Clorox Company (CLX)

Clorox named Fabian Garcia, a Unilever executive, as its next chief executive on 29 October 2026, effective 5 January 2027 23.

He succeeds Linda Rendle, who announced in May that she would step down for health reasons, and she stays as chair and CEO until he starts 3.

The company reported on 2 November 2026 that net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 rose 33 percent to $1.91 billion 1. Diluted earnings per share were $1.39, against $0.65 a year earlier 1.

The company says the GOJO acquisition, which added the Purell hand-hygiene brand, accounted for about 15 points of the sales gain 1. Organic sales, which leave out acquisitions, rose 18 percent, helped by lapping last year's retailer inventory drawdown after a software switch 1.

The company said the cost environment has become more challenging and now expects adjusted earnings per share closer to the low end of its $5.70 to $6.00 range 1.

The annual meeting of stockholders is set for 18 November 2026 13.

Clorox, founded in Oakland, California, in 1913, sells household and professional cleaning, trash bag, cat litter, salad dressing, water filter and lip care products 4.

In fiscal 2023, net sales rose 4 percent to $7,389 million, mostly through higher prices, while volume fell 10 percent 9. Gross margin, the share of sales left after production costs, climbed to 39.4 percent from 35.8 percent 9.

In August 2023 Clorox disclosed unauthorized activity on some of its IT systems and took certain systems offline 10. Fiscal 2024 net sales fell 4 percent to $7,093 million, with lower shipments tied to the cyberattack 11.

The attack cost about $29 million in extra expenses in fiscal 2024, net of insurance recoveries 11. Earnings attributable to Clorox were $280 million that year, up from $149 million 11.

Fiscal 2025 net sales were essentially flat at $7,104 million 8. Shipments ahead of the ERP (enterprise resource planning) software switch and the recovery from the cyberattack offset the sale of the Better Health vitamins business and the Argentina business 8.

The vitamins sale closed on 10 September 2024, and the loss on it was $118 million 5. Gross margin rose to 45.2 percent in fiscal 2025, and earnings attributable to Clorox reached $810 million 8.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, retailers placed orders ahead of the U.S. ERP switch, which lifted that year and left less to ship in the next 4. The company says the total extra investment in its digital transformation was about $580 million 4.

Fiscal 2026 net sales fell 5 percent to $6,720 million, as retailers drew down that inventory 5. Gross margin fell to 42.3 percent from 45.2 percent, and diluted earnings per share were $4.81, down from $6.52 5.

Two deals reshaped the company that year 4. The venture agreement with The Procter & Gamble Company for Glad expired on 31 January 2026, and Clorox bought P&G's 20 percent interest, with a $476 million payment 45.

On 1 April 2026 Clorox completed the acquisition of GOJO Industries, maker of Purell, for cash consideration of about $2,147 million, funded through commercial paper borrowings and new debt 6.

Interest expense rose by $42 million to $130 million in fiscal 2026, mostly because of the borrowing for GOJO 5.

Health and Wellness

This segment covers cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing and professional products sold in the United States, under Clorox, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Purell, CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare, among others 4. Its net sales were $2,697 million in fiscal 2026, the same as a year before 5.

Cleaning products were 44 percent of consolidated net sales in fiscal 2026 4. In the first quarter of fiscal 2027 segment net sales rose 62 percent, with GOJO adding about 39 points 1.

The company says it launched Clorox Purell ProCare, which joins CloroxPro and GOJO under one sales and service organization for professional and healthcare customers 1.

Household

Household sells Glad bags and wraps, Fresh Step and Scoop Away cat litter, and Kingsford grilling products in the United States 4. Net sales were $1,787 million in fiscal 2026, down from $2,001 million 5.

Bags and wraps were 15 percent of consolidated net sales and cat litter 10 percent 4.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle sells Hidden Valley dressings, dips and sauces, Brita water filters and Burt's Bees natural personal care products in the United States 4. Net sales were $1,123 million, down from $1,303 million 5.

Food products were 11 percent of consolidated net sales 4.

International

International sells laundry additives and home care products under Clorox, Poett, Pine-Sol, Clorinda and Chux, plus Glad, Fresh Step and Brita products, outside the United States 4. Net sales rose to $1,113 million from $1,065 million 5.

The company has operations in about 25 countries or territories and sells in about 95 markets 4.

Customers and competition

Walmart and its affiliates were 26 percent of consolidated net sales in fiscal 2026, and the five largest customers made up about half 4.

The company says its products compete with other nationally advertised brands and with private label brands, and over 80 percent of sales come from brands ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in their categories 4.

People and places

The company had about 9,200 employees at 30 June 2026 4. Its headquarters is a leased office in Oakland, and its main research group works from a leased facility in Pleasanton, California 4.

Rendle has been chair and chief executive; Luc Bellet is chief financial officer and Chris Hyder chief operating officer 4. Carey Jaros is president of Clorox Purell 4.

The umbrella, in words

The brands are Clorox, Pine-Sol, Liquid-Plumr, Poett, Glad, Fresh Step, Kingsford, Hidden Valley, Brita, Burt's Bees, Purell, CloroxPro and Clorox Healthcare 4.

Exhibit 21 lists subsidiaries including Brita LP, The Burt's Bees Products Company, The Glad Products Company, Kingsford Manufacturing Company and GOJO Industries, LLC, as well as a Korean entity named Yuhan-Clorox Co., Ltd 7.

GOJO is owned outright: Clorox acquired all of its membership interests on 1 April 2026 6.

The 2026 proxy statement lists three owners of more than 5 percent: BlackRock, Inc. with 8.23 percent, Vanguard Capital Management LLC with 7.35 percent and State Street Corporation with 6.95 percent 12.

Garcia is to become chief executive on 5 January 2027, and Rendle is to serve as a senior advisor through 2 April 2027, the company said 2. Matthew Shattock, now lead independent director, is to become independent chair on that date 2.

For fiscal 2027 the company expects net sales up 13 percent to 14 percent, including about 9.5 points from GOJO, and organic sales up about 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent 1.

It now expects gross margin of about 41.5 percent and selling and administrative expenses of about 15.5 percent of net sales 1. It still expects advertising and promotion of about 10 percent of net sales and a tax rate of about 23 percent 1.

Diluted earnings per share are still expected between $5.41 and $5.71, and adjusted earnings per share between $5.70 and $6.00, closer to the low end, the company said 1.

A $1,000 million 364-day revolving credit agreement matures on 5 March 2027, one of the credit lines arranged for the GOJO deal 5.

The offer letter with Garcia and the advisory agreement with Rendle are to be filed with the quarterly report for the quarter ending 31 December 2026, the company said 2.