Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 19,421 shares of the basic materials company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,323,000.
A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in SMG. State Street Corp raised its stake in Scotts Miracle-Gro by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,522,093 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $100,397,000 after purchasing an additional 16,298 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro by 161.1% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,289,974 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $78,443,000 after purchasing an additional 795,970 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,165,367 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $66,368,000 after purchasing an additional 265,677 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,157,714 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $67,553,000 after buying an additional 2,899 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro by 4.9% during the first quarter. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. now owns 1,087,339 shares of the basic materials company’s stock worth $66,121,000 after buying an additional 51,148 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.07% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 1st. UBS Group boosted their price target on Scotts Miracle-Gro from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Scotts Miracle-Gro currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $75.40.
Get Our Latest Report on SMG Scotts Miracle-Gro Price Performance NYSE SMG opened at $59.46 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $3.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 51.70 and a beta of 1.83. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has a 12 month low of $52.00 and a 12 month high of $75.34. The company has a 50-day moving average of $64.72 and a 200-day moving average of $63.70.
Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The basic materials company reported $2.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.48 by $0.34. Scotts Miracle-Gro had a net margin of 2.19% and a negative return on equity of 81.90%. The business had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.17 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.59 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company will post 4.41 EPS for the current year.
Scotts Miracle-Gro Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 21st were issued a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 21st. Scotts Miracle-Gro’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 229.57%.
Insider Buying and Selling at Scotts Miracle-Gro In related news, Director Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.45, for a total value of $2,023,500.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 13,137,641 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $886,133,885.45. This trade represents a 0.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Mark D. Kingdon sold 831 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.65, for a total value of $51,231.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 10,827 shares in the company, valued at $667,484.55. This trade represents a 7.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 32,002 shares of company stock worth $2,154,734 in the last quarter. 24.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.
(Free Report)
Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer lawn and garden products. The firm serves both retail and professional customers through an array of branded offerings that include lawn fertilizers, grass seed, pest and disease control solutions, plant foods and specialty products for indoor and outdoor gardening. Its portfolio spans well-known names such as Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® and various hydroponic and specialty garden brands.
Headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, the company traces its roots to O.M.
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SMG oznámila záměr koupit Black Kow a rozšířit své portfolio o organické příměsi, vyzrálý hnůj a speciální půdy. Uzavření transakce se očekává v říjnu.
Key Takeaways SMG plans to acquire Black Kow, adding organic amendments, mature manure and specialty soils.SMG aims to scale Black Kow nationwide through innovation and increased household penetration.Fiscal 2027-2029 targets include 2-4% sales growth, 5-8% EPS growth, and free cash flow above $275M. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG - Free Report) is expanding its media and soil amendment portfolio as part of its multi-year SMG 2.0 growth plan by acquiring the Black Kow brand. The planned acquisition is built on SMG’s existing agreement, under which the company has been the exclusive producer, distributor and marketer of Black Kow since January 2026, with an option to buy. The company has announced its intention to exercise the option, with an expected close in October. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The acquisition helps the company progress with its multi-year SMG 2.0 growth plan that is focused on achieving mid-range financial targets. Black Kow’s acquisition will aid innovation through revitalization of product lineups to drive premium growth by integrating it seamlessly into SMG’s core lawn and garden business. The portfolio will now additionally include organic amendments, mature manure and specialty soils.
Management expects the transaction to contribute to topline sales while maintaining the margin profile established by the company. The acquisition also underscores SMG’s disciplined capital allocation approach, with management describing it as a low-risk investment that is expected to support leverage ratio targets and be accretive to earnings per share beginning in the first year.
SMG plans to scale the Black Kow brand, a trusted 57-year-old name in the soil amendment category, through innovation and expand its availability nationwide by increasing household penetration. The deal also supports the company’s fiscal 2027-2029 growth algorithm, which targets 2-4% annual net sales growth, 50-100 basis points of adjusted gross margin improvement, 5-8% adjusted EPS growth, and free cash flow above $275 million.
SMG shares have lost 4.5% in the past year against the industry’s 11.5% growth.
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SMG’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksSMG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold)
Some better-ranked stocks in the Basic Materials space are Neo Performance Materials Inc. (NOPMF - Free Report) , Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) .
