Hydrofarm Holdings Group Announces First Quarter 2026 Results
Rhea-AI Summary
Hydrofarm (Nasdaq: HYFM) reported first quarter 2026 results with net sales down 29.6% to $28.5 million and gross margin at 6.4%.
Net loss was $14.6 million, Adjusted EBITDA was $(3.9) million, SG&A fell sharply, free cash flow improved, and a Term Loan event of default led to a forbearance agreement.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- Net cash used in operating activities reduced to $(0.8) million from $(11.8) million
- Free Cash Flow improved by $11.2 million to $(0.8) million
- SG&A expense decreased 40.8% to $10.6 million
- Adjusted SG&A decreased 23.1% to $8.4 million
- U.S. manufacturing facilities consolidation completed, aiming for efficiency gains
Negative
- Net sales declined 29.6% to $28.5 million
- Gross margin fell to 6.4% from 17.0%
- Adjusted gross margin declined to 15.8% from 21.0%
- Net loss widened slightly to $14.6 million
- Adjusted EBITDA declined to $(3.9) million from $(2.4) million
- Event of default on Term Loan after deferring $2.8 million interest payment
- Term Loan reclassified to current debt; forbearance imposes $1 million minimum liquidity
News Market Reaction – HYFM
On the day this news was published, HYFM declined NaN%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
HYFM was up 4.9% while peers were mixed: ARTW up 3.85%, GP flat, XOS down 0.5%, HCAI down 28.13%, UGRO down 1.59%. Momentum scanner only flagged XOS and BURU modestly higher, suggesting stock-specific factors rather than a broad sector move.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27 | Q4/FY 2025 earnings | Negative | -4.4% | Large impairment and deep net loss with liquidity concerns and default disclosure. |
| Nov 12 | Q3 2025 earnings | Negative | -16.1% | Sharp net sales decline and continued losses despite cost-saving initiatives. |
| Aug 12 | Q2 2025 earnings | Negative | -2.9% | Significant sales drop with restructuring for cost savings and weak profitability. |
| May 13 | Q1 2025 earnings | Negative | -13.1% | Net sales decline and widening net loss amid industry and macro headwinds. |
| Mar 05 | Q4/FY 2024 earnings | Negative | -20.9% | Revenue declines and sizeable full-year loss, with cautious outlook and restructuring. |
Earnings releases over the past year consistently showed declining sales and losses, with shares typically falling after these reports.
Over the last year, Hydrofarm’s earnings releases have highlighted ongoing revenue declines, pressured margins, and persistent net losses. Events such as the $232.2M impairment and restructuring actions framed a challenging turnaround effort. Price reactions to these 5 earnings events were all negative, suggesting investors have historically responded bearishly to similar updates, particularly when liquidity and leverage concerns were emphasized alongside weak operating results.
Historical Comparison
Over the past five earnings releases, HYFM’s stock moved an average of -11.49% within 24 hours, reflecting consistently cautious investor reactions to recurring revenue declines and losses.
Recent earnings have shown a pattern of shrinking net sales, negative EBITDA, and ongoing restructuring, while management repeatedly emphasizes cost reductions, facility consolidation, and efforts to stabilize liquidity.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf filed on Nov 12, 2025 allows Hydrofarm to issue up to $50,000,000 of various securities over time for general corporate purposes, including potential debt repayment or working capital, subject to General Instruction I.B.6 limits. No usage is recorded yet.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details Q1 2026 results marked by a 29.6% net sales decline, compressed gross and adjusted margins, and a $14.6M net loss, partially offset by a sharp improvement in free cash flow to $(0.8)M. Liquidity remains tight with $4.8M in cash against $114.4M of term-loan debt and an ongoing forbearance agreement. Investors may track future earnings, debt negotiations, cash trends, and any use of the $50M shelf registration.
Key Terms
adjusted EBITDA financial
free cash flow financial
non-GAAP measures financial
event of default financial
forbearance agreement regulatory
term loan financial
restricted cash financial
minimum liquidity threshold financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
SHOEMAKERSVILLE, Pa., May 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (“Hydrofarm” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of branded hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture, today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Comparison of First Quarter vs. Prior Year Period:
- Net sales decreased to
$28.5 million compared to$40.5 million . - Gross Profit Margin decreased to
6.4% of net sales compared to17.0% . - Adjusted Gross Profit Margin(1) decreased to
15.8% of net sales compared to21.0% . - SG&A expense and Adjusted SG&A(1) expense decreased by
40.8% and23.1% , respectively. - Net loss increased to
$14.6 million compared to$14.4 million . - Adjusted EBITDA(1) of
$(3.9) million compared to$(2.4) million . - Cash used in operating activities and Free Cash Flow(1) were each
$(0.8) million , compared to$(11.8) million and$(12.0) million , respectively, in the prior year.
