Church & Dwight beats quarterly estimates as resilient demand for staples lifts volumes

Church & Dwight

01/05/2026 12:44

Corrects toothpaste brand to Therabreath, not Crest, in first bullet

May 1 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer goods maker Church & Dwight CHD.N beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter sales and profit on Friday, buoyed by steady demand for its daily-use household and personal care products despite pricing pressures, sending its shares up 5% in premarket trading.

Consumer goods makers have increasingly relied on volume growth rather than price hikes as economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures weigh on shoppers, prompting them to prioritize essentials and trade down where possible.

The Therabreath toothpaste and Arm & Hammer baking soda manufacturer posted net sales of $1.47 billion for the quarter ended March 31, above analysts' average estimate of $1.46 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

It earned 95 cents per share on an adjusted basis, up 4.4% from last year and ahead of expectations of 93 cents, owing to a 140-basis-point jump in gross margin.

CEO Rick Dierker said demand remained resilient despite a volatile macroeconomic backdrop, citing balanced growth across value and premium products, innovation-led volume gains and expanded distribution.

Church & Dwight logged a 5.3% jump in overall volumes during the quarter, driven by product innovation and affordable offerings.

The company maintained its 2026 outlook for organic sales growth of 3% to 4% and adjusted earnings growth of 5% to 8%.

It flagged potential near-term pressure from higher transportation and commodity costs, partly tied to the conflict in the Middle East, but said it expects to offset those pressures as the year progresses.

 (Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Diti Pujara)

 ((Savyata.Mishra@thomsonreuters.com;))