Cal-Maine Sees Fancy Eggs Drive Growth As Specialty Varieties Capture More Shopper Attention

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALM), the leading egg producer in the United States, announced its financial outcomes for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 on Wednesday.

The firm recorded a net income of $199.34 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 32.9%. Diluted earnings per share grew by 34.6% to $4.12, although this fell short of analysts’ predictions of $5.35 per share.

During the first quarter, net sales reached $922.60 million, up 17.4% from last year’s $785.87 million, yet still falling below the consensus estimate of $960.31 million.

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Sales of shell eggs rose by 6.5% to $789.4 million, largely attributed to a 4.4% gain in conventional eggs, totaling $505.9 million, and a significant 10.4% surge in specialty eggs, amounting to $283.5 million. Specialty eggs now constitute 35.9% of total shell egg sales, an increase from 34.6% the previous year.

Prepared foods sales skyrocketed to $83.9 million, marking an impressive 839.1% gain from $8.9 million, primarily thanks to the acquisition of Echo Lake Foods, which added $70.5 million in net sales.

A recent Bloomberg report highlighted a broader market shift towards specialty eggs. The report indicates that Cal-Maine is witnessing a consumer trend favoring premium and sustainable varieties, including cage-free, pasture-raised, and organic eggs. While these segments contribute to the company’s growth, conventional eggs still dominate its operations, and the overall consumer shift has affected total sales.

In this first quarter, specialty eggs and prepared foods were pivotal to Cal-Maine’s success, together accounting for nearly 40% of net sales. Specialty eggs alone made up 30.7% of the revenue, driven by robust consumer demand for high-quality options like cage-free and pasture-raised varieties, resulting in double-digit growth in both dollar and volume sales.

The company reported cash and short-term investments amounting to $1.25 billion at the conclusion of the first quarter.

Sherman Miller, president and CEO of Cal-Maine Foods, remarked, “We achieved our most successful first quarter in company history, supported by increased specialty egg sales, the growth of our prepared foods segment, and solid performance in conventional eggs. Cal-Maine Foods enters fiscal 2026 from a position of strength, representing a unique blend of value and growth in today’s food industry.”

“Looking forward, we envision a clear and compelling long-term growth trajectory for Cal-Maine Foods as we continue to focus on our strategic objectives. Our significant scale, vertical integration, diversification, and disciplined financial practices provide a solid foundation for resilience,” added Miller.