While NOPMF currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), CRS and AVNT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NOPMF’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $1.4 per share, indicating a 185.71% year-over-year increase. NOPMF’sshares have gained 84.1% over the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRS’ fiscal 2027 earnings is pegged at $12.92 per share, indicating a rise of 20.07% year over year. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 8.39%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AVNT’s current-year earnings is pinned at $3.2 per share, indicating a 13.48% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.4%. AVNT’sshares have gained 14.6% over the past year.
Company will scale trusted 57-year-old brand and expand its availability nationwide | Source: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (The)
MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America, today announced that it intends to acquire the Black Kow brand to strategically expand its growing media and soil amendment portfolio.
In January 2026, the Company became the exclusive producer, distributor and marketer of Black Kow under a licensing agreement with an option to purchase. The Company has informed Organics Management, owner of Black Kow, that it has exercised the purchase option with an expected close in October. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“The planned acquisition of Black Kow demonstrates continued progress with our multi-year SMG 2.0 growth plan and further strengthens our ability to achieve our mid-range financial targets,” said Nate Baxter, president and CEO of ScottsMiracle-Gro.
“Black Kow is a testament to our merger-and-acquisition strategy centered on tuck-in brands that we can seamlessly integrate into our core lawn and garden business. We will be good stewards of this trusted 57-year-old brand, scaling Black Kow from an innovation standpoint and expanding its availability nationally to engage broader demographic groups.”
Black Kow, a leading brand in the soil amendment category, will complement Miracle-Gro premium ready-to-use products, expanding the overall portfolio with an established line of organic amendments, mature manure and specialty soils essential for building long-term soil structure and ideal for consumers who like to tinker in their gardens.
“Black Kow aligns with our mid-range growth algorithm as we expect it to drive topline sales and be consistent with the margin profile we have established moving forward,” said Mark Scheiwer, chief financial officer and chief accounting officer. “This acquisition also reflects our disciplined approach to capital allocation, as it is a low-risk investment that will support our leverage ratio targets and be accretive to EPS beginning in year one.”
SMG 2.0 Building Blocks
The acquisition of Black Kow is a tactical execution of SMG 2.0, whose building blocks include:
Portfolio optimization and innovation through revitalization of product lineups to drive premium growth.Omnichannel and retail expansion to engage broader consumer groups through digital scale and retailer partnerships.Category growth and market expansion through greater household penetration to grow the Company’s addressable market.Technology-driven operational excellence with a focus on expanding margins via targeted AI, automation and supply chain efficiencies. Mid-Range Growth Algorithm
Black Kow supports the mid-range growth algorithm announced by the Company in August for fiscal 2027 through fiscal 2029 to deliver sustainable shareholder value. Elements include average annual:
Total Company net sales growth of 2 to 4%.Adjusted gross margin rate improvement of 50 to 100 basis points.Adjusted EPS growth of 5 to 8%.Free cash flow greater than $275 million. About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.3 billion in sales, the Company is the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® and Tomcat® brands are market-leading in their categories. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com
For investor inquiries:
Brad Chelton
Vice President
Treasury, Tax and Investor Relations [email protected]
(937) 309-2503
For media inquiries:
Tom Matthews
Chief Communications Officer [email protected]
(937) 844-3864
Scotts Miracle-Gro zvýšil výhled upraveného EPS pro fiskální rok 2026 na 4,30–4,45 USD díky zlepšujícím se maržím. Tržby divize U.S. Consumer za prvních devět měsíců vzrostly o 2,1 % a zadlužení kleslo na 3,78.
Key Takeaways Scotts Miracle-Gro lifted fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.30-$4.45 on improving margins. U.S. Consumer sales rose 2.1%, while segment profit increased 6.1% through nine months. Scotts Miracle-Gro cut leverage to 3.78 as EBITDA grew and cash flow supported debt reduction. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG - Free Report) has been benefiting from U.S. Consumer growth, margin expansion, supply chain savings, e-commerce momentum and debt reduction despite seasonal demand pressures. However, higher transportation and commodity costs, weak lawn demand, elevated capital spending and residual divestiture-related volatility could weigh on margins, cash flexibility and earnings growth.
The company’s shares have gained 0.2% over a year compared with the industry’s 3.7% rise.
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Let’s find out why SMG stock is worth retaining for now.
