Utz Brands reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $0.26, matching Wall Street expectations, but revenue of $342.2 million fell short of the $346.17 million analysts had projected. The snacks manufacturer's net sales increased 0.4% year-over-year, with branded salty snacks representing 89% of total organic net sales and growing 2.5%.

CEO Howard Friedman highlighted 2025 as a year of solid progress, with branded salty organic net sales increasing nearly 5% driven by the company's Power Four Brands - Utz, On The Border, Zapp's, and Boulder Canyon - which experienced 5.3% retail sales growth. The company expanded its adjusted gross margin by more than 250 basis points for the full year, with an especially strong performance of 560 basis points in the fourth quarter.

For fiscal year 2026, Utz projects organic net sales growth of 2% to 3% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 5% to 8%, including benefits from a 53rd week in the fourth quarter. However, the company expects adjusted EPS to decline 3% to 6% due to higher depreciation and amortization, increased interest expense, and a higher tax rate. Utz also announced its first share repurchase program, authorizing up to $50 million for repurchases of its Class A common stock while maintaining its focus on reducing leverage, which improved to 3.4x at year-end 2025.