Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Posts Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.85 EPS

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) issued its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.06 by $0.85, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $297.64 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $291.89 million. Freshpet had a return on equity of 6.93% and a net margin of 12.63%.The business’s quarterly revenue was up 13.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.26) EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Freshpet’s conference call:

• Q1 results beat expectations with $297.6M in net sales (+13.1% YoY), adjusted EBITDA of $37.9M, a modestly raised 2026 net-sales guidance to 8%–11%, and management expects to be free cash flow positive in 2026.
• Freshpet is rolling out a new bag-production technology (first full line live, second “light” line installed) and expects ~35% of bag capacity on the new tech by year-end, which management says should materially improve quality, throughput, yield and returns on capital.
• The company is expanding its omni-channel footprint — >39,000 fridges and products in 30,435 stores — while digital orders grew 43% and now account for 16.1% of sales, with ~81% of online volume fulfilled through the fridge network, supporting higher MVP buyer rates.
• Adjusted gross margin improved to 46.9% (+120 bps), but adjusted EBITDA margin compressed to 12.7% as SG&A rose (front‑half weighted media, higher variable comp) and logistics costs increased; management expects logistics to remain elevated for the year.
• Management remains cautious on macro volatility and competitive dynamics (including club private-label risk and more entrants), and accelerating new‑tech capacity could require incremental CapEx above the current ~$150M budget.

Freshpet Stock Down 8.7%

Freshpet stock traded down $5.25 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $54.92. 4,814,901 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,148,605. Freshpet has a 1 year low of $46.76 and a 1 year high of $89.80. The firm has a market cap of $2.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.37 and a beta of 1.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 5.54 and a quick ratio of 4.57. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $68.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $64.50.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on FRPT. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Freshpet from $80.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Freshpet from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 25th. Benchmark raised their target price on shares of Freshpet from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Freshpet from $75.00 to $70.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of Freshpet in a research note on Tuesday, February 24th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $76.44.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Freshpet

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Corient Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the 4th quarter worth $227,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its stake in Freshpet by 68.5% during the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 9,110 shares of the company’s stock worth $555,000 after buying an additional 3,705 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the 4th quarter worth $361,000. Susquehanna Portfolio Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the 4th quarter worth $9,899,000. Finally, Toronto Dominion Bank purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the 4th quarter worth $962,000.

Key Freshpet News

Here are the key news stories impacting Freshpet this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Raised full-year sales outlook after Q1 revenue and net-sales beat — management increased 2026 net sales guidance to roughly $1.2B, underscoring continued top-line momentum. Freshpet, Inc. Reports First-Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Q1 sales growth and improvement versus year-ago loss — net sales rose ~13% YoY and the company noted strong volume growth, which supports revenue durability. Freshpet Q1 Earnings Snapshot / Press Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Some analysts maintain bullish views — William Blair reiterated a Buy rating citing the profitable growth trajectory and the raised sales outlook. Analyst support provides a counterweight to short-term selling. Freshpet Wins Buy Rating
• Negative Sentiment: EBITDA/margin concerns flagged by investors — the quarter showed margin compression (decline in EBITDA margin) that prompted investor worry despite the sales beat; Benzinga highlights that margin decline as a key reason for the sell-off. Freshpet Boosts Full-Year Outlook But Investors Frown Over EBITDA Margin Decline
• Negative Sentiment: Mixed/conflicting EPS reports and metric confusion — some outlets report an EPS miss while others report a large beat (differences likely reflect GAAP vs. adjusted measures or one-time items). That inconsistency, plus commentary on margin pressure from the earnings call, amplified uncertainty. Freshpet (FRPT) Misses Q1 Earnings Estimates Freshpet Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

About Freshpet

Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) is a leading pet food company specializing in fresh, refrigerated meals and treats for dogs and cats. The company’s products are formulated with carefully selected, natural ingredients and are designed to offer a higher level of nutrition and freshness than traditional dry or canned pet foods. Freshpet’s offerings include refrigerated rolls, pâtés and snacks, all of which are sold through the refrigerated section of grocery, mass-market and pet specialty stores.

Freshpet’s product portfolio is built around the concept of fresh, minimally processed recipes that do not require preservatives or artificial colors.