Growth, Margin Expansion and Deleveraging Support OutlookScotts Miracle-Gro continues to benefit from its U.S. Consumer franchise, supply chain savings and a mix shift toward higher-margin branded products. In the first nine months of fiscal 2026, U.S. Consumer sales rose 2.1%, segment profit increased 6.1% and adjusted gross margin improved 110 basis points (bps) to 35.8%. Management raised fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $4.30-$4.45 and kept expectations for low-single-digit U.S. Consumer sales growth, at least a 32% adjusted gross margin and mid-single-digit adjusted EBITDA growth. Its longer-term framework still targets roughly $1 billion of incremental sales and $1 billion of EBITDA around 2030 through innovation, pricing, e-commerce and disciplined tuck-in acquisitions.
The company’s portfolio holds leading positions across fertilizers, grass seed, spreaders, mulch, soils, plant food and rodent control within an addressable do-it-yourself (DIY) market of about $12 billion. Branded point-of-sale (POS) for the first nine months of fiscal 2026 rose 1.4% in dollars and 2.3% in units, while e-commerce POS advanced 27% and 33%, respectively. New products across lawns, organics, indoor gardening and controls, together with targeted younger-consumer marketing, support broader category penetration over time.
Scotts Miracle-Gro’s leverage ratio was 3.78 at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2026, down from 4.15 a year earlier, as year-to-date adjusted EBITDA increased by $31 million and free cash flow continued to be directed toward debt reduction. Third-quarter interest expense fell to $28 million as average borrowings and borrowing rates declined. Management maintained fiscal 2026 free cash flow guidance of $275 million and a year-end leverage target in the high 3s, supporting further balance sheet improvement.
SMG Balances Liquidity and Capital ReturnsScotts Miracle-Gro’s liquidity remained adequate, supported by $195.2 million of cash generated from operations in the first nine months of fiscal 2026, broadly in line with $197.2 million a year earlier. Cash and cash equivalents were $27.7 million on June 27, 2026, while total debt was approximately $2.11 billion. The company continued to return capital to shareholders, paying $116.3 million in dividends during the first nine months. Although SMG maintains a $500 million share repurchase authorization, it did not buy back shares under the program during the period.
Cost Headwinds and Seasonal Demand Challenge SMG’s Growth Higher transportation costs remained a drag in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, when adjusted gross margin declined 100 bps to 31.3%. Supply chain savings produced favorable material costs, but those benefits were net of higher commodity costs. Property, plant and equipment spending rose 16% to $63.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2026 as automation, enterprise resource planning (ERP) modernization and distribution investments continue. These outlays can limit cash flexibility even as management targets at least a 32% adjusted gross margin for fiscal 2026.
U.S. Consumer sales rose 0.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, while segment profit declined 2.3% as gross margin fell. Branded Lawns POS was down 1% in both dollars and units year to date, with unfavorable May weather offsetting e-commerce growth and pricing. Earnings therefore remain exposed to seasonal demand as growth initiatives are executed.
The Hawthorne operating divestiture is complete, but the transaction still carries financial volatility. Scotts Miracle-Gro recorded a $101.8 million loss on the North American sale in the first nine months of fiscal 2026 and a $15.7 million unrealized loss on Vireo equity securities in the third quarter. Non-cash consideration therefore leaves residual exposure to Vireo’s valuation.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Price and ConsensusSMG’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
SMG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADM’s current-year earnings stands at $5.22 per share, implying a 52.2% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 11.3%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHEF’s current-year earnings is pegged at $2.54 per share, implying a 33.7% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 30.4%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COCO’s current-year earnings is pegged at $1.96 per share, indicating a 64.7% year-over-year increase. Its earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters while missing once, with the average surprise being 21.9%.
Scotts Miracle-Gro představil strategii SMG 2.0 s důrazem na vyšší marže, digitální prodej a efektivitu. Cílí na růst čistých tržeb 2 % až 4 % ročně a růst upraveného EPS o 5 % až 8 %.
Why Analysts Still Predict Double-Digit Upside for Mosaic StockScotts Miracle-Gro NYSE: SMG outlined its “SMG 2.0” strategy at an investor event, emphasizing a shift toward higher-margin branded products, digital commerce, consumer-focused innovation, operational efficiency and disciplined capital allocation.
