Publix sales growth cools in fourth quarter, profit shrinks

Publix storefront — Publix has reported higher sales but lower profit in Q4. (Source: Publix/Facebook)

By Sean Cao March 3, 2026

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Supermarket chain Publix has reported higher sales but lower profit in the fourth fiscal quarter.

The company’s sales for the three months ended December 27 rose 2.8 per cent to $16 billion, with comparable sales up 0.7 per cent. The growth was smaller compared to the 5.2 per cent uplift in the third quarter.

Excluding the positive impact of Hurricane Milton on the results of the prior-year quarter, sales would have increased 4.1 per cent, management noted.

Net earnings for the period decreased by nearly 3 per cent to $1.165 billion.

For the full year, sales improved 5 per cent to $62.7 billion, and comparable store sales grew 3.5 per cent. Net earnings increased 2.1 per cent to $4.7 billion.

Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the US, currently operating 1430 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.