US Foods Holding (NYSE:USFD) shares climbed Thursday after the foodservice giant reported a massive surge in fourth-quarter profit and issued a bullish 2026 outlook that significantly outpaced Wall Street estimates.
The company posted a net income of $184 million for the quarter, a 178.8% increase compared to the prior year.
Adjusted diluted EPS hit $1.04, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of $1.
While total case volume grew a modest 0.8%, US Foods saw a strategic 4.1% jump in its high-margin independent restaurant segment—a key indicator of the company's ability to capture profitable market share from local competitors.
Net sales for the quarter reached $9.8 billion, and for the full year 2025, the company reported record revenue of $39.4 billion.
CEO Dave Flitman attributed the success to "disciplined execution" and a 30-basis-point expansion in adjusted EBITDA margins.
Looking ahead, US Foods provided robust 2026 guidance, forecasting 18% to 24% growth in adjusted diluted EPS.