President and CEO Nate Baxter said the company’s objective is to “future-proof” its established lawn and garden brands as consumer preferences, retail channels and technology evolve. He framed the company as serving consumers’ “living spaces,” rather than simply selling lawn and garden products, and said the strategy is intended to align the organization around that purpose.
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ScottsMiracle-Gro Stock Blooms After Investor Day Optimism Baxter acknowledged headwinds including changing brick-and-mortar retail traffic, the company’s historically low e-commerce exposure, competition from consumer packaged goods companies, private-label products and service- and technology-based alternatives. He said Scotts has exited the Hawthorne cannabis business and is now “laser-focused” on its core lawn and garden operations.
Category position and consumer opportunity John Sass, senior vice president and general manager of the North America business, described the company’s addressable DIY lawn and garden market as a $12 billion category spanning controls, gardens and lawns. The company expects the category could approach $15 billion by 2030.
CF Industries stock leaves competitors in the dustControls represents about $5.5 billion of the market and is the fastest-growing segment, according to Sass. Gardens accounts for about $4.5 billion, while lawns represent about $2 billion and have been more challenging as consumers increasingly prioritize outdoor spaces for pets, children and entertaining rather than traditional showpiece lawns.
Sass said Scotts holds about 33% of the overall category and leads eight of 11 underlying segments. The company’s brand portfolio includes Scotts, Miracle-Gro, Ortho, Bonide, Roundup and Tomcat, as well as newer partners Black Kow and Murphy’s.
Chief Brand Officer Nick Miaritis said the company sees household penetration as a major growth opportunity. While soils reach roughly 40% of households, most other company categories have penetration near 10%, he said. Miaritis also highlighted a 26-point awareness gap among younger, emerging consumers relative to the company’s traditional consumer base.
The company is targeting younger homeowners, renters and Hispanic consumers, who Miaritis said will account for more than half of first-time homebuyers by 2030. Marketing is shifting toward digital and social channels, with more than 80% of media spending now directed to digital and social formats. The company said its change in media mix has driven a double-digit improvement in media return on investment over the past three years.
Digital expansion, channel diversification and innovation Scotts said it expects e-commerce to account for about 13% of total sales by the end of the current year, compared with an estimated 25% of category sales conducted online. Chief Growth Officer Josh Meihls said e-commerce sales have grown nearly 30% this year, adding 300 basis points of penetration, and the company is targeting more than 20% e-commerce penetration over the near term.
The company is investing in e-commerce-oriented packaging, online-only promotions and faster digital product testing. Meihls cited the launch of Ortho Mosquito Kill and Prevent through TikTok Shop and said online channels can help the company validate innovation before broader retail launches.
Beyond its traditional home center, hardware and mass-retail channels, Scotts is expanding in club, farm-and-fleet, grocery and Hispanic retail. It is also testing a professional channel aimed at small and mid-sized lawn care providers rather than large national service operators. Meihls described the do-it-for-me market as approximately twice the size of the company’s $12 billion DIY market and called it a potential $100 million-plus opportunity.
Research and development leader Paula Powell said the company has more than 110 R&D associates, more than 800 patents worldwide and over 70 pending patent applications. The company is targeting a 30% reduction in SKU count across physical and digital retail over three years and said it is about one-third of the way through that effort.
Innovation priorities include organic and bio-based formulations, reduced-plastic packaging, precision dispensing and e-commerce-ready product formats. Sadie Oldham, vice president and general manager of gardens, highlighted the Miracle-Gro Organics line and the Ortho Organics controls portfolio, including a weed-and-grass product that she said produces visible results in 15 minutes or less.
Financial targets and capital allocation Chief Financial Officer Mark Scheiwer introduced fiscal 2027 through fiscal 2029 targets of approximately 2% to 4% annual net sales growth, 50 to 100 basis points of annual gross-margin expansion and 5% to 8% annual adjusted earnings-per-share growth.
The company is also targeting at least $275 million in annual free cash flow and leverage of 3 to 3.5 times, with a longer-term goal of reducing leverage below 3 times. Scheiwer said Scotts has reduced leverage to below 4 times this fiscal year and expanded gross margin by more than 790 basis points over the past several years.
Supply chain leader David Huskisson said the company expects to deliver $135 million of a previously announced $150 million, three-year savings commitment by the end of the current fiscal year and expects to exceed that total next year. Going forward, the company is targeting annual supply-chain savings equal to 1% of net sales.
