Trojan maker Church & Dwight raises annual sales forecast on steady demand

July 31 (Reuters) - OxiClean maker Church & Dwight CHD.N on Friday raised its annual net sales forecast, betting on value offerings and product innovation efforts to drive demand from cost-conscious consumers amid macroeconomic uncertainty.

The New Jersey-based company's efforts to keep prices low across its product categories, including shampoo and detergent, have been helping drive sales gains at a time when stubborn inflationary pressures turned consumers more selective.

Here are some details:

• It expects to receive about $15 million in tariff refunds in the second half of the year, which it plans to invest in consumer-facing activities and to offset inflationary pressures.
• "While the situation in the Middle East creates some inflationary pressure, we continue to expect that we can offset this transitory cost pressure in 2026," CEO Rick Dierker said.
• Volume growth, productivity as well as a favorable mix from recent acquisitions and portfolio actions are expected to offset inflation, transportation and tariff-related costs, he said.
• The company expects full-year net sales between flat and a 1% rise, compared with its prior forecast of a 0.5% to 1.5% decline.
• Church & Dwight, having raised the lower end of its forecast, now expects annual adjusted earnings of 6% to 8% per share.
• The Arm & Hammer parent's second-quarter revenue of $1.53 billion beat analysts' average estimate of $1.50 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
• Quarterly adjusted profit came in at 89 cents per share, slightly below estimates of 90 cents, in part hurt by higher transportation costs and marketing expenses.
• Second-quarter volumes in the consumer domestic segment, the company's largest revenue contributor, were up 3.6%, compared to a 0.1% rise a year ago.