significant impact on the Company’s future GAAP financial results. Accordingly, quantitative reconciliations of Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA guidance and net debt/Adjusted EBITDA targets to the nearest comparable GAAP measures have been omitted in reliance on the exception provided by Item 10 of Regulation S-K.
Earnings Conference Call Webcast
Sonoco’s management will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2026 results on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will provide prepared remarks, a presentation and host a question-and-answer session during the call. A live audio webcast of the call along with supporting materials will be available on the Sonoco Investor Relations website at https://investor.sonoco.com/. A webcast replay will be available on the Company’s website for at least 30 days following the call.
Audience
Dial-In:To listen via telephone, please register in advance at:
https://events.q4inc.com/analyst/818434126?pwd=xd1mxKQr
After registration, all telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that can be used to access the call. Webcast Link:https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/818434126
Contact Information:
Roger Schrum
Head of Investor Relations and Communications
[email protected]
843-339-6018
About Sonoco
Sonoco (NYSE: SON) is a Mid-cap Value global packaging company. With sales of $7.5 billion from continuing operations in 2025, the Company has approximately 22,000 employees working in 265 operations in 37 countries, serving some of the world’s best-known brands. Guided by our purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., we strive to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and excellence to provide solutions that better serve all our stakeholders and support a more sustainable future. A Fortune 500 company, Sonoco was proudly named one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune in 2026 as well as one of America’s Most Trustworthy and Responsible Companies by Newsweek and USA Today’s Climate Leaders in 2025. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.
Forward-looking Statements
Statements included herein that are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as “forward- looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the Company and its representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also “forward-looking statements.” Words such as “achieve,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “continuing,” “could,” “deliver,” “enhance,” “expect,” “forecast,” “focus,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “improvement,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “ongoing,” “outlook,” “plan,” “projected,” “remain,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” “working,” or the negative thereof, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this communication include statements regarding, but not limited to: the Company’s future operating and financial performance, including full year 2026 outlook and the anticipated drivers thereof and cash flow in 2026; the Company’s ability to improve its competitive position and drive cost savings, including through its profitability performance plan; price/cost, customer demand and volume outlook; the continued focus on planned structural and operational savings actions to achieve long-term margin improvement goals; the effectiveness of and expected benefits from the Company’s strategy and strategic initiatives, including with respect to sustainable growth, margin improvement, and capital allocation, and focused metal and paper packaging portfolio; the effects of the changing macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, including trade policies and tariffs, market conditions, inflation and interest costs on the Company, its supply chain and its customers, and the Company’s ability to manage risks related thereto; and the Company’s ability to execute through economic cycles.
Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such information includes, without limitation, discussions as to guidance and other estimates, perceived opportunities, expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, goals and objectives concerning our future financial and operating performance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, without limitation, those related to: the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy, including with respect to the integration of the Eviosys operations, divestitures, cost management, productivity improvements, restructuring and capital expenditures, and achieve the benefits it expects therefrom; conditions in the credit markets; the ability to retain key employees and successfully integrate Eviosys; the ability to realize estimated cost savings, synergies or other anticipated benefits of the Eviosys acquisition, or that such benefits may take longer to realize than expected; diversion of management’s attention; the potential impact of the consummation of the Eviosys acquisition on relationships with clients and other third parties; lower-than-projected financial performance of the Company’s European business, including as a result of loss or reduction in business from key customers, changes in our pricing model, or adverse changes in the macroeconomic or competitive environment in European markets; risks related to the impairment of goodwill and other intangibles; the operation of new manufacturing capabilities; the Company’s ability to achieve anticipated cost and energy savings; the availability, transportation and pricing of raw materials, energy and transportation, including the impact of changes in tariff or other trade policies or sanctions and escalating trade wars, and the impact of war, general regional instability and other geopolitical tensions (such as the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East, the potential escalation of tensions between China and Taiwan and recent events in Venezuela), and the Company’s ability to continue to pass raw material, energy and transportation price increases and surcharges through to customers or otherwise manage these commodity pricing risks; the costs of labor; the effects of inflation, changes related to tariffs or other trade policies and global regulations, as well as the overall uncertainty surrounding international trade relations; fluctuations in consumer demand, volume softness, and other macroeconomic factors on the Company and the industries in which it operates and that it serves; the impact of changing laws and regulations, in the United States, on the Company; the Company’s ability to meet its environmental, sustainability and similar goals and other social and governance goals, including challenges in implementation thereof; natural disasters, severe weather events, and other unexpected disruptions to facility operations; and the other risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.” The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein might not occur.