Scotts plans to reinvest in advertising, R&D, technology and capital expenditures, maintain its dividend, use share repurchases to offset equity-compensation dilution, continue debt reduction and pursue small, strategically aligned acquisitions. Baxter said the company sees a pipeline of smaller lawn-and-garden brands that could benefit from Scotts’ distribution, supply chain and retail capabilities.
About Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE:SMG)Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of consumer lawn and garden products. The firm serves both retail and professional customers through an array of branded offerings that include lawn fertilizers, grass seed, pest and disease control solutions, plant foods and specialty products for indoor and outdoor gardening. Its portfolio spans well-known names such as Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® and various hydroponic and specialty garden brands.
Headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, the company traces its roots to O.M.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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Scotts Miracle-Gro ve 3. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2026 zvýšila upravený EPS na 2,82 USD a překonala odhady, zatímco tržby činily 1,172 mld. USD a lehce zaostaly. Firma zároveň zvýšila výhled upraveného EPS na 4,30–4,45 USD.
Key Takeaways Scotts Miracle-Gro's adjusted EPS rose 7.6% to $2.82, beating estimates by 11.5%.Higher freight and commodity costs cut adjusted gross margin by 100 basis points to 31.3%.Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance increased to $4.30-$4.45; free cash flow stayed at $275 million. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (SMG - Free Report) reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended June 27, 2026) adjusted earnings of $2.82 per share, up 7.6% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.53 by 11.5%, aided by stronger results from the Bonnie Plants joint venture and a lower tax rate.
Net sales rose 1.1% year over year to $1.172 billion but marginally missed the consensus estimate of $1.174 billion by 0.2%. Adjusted gross margin contracted 100 basis points to 31.3% as higher freight and commodity costs tied to the Iran conflict weighed on profitability.
Segment DetailsU.S. Consumer sales were $1.03 billion, essentially flat compared with the year-ago quarter. It missed our estimate of $1.04 billion. Segment profit declined 2% to $229.8 million from $235.2 million, reflecting pressure from higher freight and commodity costs.
Hawthorne was classified as a discontinued operation after the company determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 that the business met the held-for-sale criteria. ScottsMiracle-Gro completed the divestiture of Hawthorne on April 8, 2026. Hawthorne was removed from reportable segment results, and prior-period continuing operations were reclassified.
Sales in the Other segment, which primarily includes the company’s Canadian consumer lawn-and-garden business, increased 8% to $139.2 million from $129.1 million. The figure beat our estimate of $131.5 million. Segment profit advanced 10% to $18.6 million.
FinancialsCash and cash equivalents were $27.7 million as of June 27, 2026. Long-term debt declined to $1.84 billion from $2.14 billion a year ago.
OutlookScotts Miracle-Gro raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance from continuing operations to $4.30-$4.45 per share from the previous range of $4.15-$4.35. Management linked the increase to disciplined execution, margin management, balance-sheet progress and strategic investments in the company’s brands and operations.
The company reaffirmed its expectation for low-single-digit growth in U.S. Consumer sales. It also maintained its forecast for an adjusted gross margin of at least 32% and mid-single-digit growth in adjusted EBITDA.
Management continues to expect free cash flow of $275 million, which is projected to reduce the leverage ratio to the high-3-times range. Supply-chain automation, expanded use of artificial intelligence, manufacturing capital expenditures and purchasing efficiencies are expected to support year-over-year margin expansion despite recent cost pressures.
SMG’s Price PerformanceSMG’s shares have gained 11.1% in the past year compared with a 5.3% rise in the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SMG’s Zacks Rank & Key PicksSMG currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Neo Performance Materials Inc. (NOPMF - Free Report) , Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (KRO - Free Report) and Avient Corporation (AVNT - Free Report) .
Neo Performance is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 11. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.48 per share. NOPMF sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Kronos is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 5. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KRO’s second-quarter loss per share is pegged at 33 cents, indicating 65.63% year-over-year growth. KRO also flaunts a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
Avient is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6. The consensus estimate for AVNT’s earnings per share is pegged at $3.08. AVNT presently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
ScottsMiracle-Gro oznámila detaily Investor Day na úterý 4. srpna 2026 na Newyorské burze cenných papírů (NYSE). Firma představí růstovou strategii SMG 2.0, alokaci kapitálu a dlouhodobé finanční cíle. Akce začne v 9:00 ET.
