Chefs' Warehouse Q2 Sales Jump 12.9% to $1.17B, Raises Full-Year Profit Outlook
CHEF sits 88% above its 52-week low of $53.2 on elevated volume (1.9× avg).
Summary
Chefs' Warehouse posted Q2 2026 net sales of $1.17 billion, up 12.9% year-over-year, alongside adjusted EBITDA of $88.1 million. Full-year 2026 guidance calls for adjusted EBITDA of $305-$315 million, reflecting strong operational execution and market share gains.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · CHEF
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Q2 Revenue Surges 12.9%
Net sales reached $1.17 billion, driven by 6.0% organic case growth in specialty and 8.8% pound growth in center-of-the-plate.
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Profitability Leaps Higher
Adjusted EBITDA rose 35% to $88.1 million; GAAP net income was $33.8 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, up from $0.49 a year ago.
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Full-Year Guidance Raised
Management expects fiscal 2026 adjusted EBITDA of $305-$315 million, implying continued double-digit growth in the second half.
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Operational Efficiency Gains
Gross margin expanded 49 basis points to 25.1%, while SG&A as a percentage of sales fell to 20.0% from 20.7%, reflecting leverage on higher volumes.
Analysis · CHEF · Trade & Services
A standout second quarter saw net sales climb 12.9% to $1.17 billion and adjusted EBITDA surge 35% to $88.1 million. Bolstering the bullish case, full-year 2026 guidance points to sustained momentum, with adjusted EBITDA projected between $305 million and $315 million. The results underscore broad-based strength across specialty and center-of-the-plate categories, fueled by higher case volumes, new customer wins, and improved operational efficiency. With the stock trading near its 52-week high, the magnitude of the beat and the raised outlook signal that the business is firing on all cylinders, making this a notable positive update for investors.
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.