References to our Website Address
References to our website address and domain names throughout this release are for informational purposes only, or to fulfill specific disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules or the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards. These references are not intended to, and do not, incorporate the contents of our website by reference into this release.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)(Dollars and shares in thousands except per share data) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 28, 2026 June 29, 2025 June 28, 2026 June 29, 2025Net sales $1,885,485 $1,910,441 $3,561,927 $3,619,669 Cost of sales 1,493,108 1,504,164 2,823,922 2,859,705 Gross profit 392,377 406,277 738,005 759,964 Selling, general and administrative expenses 200,247 218,775 401,785 427,838 Restructuring/Asset impairment charges, net 1,933 9,752 17,066 23,333 Gain/(Loss) on divestiture of business 2,640 (2,083) 775 (6,266)Operating profit 192,837 175,667 319,929 302,527 Non-operating pension costs 2,920 2,982 5,416 6,103 Interest expense 45,478 64,367 89,972 120,394 Interest income 4,064 4,122 12,715 11,470 Other expense, net (6,191) (6,559) (18,499) (13,076)Income from continuing operations before income taxes 142,312 105,881 218,757 174,424 Provision for income taxes 39,551 39,500 49,061 60,647 Income before equity in earnings of affiliates 102,761 66,381 169,696 113,777 Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax 2,263 2,270 2,953 4,191 Net income from continuing operations 105,024 68,651 172,649 117,968 Net income from discontinued operations — 424,548 — 429,720 Net income 105,024 493,199 172,649 547,688 Net (income)/loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests (130) 224 (154) 164 Net income attributable to Sonoco $104,894 $493,423 $172,495 $547,852 Weighted average common shares outstanding – diluted 99,781 99,539 99,748 99,453 Diluted earnings from continuing operations per common share $1.05 $0.69 $1.73 $1.19 Diluted earnings from discontinued operations per common share — 4.27 — 4.32 Diluted earnings attributable to Sonoco per common share $1.05 $4.96 $1.73 $5.51 Dividends per common share $0.54 $0.53 $1.07 $1.05NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The Company’s results, determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, are referred to as “as reported” or “GAAP” results. The Company uses certain financial performance measures, both internally and externally, that are not in conformity with GAAP (referred to as “non-GAAP financial measures”) to assess and communicate the financial performance of the Company. These non-GAAP financial measures, which are identified using the term “Adjusted” (for example, “Adjusted Operating Profit,” “Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Sonoco,” and “Adjusted Diluted EPS”), reflect adjustments to the Company’s GAAP operating results to exclude amounts, including the associated tax effects where applicable, relating to:
- restructuring/asset impairment charges1;
- acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs;
- gains or losses from the divestiture of businesses;
- losses from the early extinguishment of debt;
- non-operating pension costs;
- amortization expense on acquisition intangibles;
- changes in last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory reserves;
- certain income tax events and adjustments;
- derivative gains/losses;
- other non-operating income and losses; and
- certain other items, if any.
1Restructuring and restructuring-related asset impairment charges are a recurring item as the Company’s restructuring programs usually require several years to fully implement, and the Company is continually seeking to take actions that could enhance its efficiency. Although recurring, these charges are subject to significant fluctuations from period to period due to the varying levels of restructuring activity, the inherent imprecision in the estimates used to recognize the impairment of assets, and the wide variety of costs and taxes associated with severance and termination benefits in the countries in which the restructuring actions occur.
The Company’s management believes the exclusion of the amounts related to the above-listed items improves the period-to-period comparability and analysis of the underlying financial performance of the business.
