RIDGELAND, Miss. — Cal-Maine Foods, the largest shell egg producer in the United States, in reporting its first fiscal quarter 2026 results note it as being the company’s “strongest first quarter in company history.”
Among the company’s Q1 statistics include net sales of $922.6 million, an increase of 17.4 percent; conventional egg sales at $505.9 million, up 4.4 percent; and specialty egg sales at $283.5 million, up 10.4 percent. Cal-Maine notes that conventional egg sales equal 64.1 percent of its total egg sales, and specialty eggs are 35.9 percent of its total.
“We delivered our strongest first quarter in company history, aided by higher specialty egg sales, the expansion of our prepared foods platform, and supported by solid performance in conventional eggs,” Sherman Miller, Cal-Maine president and CEO, said in an announcement. “Cal-Maine Foods enters fiscal 2026 form a position of strength and is a uniquely attractive combination of both value and growth in today’s food sector.”
Some of the company’s additional results include net income, $199.3 million, up 32.9 percent; prepared foods sales at $83.9 million, gross profit, $311.3 million, an increase of 25.9 percent; and the acquisition of Echo Lake Foods increased the company’s net sales by $70.5 million.
Cal-Maine’s breeder flocks expanded 46 percent, with total chicks hatched up 77 percent, with an average layer hen number up 10 percent, the company noted.
“Conventional egg sales grew 4.4 percent due to 4.7 percent higher conventional egg selling prices,” Cal-Maine announced. “Conventional egg sales volume was relatively flat. Specialty egg sales improved 10.4 percent, primarily due to a 7.5 percent increase in specialty egg sales volume and 2.6 percent higher specialty egg selling prices. Specialty eggs drove a greater portion of shell egg sales, accounting for 35.9 percent of total shell egg sales, a 130-basis point increase, reflecting ongoing mix shift.”
The company also mentioned its adaptations and reshaping in its focus.
“Cal-Maine Foods is advancing as a diversified and consumer-driven egg-based food company anchored by three clear priorities: expanding specialty eggs and prepared foods; pursuing disciplined accretive M&A (mergers and acquisitions); and leveraging operational and financial excellence,” Miller said. “Executing on these strategic priorities in unison is driving tangible results, and positioning us for accelerated growth, broader diversification, and stronger, more consistent earnings.”
Also reflecting consumer demand, Cal-Maine noted double-digit dollar and volume increases in its cage-free and pasture-raised product, with foodservice and private label also both up by double-digits.
“Cal-Maine Foods is a growing house of brands, spanning nationally recognized labels, trusted regional names, and private-label programs that reach a wide spectrum of customers and consumers, including Eggland’s Best®, Land O’Lakes®, Farmhouse Eggs®, 4-Grain®, Sunups®, Sunny Meadow®, MeadowCreek Foods®, and Crepini®,” the company said, adding that, “…Cal-Maine and affiliates account for roughly half of all Eggland’s Best® sales nationally, and the brand maintained its leadership position as the #1 branded specialty egg in the U.S. during the first quarter.”
In looking at its mergers and acquisitions and how they are adding product diversity, Cal-Maine highlighted the recent addition of Echo Lake Foods.
“I’m proud to share that our acquisition of Echo Lake Foods is on track to exceed every financial and operational expectation set at the time of the transaction,” Miller added. “Building on that strong performance, we are investing an incremental $14.8 million in a new high-speed pancake production line at our Burlington, Wisc., facility to capture accelerating customer demand. This expansion will add 12 million pounds of annual pancake capacity, materially enhancing our operational capabilities and positioning Cal-Maine Foods for sustainable growth in the frozen breakfast category.”
For egg supplies, Cal-Maine noted that consumer trends seeking more protein in their diets, as well as convenience in preparation is fueling increased demand, and that the U.S. table egg flock is still recovering from losses stemming from outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and how this has led to even more enhanced biosecurity efforts.
“Since 2015, Cal-Maine has invested more than $80 million in advanced technology, equipment, supplies, procedures, and training to safeguard flock health,” the company said in its announcement. “While HPAI continues to affect national supply, our rigorous measures help mitigate risk and support continuity across our operations.”
In looking toward the future, Miller noted that, “we see a clear and compelling long-term growth trajectory for Cal-Maine Foods as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities.”
“Our significant scale, vertical integration, diversification, and financial discipline all provide a resilient foundation,” he added. “Specialty eggs and prepared foods are delivering today and are value drivers for the future. Moving forward, the market will gain even more clarity, predictability, and visibility into both the existing strength of Cal-Maine Foods and the path we are building for the future.”
