Boston Beer Reports Second Quarter Financial Results
BOSTON, July 23, 2026 — The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM), today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 27, 2026. Key results were:
Second Quarter 2026 Summary:
- Depletions decreased 6% and shipments decreased 4.5%
- Net revenue of $568.3 million decreased 3.3%
- Gross margin of 50.4% up 60 basis points year over year
- GAAP diluted income per share of $4.96, which includes a previously disclosed favorable adjustment to non-recurring litigation expenses of $1.31 per share
- Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $3.65
Year-to-date 2026 Summary:
- Depletions decreased 5% and shipments decreased 5.6%
- Net revenue of $1.002 billion decreased 3.8%
- Gross margin of 49.9% up 80 basis points year over year
- GAAP diluted loss per share of $8.99, which includes non-recurring litigation expenses of $14.27 per share
- Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $5.28
Capital Structure
- Ended the second quarter with $265.5 million in cash and no debt
- Repurchased $54 million in shares from December 29, 2025 to July 17, 2026
“As we continue to navigate a challenging operating environment, we are managing the business with discipline while investing behind our category-leading brands and bringing innovation to market” said Chairman, Founder and CEO Jim Koch. “We are highly focused on marketplace execution for the remainder of the summer selling season and improving market share trends. Our strong cash flow generation and healthy balance sheet provide flexibility to support our strategic priorities and drive long-term value.”
“We delivered meaningful gross margin expansion and are maintaining our earnings outlook while navigating a dynamic consumer demand environment and input cost headwinds,” said CFO Diego Reynoso. “These results demonstrate the progress we continue to make through our multi-year supply chain transformation efforts, combined with a disciplined approach to investment.”
Details of the results were as follows:
Second Quarter 2026 (13 weeks ended June 27, 2026) Summary of Results
Depletions for the second quarter decreased 6% compared to the second quarter of the prior year. Shipment volume for the quarter was approximately 2.0 million barrels, a 4.5% decrease compared to the second quarter of the prior year due to decreases in Twisted Tea, Truly, Samuel Adams, Hard Mountain Dew and Dogfish Head brands that were partially offset by increases in Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard brands.
The Company believes distributor inventories as of June 27, 2026 were at appropriate levels and averaged approximately four and one half weeks on hand which was consistent with the weeks on hand at the end of June 2025.
Revenue for the quarter decreased 3.3% due to decreases in volume partially offset by favorable product mix and pricing.
Gross margin of 50.4% increased from the 49.8% margin realized in the second quarter of 2025, or an increase of 60 basis points year over year. Gross margin primarily benefited from improved brewery efficiencies, favorable product mix, procurement savings and price increases, and were partially offset by inflationary, commodity and tariff costs.
The second quarter gross margin of 50.4% includes $1.6 million of shortfall fees and non-cash expense of third-party production pre-payments in total, which negatively impacted gross margin by approximately 28 basis points on an absolute basis.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses for the second quarter of 2026 increased $26.2 million or 16.4% from the second quarter of 2025, resulting from increased brand local marketing and point of sale investments of $17.5 million and higher freight costs of $8.6 million due to higher rates partially offset by lower volumes.
General and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million compared to the second quarter of 2025 primarily due to increased legal fees and salaries and benefit costs. This increase included $1.4 million of legal fees related to the previously disclosed supplier dispute litigation.
Litigation reduction of $19.4 million, related to the supplier dispute, consists of a favorable adjustment to pre-judgement interest of $21.1 million and post-judgement interest expense of $1.7 million. Post-judgement interest expense through the appeals process will be applied to the combined pre-tax total of the judgement and pre-judgement interest amounts of $191.0 million at the statutory rate, which is estimated to be 3.79%. The Company continues to deny that it breached the terms of the contract with the supplier and intends to pursue all available post-trial motions and appellate remedies. The Company cannot estimate when or if damages or interest will ultimately be paid or when this matter will ultimately be resolved.
In the second quarter of 2026, the combined pre-tax income related to the supplier dispute litigation of $18.0 million consists of legal expenses of $1.4 million, recorded in general and administrative expenses, and litigation reduction of $19.4 million. The after-tax impact on earnings per share is a benefit of $1.31 per share.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the second quarter was a provision of 28.7%. Excluding the impact of the supplier dispute litigation, the effective tax rate was a provision of 30.1% compared to a provision of 28.1% in the prior year. This increase in rate is due primarily to the increased negative impact of non-deductible stock compensation.
Year-to-date 2026 (26 weeks ended June 27, 2026) Summary of Results
Depletions year-to-date decreased 5% from the prior year. Shipment volume year-to-date was approximately 3.6 million barrels, a 5.6% decrease from the prior year, primarily due to decreases in Twisted Tea, Truly, Samuel Adams, Hard Mountain Dew and Dogfish Head brands that were partially offset by increases in Sun Cruiser and Angry Orchard brands.
Revenue year-to-date decreased 3.8% due to decreases in volume partially offset by favorable product mix and pricing.
Gross margin year-to-date of 49.9% increased from the 49.1% margin realized in year-to-date 2025, or an increase of 80 basis points year over year. Gross margin primarily benefited from improved brewery efficiencies, product mix, price increases and procurement savings, which were partially offset by increased inflationary, commodity and tariff costs.
The year-to-date gross margin of 49.9% includes $3.2 million of shortfall fees and non-cash expense of third-party production pre-payments in total, which negatively impacted gross margin by approximately 32 basis points on an absolute basis.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses year-to-date increased $28.7 million or 9.7% from year-to-date 2025, resulting from increased brand local marketing investments of $17.6 million and higher freight costs of $11.1 million due to higher rates partially offset by lower volumes.
General and administrative expenses year-to-date increased $7.5 million or 8.0% from year-to-date 2025, primarily due to increased legal fees and salaries and benefit costs. This increase included $5.4 million of legal fees related to the previously disclosed supplier dispute litigation.
Litigation expense of $192.6 million, related to the supplier dispute, consists of the judgement of $175.5 million, pre-judgement interest expense of $15.5 million and post-judgement interest expense of $1.7 million.
The litigation expense of $192.6 million combined with related legal expenses of $5.4 million, recorded in general and administrative expenses, have an after-tax negative impact on earnings per share of $14.27 per share.
Impairment of brewery assets of $0.2 million decreased by $4.7 million from year-to-date 2025, due to decreased write-offs of equipment at third party and Company-owned breweries.
The Company’s effective tax rate year-to-date was a benefit of 19.7%. Excluding the impact of the supplier dispute litigation, the effective tax rate was a provision of 32.3% compared to a provision of 29.2% in the prior year. This increase in rate is due primarily to the increased negative impact of non-deductible stock compensation.
The Company expects that its June 27, 2026 cash balance of $266 million, together with its projected future operating cash flows and the unused balance on its $150.0 million line of credit, will be sufficient to fund future cash requirements, including the potential litigation-related payments.
During the 26-week period ended June 27, 2026 and the period from June 29, 2026 through July 17, 2026, the Company repurchased shares of its Class A Common Stock in the amounts of $48.5 million and $5.6 million, respectively, for a total of $54.1 million year to date. As of July 17, 2026, the Company had approximately $174 million remaining on the $1.6 billion share buyback expenditure limit set by the Board of Directors.


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