In addition to the “Adjusted” results described above, the Company also uses Adjusted EBITDA, Segment Adjusted EBITDA, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding the following: interest expense; interest income; provision for income taxes; depreciation and amortization expense; non-operating pension costs; net income/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests; restructuring/asset impairment charges; changes in LIFO inventory reserves; gains/losses from the divestiture of businesses; acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs; other income; derivative gains/losses; and other non-GAAP adjustments, if any, that may arise from time to time. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is defined as segment operating profit plus depreciation and amortization expense and equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Segment Adjusted EBITDA divided by segment net sales. Net Debt is defined as the total of the Company’s short and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to the closest GAAP measure of segment profitability, segment operating profit as the Company does not calculate net income by segment. Segment operating profit is the measure of segment profit or loss reported to the chief operating decision maker for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to the segments and assessing their performance in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 280 - “Segment Reporting,” as prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
Segment results, which are reviewed by the Company’s management to evaluate segment performance, do not include the following: restructuring/asset impairment charges; amortization of acquisition intangibles; acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs; changes in LIFO inventory reserves; gains/losses from the sale of businesses; gains/losses from derivatives; or certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves the comparability and analysis of the ongoing operating performance of the business. Accordingly, the term “segment operating profit” is defined as the segment’s portion of “operating profit” excluding those items. All other general corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments, except for costs related to discontinued operations.
The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with, nor are they an alternative for, measures conforming to GAAP, and they may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles.
The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with information to evaluate Sonoco’s operating results in a manner similar to how management evaluates business performance. The Company consistently applies its non-GAAP financial measures presented herein and uses them for internal planning and forecasting purposes, to evaluate its ongoing operations, and to evaluate the ultimate performance of management and each business unit against plans/forecasts. In addition, these same non-GAAP financial measures are used in determining incentive compensation for the entire management team and in providing earnings guidance to the investing community.
Material limitations associated with the use of such measures include that they do not reflect all period costs included in operating expenses and may not be comparable with similarly named financial measures of other companies. Furthermore, the calculations of these non-GAAP financial measures are based on subjective determinations of management regarding the nature and classification of events and circumstances that the investor may find material and view differently.
To compensate for any limitations in such non-GAAP financial measures, management believes that it is useful in evaluating the Company’s results to review both GAAP information, which includes all of the items impacting financial results, and the related non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain elements, as described above. Further, Sonoco management does not, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider any non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Whenever reviewing a non-GAAP financial measure, investors are encouraged to review and consider the related reconciliation to understand how it differs from the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Free Cash Flow
The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measure of “Free Cash Flow,” which it defines as cash flow from operations minus net capital expenditures. Net capital expenditures are defined as capital expenditures minus proceeds from the disposition of capital assets. Free Cash Flow may not represent the amount of cash flow available for general discretionary use because it excludes non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt repayments and required settlements of recorded and/or contingent liabilities not reflected in cash flow from operations.
QUARTERLY RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The following tables reconcile the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-month periods ended June 28, 2026 and June 29, 2025.
Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes, Adjusted Provision for Income Taxes, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Sonoco, and Adjusted Diluted EPS
For the three-month period ended June 28, 2026Dollars in thousands, except per share dataOperating ProfitIncome from Continuing Operations Before Income TaxesProvision for Income TaxesNet Income Attributable to SonocoDiluted EPSAs Reported (GAAP)$192,837 $142,312 $39,551 $104,894 $1.05 Acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs1 2,083 2,083 (199) 2,282 0.02 Changes in LIFO inventory reserves 1,154 1,154 285 869 0.01 Amortization of acquisition intangibles 45,570 45,570 10,038 35,532 0.36 Restructuring/Asset impairment charges, net 1,933 1,940 17 1,930 0.02 Gain on divestiture of business2 (2,640) (2,640) (650) (1,990) (0.02)Non-operating pension costs — 2,920 749 2,171 0.02 Net losses from derivatives 254 254 63 191 — Other adjustments 1,231 1,231 (3,417) 4,648 0.05 Total adjustments 49,585 52,512 6,886 45,633 0.46 Adjusted$242,422 $194,824 $46,437 $150,527 $1.51 Due to rounding, individual items may not sum appropriately.1 Acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs relate primarily to the Company’s December 2024 acquisition of Eviosys.
