New York, February 11, 2026, 11:04 EST — Regular session
- Aramark shares up about 1.7% at $41.66 in late-morning trade
- Q1 revenue rose 6% to $4.83 billion; organic revenue up 5% as calendar shift weighed on comparisons
- Investors eye a second-quarter comparison boost and the Feb. 18 dividend record date
Aramark’s stock rose about 1.7% to $41.66 in late-morning trading on Wednesday, as investors weighed the contract caterer’s quarterly results and kept an eye on what the company is promising for the year ahead.
The move matters because Aramark has been leaning on new contract wins and renewals to drive growth, while customers in offices, campuses, healthcare and sports venues remain picky about pricing and service. Any hint of slippage in retention tends to show up in the stock.
This quarter also came with a timing issue that complicates the read-through. Fiscal 2025 had a 53rd week, and Aramark says that “calendar shift” held down reported growth in the first quarter and should turn supportive in the second quarter.
Revenue rose 6% to $4.83 billion in the fiscal first quarter ended Jan. 2, with “organic” revenue — stripping out currency translation — up 5%, the company said. Food and Support Services U.S. revenue grew 2% to $3.36 billion, while the international unit jumped 17% to $1.47 billion. CEO John Zillmer said the quarter brought “extraordinary client retention” alongside “significant new business.” (SEC)
Profit was mixed. GAAP earnings per share fell 8% to $0.36, while adjusted EPS — which excludes certain items — held at $0.51, the company said. Aramark kept its fiscal 2026 targets, including organic revenue growth of 7% to 9% and adjusted EPS of $2.18 to $2.28, and said it still expects its leverage ratio (a debt-to-earnings measure used in loan agreements) to fall below 3x by year-end. (Nasdaq)
Aramark filed an 8-K on Tuesday that furnished the earnings release for the quarter ended Jan. 2, 2026. (SEC)
International was the cleanest bright spot, helped by base business expansion and new business, while the U.S. segment took most of the calendar hit. Management also pointed to supply-chain efficiencies and technology investments as it tries to protect margins while it mobilizes new accounts.
There are risks, though. The company noted mobilization costs in a few countries as it ramps up record new business, and that kind of spend can pinch near-term profitability even when revenue is moving the right way. Food and labor costs are another variable; contract resets don’t always move in lockstep with inflation.
Investors now want to see whether the calendar tailwind in the second quarter delivers a cleaner view of underlying growth — and whether new wins translate into profits, not just volume. The other near-term marker is capital returns: Aramark said its quarterly dividend of $0.12 a share is payable on March 4 to shareholders of record on Feb. 18. (Business Wire)