July 30, 2026 06:50 ET | Source: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (The)
MARYSVILLE, Ohio, July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America, today announced details for its Investor Day on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the New York Stock Exchange. Investors and media can view the event via live stream.
The speakers, each of whom will provide formal presentations followed by a Q&A session, include:
Nate Baxter, president and CEOMark Scheiwer, EVP, chief financial officer and chief accounting officerNick Miaritis, EVP, chief brand officerJohn Sass, SVP & general manager, North AmericaJosh Meihls, SVP, chief growth officerDr. Paula Powell, SVP, research & developmentDavid Huskisson, SVP, operations & technologySadie Oldham, VP & general manager, Gardens Among the themes and topics to be addressed:
SMG 2.0 growth strategy: Multi-year, in-depth look at portfolio optimization, channel expansion, category growth and operational efficiencies.Disciplined capital allocation: Strategic approach to balance sheet management, including leverage reduction, SG&A investments, capital expenditures, tuck-in M&A and shareholder friendly actions.Longer-term growth algorithm: Plans for dependable net sales growth and consistent profitability expansion, including key financial targets. Investor Day will be held at the New York Stock Exchange on August 4, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. ET. For those interested in viewing online, the live webcast can be accessed through Vimeo. For those unable to participate during the live webcast, a replay will be available on the Investor Relations website.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.3 billion in sales, the Company is the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® and Tomcat® brands are market-leading in their categories. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com
For investor inquiries:
Brad Chelton
Vice President
Treasury, Tax and Investor Relations [email protected]
(937) 309-2503
For media inquiries:
Tom Matthews
Chief Communications Officer [email protected]
(937) 844-3864
For the quarter ended June 2026, Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG - Free Report) reported revenue of $1.17 billion, down 1.3% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.82, compared to $2.59 in the year-ago quarter.
The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.17% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $2.53, the EPS surprise was +11.46%.
While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.
Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.
Here is how Scotts performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
Net Sales- Other: $139.2 million compared to the $130.45 million average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +10% year over year.Net Sales- U.S.Consumer reportable segment: $1.03 billion compared to the $1.05 billion average estimate based on four analysts. The reported number represents a change of +0.3% year over year.Segment Profit (Loss) (Non-GAAP)- U.S. Consumer reportable segment: $229.8 million compared to the $166.8 million average estimate based on two analysts.Segment Profit (Loss) (Non-GAAP)- Corporate: $-29.9 million versus $-41.55 million estimated by two analysts on average.Segment Profit (Loss) (Non-GAAP)- Other: $18.6 million compared to the $6.04 million average estimate based on two analysts.View all Key Company Metrics for Scotts here>>>
Shares of Scotts have returned +7.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.
July 28, 2026 16:05 ET | Source: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (The)
MARYSVILLE, Ohio, July 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America, announced that its Board of Directors has approved the payment of a cash dividend of $0.66 per share. The dividend is payable on Friday, September 4, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Friday, August 21, 2026.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.3 billion in sales, the Company is the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® and Tomcat® brands are market-leading in their categories. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.
For investor inquiries:
Brad Chelton
Vice President
Treasury, Tax and Investor Relations [email protected]
(937) 309-2503
For media inquiries:
Tom Matthews
Chief Communications Officer [email protected]
(937) 844-3864
June 29, 2026 06:55 ET | Source: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (The)
Nate Baxter Appointed President and Chief Executive Officer
Pete Shumlin Elected Chairman of the Board
MARYSVILLE, Ohio, June 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America, today announced that the Board of Directors has named Nate Baxter as president and CEO, effective immediately. In addition, Baxter has joined the Board of Directors. The Board also elected independent Lead Director Pete Shumlin as chairman of the Board.
Baxter succeeds Jim Hagedorn, 70, CEO since 2001 and chairman since 2003, whose transition from the Company and its Board of Directors aligns with the Board’s long-term internal succession plan. The framework of the succession plan was established by the Board of Directors upon Baxter joining the Company in 2023.
During his tenure, Baxter, 53, has driven a relentless focus on operational excellence and is the architect of the Company’s multi-year SMG 2.0 growth strategy centered on category growth, channel expansion and product innovation grounded in naturals and organics. He also has spearheaded the implementation of technology, automation, data analytics and AI to deliver operational and cost efficiencies throughout the organization.