2 Gain on divestiture of business reflects the gain of $2,640 from the sale of a recycling facility in Savannah, Georgia.
1 Operating profit, income from continuing operations before income taxes, and provision for income taxes exclude results related to discontinued operations of $625,773, $625,773 and $201,225, respectively.
2 Acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs relate mostly to the Company’s December 2024 acquisition of Eviosys and the divestiture of TFP, which was completed on April 1, 2025.
3 Other adjustments include discrete tax items primarily related to tax rate changes on accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) and rate differences between non-US jurisdictions related to acquisitions/divestitures.
1 For the three-month period ended June 29, 2025, adjusted EBITDA is calculated on a total Company basis, including both continuing and discontinued operations.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin ReconciliationFor the Three Months Ended June 28, 2026 Dollars in thousandsConsumerIndustrialCorporateTotalSegment and Total Operating Profit1$151,705 $89,379 $(48,247)$192,837 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization2 54,675 30,851 45,570 131,096 Other expense, net3 — — (6,191) (6,191)Equity in earnings of affiliates, net of tax 276 1,987 — 2,263 Restructuring/Asset impairment charges, net4 — — 1,933 1,933 Changes in LIFO inventory reserves5 — — 1,154 1,154 Acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs6 — — 2,083 2,083 Gain on divestiture of business7 — — (2,640) (2,640)Net loss from derivatives8 — — 254 254 Other non-GAAP adjustments — — 1,231 1,231 Segment Adjusted EBITDA$206,656 $122,217 $(4,853)$324,020 Net Sales$1,241,839 $643,646 Segment Operating Profit Margin 12.2% 13.9% Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin 16.6% 19.0%1As previously announced, effective January 1, 2026, results for Industrial Plastics, previously included in the All Other group of businesses, are included in the Industrial segment. The Company no longer reports the results of any of its businesses in All Other.
2Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $40,507 and the Industrial segment of $5,063.
3These expenses relate to charges from third-party financial institutions related to our centralized treasury program under which the Company sells certain trade accounts receivables in order to accelerate its cash collection cycle, primarily within the Consumer segment.
4Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $(170) and the Industrial segment of $1,237.
5Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $1,143 and the Industrial segment of $11.
6Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $2,631and the Industrial segment of $152.
7Included in Corporate is a gain of $2,640 from the sale of a recycling operation in Savannah, Georgia, part of the Industrial segment.
8Included in Corporate are net losses from derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $12 and the Industrial segment of $242.
1Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $38,333, the Industrial segment of $5,655, and the All Other group of businesses of $205.
2These expenses relate to charges from third-party financial institutions related to our centralized treasury program under which the Company sells certain trade accounts receivables in order to accelerate its cash collection cycle, primarily within the Consumer segment.
3Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $1,479, the Industrial segment of $8,228, and a gain in the All Other group of businesses of $5.
4Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $1,193.
5Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $1,137 and the Industrial segment of $213.
6Included in Corporate is a loss on divestiture of business of $2,083 associated with the Industrial segment related to the sale of a recycling operation in Asheville, North Carolina.
7Included in Corporate are net losses from derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $208, the Industrial segment of $1,864, and the All Other group of businesses of $82.
YEAR-TO-DATE RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The following tables reconcile the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the six-month periods ended June 28, 2026 and June 29, 2025.
Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes, Adjusted Provision for Income Taxes, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Sonoco, and Adjusted Diluted EPS
For the six-month period ended June 28, 2026Dollars in thousands, except per share dataOperating ProfitIncome from Continuing Operations Before Income TaxesProvision for Income TaxesNet Income Attributable to SonocoDiluted EPSAs Reported (GAAP)$319,929 $218,757 $49,061 $172,495 $1.73 Acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs1 8,421 8,421 1,347 7,074 0.07 Changes in LIFO inventory reserves 5,521 5,521 1,367 4,154 0.04 Amortization of acquisition intangibles 89,890 89,890 19,800 70,090 0.70 Restructuring/Asset impairment charges, net 17,066 17,066 3,505 13,573 0.14 Gain on divestiture of business, net2 (775) (775) (188) (587) (0.01)Other expense, net3 — 6,592 — 6,592 0.07 Non-operating pension costs — 5,416 1,394 4,022 0.04 Net loss from derivatives 167 167 41 126 — Other adjustments4 3,027 3,027 10,687 (7,660) (0.07)Total adjustments 123,317 135,325 37,953 97,384 0.98 Adjusted$443,246 $354,082 $87,014 $269,879 $2.71 Due to rounding, individual items may not sum appropriately.1 Acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs relate primarily to the Company’s December 2024 acquisition of Eviosys and the November 2025 divestiture of ThermoSafe.
