Chefs' Warehouse Q2 Sales Climb 13% to $1.17B, Net Income Surges 59%
CHEF sits 88% above its 52-week low of $53.2 on elevated volume (1.9× avg).
Summary
Chefs' Warehouse reported Q2 2026 net sales of $1.17 billion, up 12.9% year-over-year, with net income surging 59% to $33.8 million. Gross margin improved to 25.1%, and operating cash flow for the first half of 2026 rose 51% to $96.7 million.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · CHEF
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Q2 Sales Up 12.9%
Net sales reached $1.17 billion, driven by organic growth of 12.2% and contributions from the Italco acquisition. Specialty case count rose 6.0%, and center-of-the-plate pounds increased 8.8%.
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Net Income Surges 59%
Net income was $33.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to $21.2 million, or $0.49 per share, in the prior-year quarter. Higher sales and improved margins drove the increase.
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Gross Margin Expands to 25.1%
Gross profit margin improved 49 basis points year-over-year, reflecting effective pricing in an inflationary environment and product cost management. Specialty margins rose 47 bps, center-of-the-plate margins rose 75 bps.
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Operating Cash Flow Jumps 51%
Cash provided by operating activities was $96.7 million for the first half of 2026, up from $64.1 million in the prior year, driven by sales growth and a strategic pull-forward of inventory purchases in the prior year.
Analysis · CHEF · Trade & Services
A strong second quarter saw net sales rise 12.9% to $1.17 billion and net income jump 59% to $33.8 million. Gross margin expanded 49 basis points to 25.1%, reflecting effective pricing and cost management in an inflationary environment. Operating income grew 46%, and cash from operations for the first half of 2026 reached $96.7 million, up 51% from the prior year. The company also extended its share repurchase program for ten years, with $57.6 million remaining. These results reinforce the company's ability to pass through inflation and gain operating leverage, though the stock is trading near its 52-week high, suggesting much of the good news may already be priced in.
How filings like this one have moved
In the 30 days to Sep 16, 2026, 30% of the 1759 measured filings Wiseek scored 7 moved their stock by 5% or more by the next session's close. The median move was -0.34%. These are measured outcomes after filings of this importance, not a forecast for this one.
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At the time of this filing, CHEF was trading at $100.19 on NASDAQ in the Trade & Services sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $4.1B. The 52-week trading range was $53.20 to $102.87. This filing was assessed with positive market sentiment and an importance score of 7 out of 10.