(1) Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Profit Margin, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted SG&A as a percent of net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures. For a description of our non-GAAP measures see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section accompanying this release; and for reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures see the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” accompanying this release.
William Toler Chief Executive Officer of Hydrofarm, said, "In the first quarter, we continued to execute on our strategic priorities. We have completed the consolidation of our U.S. manufacturing facilities into one location. During the quarter, we significantly reduced Adjusted SG&A expense by
First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Net sales decreased
Gross Profit decreased to
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense improved to
Net loss was
Adjusted EBITDA(1) decreased to
Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Cash Flow
As of March 31, 2026, the Company had
Cash used in operating activities was
On February 4, 2026, the Company elected to defer making the interest payment of approximately
Strategic Priorities
Hydrofarm remains committed to its strategic priorities: drive high-quality revenue streams, improve profit margins and strengthen financial position. While maintaining our dedication to customer service, we are focused on reducing costs and improving productivity within the organization. Our initiatives include implementing operational changes, consolidating our facility footprint, reducing headcount, and focusing our sales efforts on our proprietary brand offerings.
(1) Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted Gross Profit Margin, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted SG&A as a percent of net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP measures. For a description of our non-GAAP measures see the “Non-GAAP Measures” section accompanying this release; and for reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP measures see the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” accompanying this release.
About Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.
Hydrofarm is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of branded hydroponics equipment and supplies for controlled environment agriculture, including grow lights, climate control solutions, grow media and nutrients, as well as a broad portfolio of innovative proprietary branded products. For over 40 years, Hydrofarm has helped growers make growing easier and more productive. The Company’s mission is to empower growers, farmers and cultivators with products that enable greater quality, efficiency, consistency and speed in their grow projects.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events and developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, information regarding the future economic performance and financial condition of the Company, the plans and objectives of the Company’s management, and the Company’s assumptions regarding such performance and plans are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified as statements that include phrases such as “guidance,” “outlook,” “projected,” “believe,” “target,” “predict,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “may,” “goal,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “should” or other similar words or phrases. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking information in this release due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:
The Company's ability to continue as a going concern; The Company's level of indebtedness; The market in which the Company operates has been substantially adversely impacted by conditions of the agricultural and cannabis industries, including oversupply and decreasing prices of the products the Company's end customers sell, which, in turn, has materially adversely impacted the Company's sales and other results of operations and which may continue to do so in the future; If industry conditions worsen or are sustained for a lengthy period, the Company could be forced to take additional impairment charges and/or inventory and accounts receivable reserves, which could be substantial, and, ultimately, the Company may face liquidity challenges; The Company’s current and future debt facilities may limit the operation of the Company’s business including restricting its ability to sell products directly to the cannabis industry; Although equity financing may be available, the Company's current stock prices are at depressed levels and any such financing would be dilutive; Interruptions in the Company's supply chain could adversely impact expected sales growth and operations; Increased prices and inflation could adversely impact the Company's performance and financial results; Global political and economic conditions including the imposition of potential tariffs could increase the costs of the Company's products and adversely impact the competitiveness of the Company's products and the Company's financial results; The Company may be unable to regain compliance and continue to meet the continued listing standards of Nasdaq; The Company's restructuring activities may increase our expenses and cash expenditures, and may not have the intended cost saving effects; The highly competitive nature of the Company’s markets could adversely affect its ability to maintain or grow revenues; Certain of the Company’s products may be purchased for use in new or emerging industries or segments, including the cannabis industry, and/or be subject to varying, inconsistent, and rapidly changing laws, regulations, administrative and enforcement approaches, and consumer perceptions which may adversely impact the market for the Company’s products; The market for the Company’s products has been impacted by conditions impacting its customers, including related crop prices, climate change, and other factors impacting growers; Compliance with government laws and regulations including environmental and other public health regulations or changes in such regulations or regulatory enforcement priorities could increase the Company’s costs of doing business or limit the Company’s ability to market all of its products; Damage to the Company’s reputation or the reputation of its products or products it markets on behalf of third parties could have an adverse effect on its business; If the Company is unable to effectively execute its e-commerce business, its reputation and operating results may be harmed; The Company’s operations may be impaired if its information technology systems fail to perform adequately or if it is the subject of a data breach or cyber-attack; The Company may not be able to adequately protect its intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to the Company’s business; Acquisitions, other strategic alliances and investments could result in operating and integration difficulties, dilution and other harmful consequences that may adversely impact the Company’s business and results of operations. Additional detailed information concerning a number of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information contained in this release is readily available in the Company’s annual, quarterly and other reports. The Company disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments except as otherwise required by law.
| Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net sales | $ | 28,524 | $ | 40,534 | |||
| Cost of goods sold | 26,687 | 33,657 | |||||
| Gross profit | 1,837 | 6,877 | |||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 10,568 | 17,863 | |||||
| Loss from operations | (8,731 | ) | (10,986 | ) | |||
| Interest expense | (5,866 | ) | (3,377 | ) | |||
| Other (expense) income, net | (122 | ) | 60 | ||||
| Loss before tax | (14,719 | ) | (14,303 | ) | |||
| Income tax benefit (expense) | 108 | (82 | ) | ||||
| Net loss | $ | (14,611 | ) | $ | (14,385 | ) | |
| Net loss per share: | |||||||
| Basic | $ | (3.07 | ) | $ | (3.12 | ) | |
| Diluted | $ | (3.07 | ) | $ | (3.12 | ) | |
| Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding: | |||||||
| Basic | 4,763,731 | 4,614,510 | |||||
| Diluted | 4,763,731 | 4,614,510 | |||||
| Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) | |||||||
| March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,811 | $ | 6,309 | |||
| Restricted cash | 537 | — | |||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 12,082 | 8,186 | |||||
| Inventories | 28,806 | 33,324 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 2,885 | 3,622 | |||||
| Assets held for sale | 1,415 | — | |||||
| Total current assets | 50,536 | 51,441 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 27,649 | 30,334 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 35,559 | 37,765 | |||||
| Intangible assets, net | 2,801 | 2,801 | |||||
| Other assets | 1,215 | 1,463 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 117,760 | $ | 123,804 | |||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ deficit | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 14,526 | $ | 9,752 | |||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 12,196 | 7,688 | |||||
| Deferred revenue | 1,755 | 2,742 | |||||
| Current portion of operating lease liabilities | 7,576 | 7,543 | |||||
| Current portion of finance lease liabilities | 451 | 455 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 114,419 | 111,853 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 150,923 | 140,033 | |||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 30,645 | 32,800 | |||||
| Long-term finance lease liabilities | 7,263 | 7,381 | |||||
| Long-term debt | 44 | 50 | |||||
| Deferred tax liabilities | 2,131 | 2,130 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 4,889 | 4,706 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 195,895 | 187,100 | |||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
| Stockholders’ deficit | |||||||
| Common stock ( | — | — | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 791,380 | 791,227 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (7,653 | ) | (7,272 | ) | |||
| Accumulated deficit | (861,862 | ) | (847,251 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders’ deficit | (78,135 | ) | (63,296 | ) | |||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit | $ | 117,760 | $ | 123,804 | |||
| Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES (In thousands, except share and per share amounts) (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Profit: | |||||||
| Gross Profit (GAAP) | $ | 1,837 | $ | 6,877 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 991 | 1,313 | |||||
| Restructuring expenses1 | 1,689 | 342 | |||||
| Adjusted Gross Profit (Non-GAAP) | $ | 4,517 | $ | 8,532 | |||
| As a percent of net sales: | |||||||
| Gross Profit Margin (GAAP) | 6.4 | % | 17.0 | % | |||
| Adjusted Gross Profit Margin (Non-GAAP) | 15.8 | % | 21.0 | % | |||
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted SG&A: | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative (GAAP) | $ | 10,568 | $ | 17,863 | |||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 40 | 5,996 | |||||
| Restructuring expenses1 | 808 | 20 | |||||
| Other2 | 41 | 184 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation3 | 170 | 475 | |||||
| Debt transactions and strategic alternatives4 | 1,060 | 208 | |||||
| Adjusted SG&A (Non-GAAP) | $ | 8,449 | $ | 10,980 | |||
| As a percent of net sales: | |||||||
| SG&A (GAAP) | 37.0 | % | 44.1 | % | |||
| Adjusted SG&A (Non-GAAP) | 29.6 | % | 27.1 | % | |||
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: | |||||||
| Net loss (GAAP) | $ | (14,611 | ) | $ | (14,385 | ) | |
| Interest expense | 5,866 | 3,377 | |||||
| Income tax (benefit) expense | (108 | ) | 82 | ||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 1,031 | 7,309 | |||||
| Restructuring expenses1 | 2,497 | 362 | |||||
| Other2 | 41 | 184 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation3 | 170 | 475 | |||||
| Debt transactions and strategic alternatives4 | 1,060 | 208 | |||||
| Other expense (income), net5 | 122 | (60 | ) | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | (3,932 | ) | $ | (2,448 | ) | |
| As a percent of net sales: | |||||||
| Net loss (GAAP) | (51.2 | )% | (35.5 | )% | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | (13.8 | )% | (6.0 | )% | |||
| Three months ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow: | |||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities (GAAP): | $ | (759 | ) | $ | (11,763 | ) | |
| Capital expenditures of Property, plant and equipment (GAAP) | (19 | ) | (244 | ) | |||
| Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP): | $ | (778 | ) | $ | (12,007 | ) | |
Notes to GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliations presented above (Adjusted Gross Profit, Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow):
- For the three months ended March 31, 2026, restructuring expenses primarily related to non-cash inventory markdowns, and cash charges incurred to relocate and terminate certain facilities. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, restructuring charges primarily related to charges incurred to relocate and terminate certain facilities, and non-cash inventory markdowns associated with manufacturing facility consolidations.