Hagedorn completed a nearly 40-year career with the Company, having held sales, operations and management roles before becoming CEO and chairman. Hagedorn, whose father Horace started Miracle-Gro in 1951, led the merger of the family business with The Scotts Company in 1995. In his time as CEO, he shaped the modern lawn and garden industry through acquisitions of key brands, such as Ortho and Tomcat, that significantly expanded the portfolio and through strategic growth initiatives that included the joint venture with Bonnie Plants. He advanced new approaches to consumer marketing and led the public listing of SMG on the New York Stock Exchange. Annual revenue climbed from $732 million in 1995 after the Scotts and Miracle-Gro merger to $3.3 billion in fiscal 2025.
“Jim has made ScottsMiracle-Gro what it is today and fundamentally modernized the lawn and garden industry by championing the consumer experience,” Shumlin said. “As a former F-16 fighter pilot, he brought a boldness and competitive spirit to the Company that remains a big part of the associate experience. He has given most of his adult life to this Company, and we are eternally grateful.
“As for Nate’s appointment as chief executive officer, this is the realization of the Board’s internal succession planning efforts with an eye toward accelerating next-generation growth drivers to scale the business. Nate has proven to be an exceptional talent who leads with integrity, collaboration, vision and operational expertise. He is the architect of the SMG 2.0 growth plan and has built a strong team to execute upon it. He is uniquely qualified to further evolve ScottsMiracle-Gro into the essential, lifestyle brand for lawn and garden consumers of today and the future.”
Baxter added, “I consider it a tremendous privilege to lead ScottsMiracle-Gro and serve all those we touch daily. I know I have big shoes to fill and look forward to collaborating with our teams as we nurture a culture in which our associates thrive and work together to deliver on the SMG 2.0 strategy. We have a special consumer franchise with a meaningful runway. My focus is to build on the momentum of SMG 2.0 while maintaining the financial discipline that has strengthened our balance sheet, converting that into durable shareholder value creation.”
Hagedorn said, “It has been an honor to be part of this Company for most of my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented people as we built ScottsMiracle-Gro and its brands into the market leader with superpowers like no other in lawn and garden. Nate is ready to take over the reins. He has established himself as the leader ScottsMiracle-Gro needs as it transforms for the future.”
Fiscal 2026 Outlook
In connection with today’s announcement, the Company has reaffirmed its previously provided Fiscal 2026 guidance, which includes:
U.S. Consumer net sales low single-digit growthNon-GAAP adjusted gross margin of at least 32%Non-GAAP adjusted net income per share from continuing operations of $4.15 to $4.35Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA mid single-digit growthFree cash flow of approximately $275 million, driving leverage ratio down to the high 3s
As previously announced, the Company will host its 2026 Investor Day at the New York Stock Exchange on August 4, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. ET. Members of the executive and senior leadership team will discuss the Company’s mid- to long-term strategic priorities and financial goals followed by a question-and-answer session.
Bios
Baxter joined the Company in April 2023 as executive vice president, technology and operations, and was named COO in September 2023 before taking on the expanded role of president and COO in 2024. Among his responsibilities were execution of Company strategies and oversight of the market-leading brands, sales, supply chain, marketing, R&D and information technology. Prior to ScottsMiracle-Gro, Baxter was president of TEL U.S., a Tokyo Electron Ltd. subsidiary that manufactures semiconductor and flat-panel manufacturing equipment, and worked with Intel Corporation in technology, supply chain, strategy and management. He is a general partner of the Hagedorn Partnership, L.P., the largest shareholder of the Company, and serves as chairman of the board of Bonnie Plants, the largest national supplier of vegetable and herb plants in the U.S., as well as a board member with The Legacy Project, which empowers students to become leaders and innovators.
Shumlin, 70, a former three-term governor of Vermont and director at Putney Student Travel as well as a principal in numerous real estate ventures, has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017 and served as its lead independent director since 2023.
About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.3 billion in sales, the Company is the leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products in North America. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, Ortho® and Tomcat® brands are market-leading in their categories. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com.
For investor inquiries:
Brad Chelton
Vice President
Treasury, Tax and Investor Relations [email protected]
(937) 309-2503
For media inquiries:
Tom Matthews
Chief Communications Officer [email protected]
(937) 844-3864
