Church & Dwight’s third quarter results were driven by broad-based organic growth across its core product categories and a strong showing from its power brands. Management attributed the performance to volume gains, successful product innovation, and effective marketing, particularly in brands such as ARM & HAMMER, THERABREATH, and Waterpik. CEO Rick Dierker highlighted that “our power brands drove our third consecutive quarter of industry-leading organic sales growth,” emphasizing the company’s focus on both value and premium positioning. The company also cited improved gross margin, aided by ongoing productivity initiatives and portfolio optimization.
Is now the time to buy CHD? Find out in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
Church & Dwight (CHD) Q3 2026 highlights:
- Revenue $1.60 billion vs S&P analysts’ estimates of $1.58 billion (1% year-on-year growth, 1.6% beat)
- Adjusted EPS $0.92 vs S&P analysts’ estimates of $0.90 (2.2% beat)
- Revenue guidance $1.64 billion at the midpoint for Q4 2026, below analyst estimates of $1.66 billion
- Adjusted EPS guidance $3.76 at the midpoint for the full year, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting
- Operating margin 18.2%, up from 16.1% in the same quarter last year
- Organic revenue rose 5.1% year on year (beat)
- Market capitalization $25.31 billion
While we enjoy listening to the management’s commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls is the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our top 5 analyst questions from Church & Dwight’s Q3 earnings call
- Anna Lizzul (Bank of America) asked about innovation in the value tier and strategies to manage gross margin amid inflation. CEO Rick Dierker emphasized a balanced approach to innovation across value and premium brands and highlighted productivity gains as key to margin expansion.
- Peter Grom (UBS) questioned the drivers behind category growth and the apparent conservatism in fourth quarter sales guidance. Dierker stated category growth is trending above expectations and suggested the guidance reflects a cautious stance amid external uncertainty.
- Bonnie Herzog (Goldman Sachs) inquired about commodity hedging and the impact of promotional activity on pricing. CFO Lee McChesney said hedging levels are slightly above last year, and Dierker noted elevated promotional spending but maintained that value and innovation remain priorities.
- Chris Carey (Wells Fargo) sought clarity on the durability of THERABREATH’s growth and repeat rates for toothpaste. Dierker highlighted low household penetration and robust international expansion as supporting a long growth runway.
- Olivia Tong (Raymond James) asked about the sustainability of top-line momentum and international expansion plans. Dierker pointed to strong category selection, share gains, and a diversified brand portfolio as key factors supporting ongoing growth.
Catalysts in upcoming quarters
In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the rollout of new innovations and category expansions, particularly for ARM & HAMMER and THERABREATH, (2) the pace and success of international distribution, especially in markets like Japan and the U.K., and (3) execution of cost productivity programs against continued inflation and transportation rate headwinds. The upcoming Analyst Day will also provide critical updates on long-term growth initiatives.
Church & Dwight currently trades at $107.28, up from $106.02 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).
Our favorite stocks right now
ONE MORE THING: Top 5 Growth Stocks. The biggest stock winners almost always had one thing in common before they ran. Revenue growing like crazy. Meta. CrowdStrike. Broadcom. Our AI flagged all three. They returned 315%, 314%, and 455%, respectively.
Find out which 5 stocks it’s flagging this month — FREE. Get Our Top 5 Growth Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that have made our list include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+271% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.