- For the three months ended March 31, 2026, other charges was primarily comprised of certain legal charges. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, other charges primarily related to legal costs related to the 1-for-10 reverse stock split effected on February 12, 2025, as well as severance charges.
- Includes stock-based compensation and related employer payroll taxes on stock-based compensation for the periods presented.
- For the three months ended March 31, 2026, debt transactions and strategic alternatives charges include legal and advisory services associated with debt transactions, including the forbearance agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, debt transactions and strategic alternatives charges include consulting, transaction services and legal fees for potential acquisitions, divestitures, or strategic combinations. Such amounts were previously presented in the line item titled “Acquisition and integration expenses.”
- For the three months ended March 31, 2026, other expense, net related primarily to a loss on debt extinguishment recorded in conjunction with the termination of the Company's Revolving Credit Facility. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, other income, net related primarily to foreign currency exchange rate gains and losses and other non-operating income and expenses.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We report our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). Management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with additional useful information in evaluating our performance and that excluding certain items that may vary substantially in frequency and magnitude period-to-period from net loss provides useful supplemental measures that assist in evaluating our ability to generate earnings and to more readily compare these metrics between past and future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures may be different than similarly titled measures used by other companies.
To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements which are prepared in accordance with GAAP, we use "Adjusted EBITDA", "Adjusted Gross Profit", "Adjusted SG&A", "Free Cash Flow", "Net Debt", and "Liquidity" which are non-GAAP financial measures. We also present certain of these non-GAAP metrics as a percentage of net sales. Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as substitutes for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are several limitations related to the use of our non-GAAP financial measures as compared to the closest comparable GAAP measures.
We define Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) as net loss (GAAP) excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, stock-based compensation including employer payroll taxes on stock-based compensation, restructuring expenses, impairments, severance, loss on asset disposition, other income/expense, net, and other non-cash, unusual and/or infrequent costs (i.e., acquisition and integration expenses), which we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance.
We define Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) as a percent of net sales as Adjusted EBITDA (as defined above) divided by net sales in the respective period.
We define Adjusted Gross Profit (non-GAAP) as Gross Profit (GAAP) excluding depreciation, depletion, and amortization, restructuring expenses, severance and other expenses, and other non-cash, unusual and/or infrequent costs, which we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance.
We define Adjusted Gross Profit Margin (non-GAAP) as a percent of net sales as Adjusted Gross Profit (as defined above) divided by net sales in the respective period.
We define Adjusted SG&A (non-GAAP) as SG&A (GAAP) excluding depreciation, depletion, and amortization, stock-based compensation including employer payroll taxes on stock-based compensation, restructuring expenses, severance and other expenses, and other non-cash, unusual and/or infrequent costs (i.e., acquisition and integration expenses), which we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance.
We define Adjusted SG&A (non-GAAP) as a percent of net sales as Adjusted SG&A (as defined above) divided by net sales in the respective period.
We define Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP) as Net cash from (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. We believe this provides additional insight into the Company's ability to generate cash and maintain liquidity. However, Free Cash Flow does not represent funds available for investment or other discretionary uses since it does not deduct cash used to service our debt or other cash flows from financing activities or investing activities.
We define Liquidity as total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, if applicable.
We define Net Debt as total debt principal outstanding plus finance lease liabilities and other debt, less cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, if applicable.
Contacts: Investor Contact ir@hydrofarm.com