2 Gain on divestiture of business, net reflects the gain of $2,640 from the sale of a recycling operation in Savannah, Georgia, partially offset by a charge of $1,865 from the final net working capital settlement related to the November 2025 divestiture of ThermoSafe.
3 Amount relates to certain pre-acquisition liabilities related to the SMP EMEA business.
4 Other adjustments to the provision for income taxes include a benefit of $14,232 related to a provision-to-return adjustment for a retroactive U.S. tax election.
1 Operating profit, income from continuing operations before income taxes, and provision for income taxes exclude results related to discontinued operations of $663,564, $638,752, and $209,032, respectively.
2 Acquisition, integration and divestiture related costs relate mostly to the Company’s December 2024 acquisition of Eviosys and the April 2025 divestiture of TFP.
3 Loss/(gain) on divestiture of business primarily consists of the gain on the sale of the Company’s Thermoformed and Flexibles Packaging business, included in “Net income from discontinued operations” in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
4 Other adjustments include discrete tax items primarily related to tax rate changes on AOCI and rate differences between non-U.S. jurisdictions related to acquisitions/divestitures.
1For the six-month period ended June 29, 2025, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated on a total Company basis, including both continuing and discontinued operations.
The following tables reconcile segment operating profit, the closest GAAP measure of profitability, to segment adjusted EBITDA.
1 As previously announced, effective January 1, 2026, results for Industrial Plastics, previously included in the All Other group of businesses, are included in the Industrial segment. The Company no longer reports the results of any of its businesses in All Other.
2 Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $79,875 and the Industrial segment of $10,015.
3 These expenses relate to charges from third-party financial institutions related to our centralized treasury program under which the Company sells certain trade accounts receivable in order to accelerate its cash collection cycle primarily within the Consumer segment.
4 Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $8,937 and the Industrial segment of $7,196.
5 Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $4,996 and the Industrial segment of $525.
6 Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $3,274 and the Industrial segment of $152.
7 Included in Corporate is a gain of $2,640 from the sale of a recycling facility in Savannah, Georgia, part of the Industrial segment, partially offset by a charge of $1,865 from the final net working capital settlement related to the divestiture of ThermoSafe, previously part of the All Other group of businesses.
8 Included in Corporate are net losses from derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $4 and the Industrial segment of $163.
1Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $74,835, the Industrial segment of $10,920, and All Other of $399.
2These expenses relate to charges from third-party financial institutions related to our centralized treasury program under which the Company sells certain trade accounts receivables in order to accelerate its cash collection cycle primarily within the Consumer segment.
3Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $2,709, the Industrial segment of $20,726, and All Other of $10.
4Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $1,755.
5Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $21,209 and the Industrial segment of $431.
6Included in Corporate are net losses from the divestiture of businesses within the Industrial segment of $6,266, including a loss of $2,083 from the sale of a recycling facility in Asheville, N.C. and losses totaling $4,183 related to the sale of a production facility in France and the entirety of our business in Venezuela.
7Included in Corporate are net gains from derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $(76), the Industrial segment of $(688), and All Other of $(31).
FREE CASH FLOW
The reconciliation of the GAAP measure “Net cash used by operating activities” to the non-GAAP measure “Free cash flow” is set forth in the table below:
Six Months Ended June 28, 2026 June 29, 2025 Net cash used by operating activities$(67,308) $(14,653)Purchases of property, plant and equipment (125,756) (187,483)Proceeds from the sale of assets, net 1,883 1,090 Net capital expenditures (123,873) (186,393)Free cash flow$(191,181) $(201,046)