What the changes say
- Tariffs and global trade policies now explicitly threaten raw-material costs, imports, supply chains, pricing, volumes, and results.
- Inflation is expected to continue in 2026 at a similar level to 2025, affecting commodity and supply-chain costs.
- Two large customers represented approximately 24% of 2025 consolidated sales, down from 25% in 2024.
- Political risk now emphasizes elections, sanctions, taxes, tariffs, controls, and cross-border movement of goods, capital, data, and people.
What changed since the prior 10-K
New
- NewRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
Changes in global trade policies have impacted and may continue to impact our financial condition or results of operations
Tariffs and other trade-policy changes are increasing raw-material and import costs, with uncertain duration and potentially unsuccessful price or supply-chain offsets.
Reworded
- 61% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Business, Litigation, Laws and Regulations
Laws and regulations could adversely affect our business
The specific reference to the recent presidential administration was removed and replaced with the separate, explicit global trade-policy and tariff risk.
- 51% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
Changing political and geopolitical conditions, including conflicts and the related implications may negatively impact our operations
The risk broadens from named conflicts to elections, sanctions, taxes, tariffs, controls, and restrictions on cross-border movement.
Was: Ongoing geopolitical conflicts and the related implications may negatively impact our operations
- 34% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
Issues regarding procurement of raw materials may negatively impact us
Global trade policies were added as a cause of raw-material volatility; soybean oil was added to the listed materials and other streamlining initiatives to mitigations.
- 30% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
We may not be able to increase prices to fully offset inflationary and other pressures on costs, such as raw and packaging materials, labor and distribution costs, which may impact our financial condition or results of operations
The expected inflation comparison shifted from 2025 versus 2024 to 2026 versus 2025, and the description no longer calls cost increases significantly elevated.
Was: We may not be able to increase prices to fully offset inflationary pressures on costs, such as raw and packaging materials, labor and distribution costs, which may impact our financial condition or results of operations
- 28% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
Climate change and sustainability issues may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and damage our reputation
The focus changed from ESG policies and goals to broader sustainability policies, goals, expectations, and practices.
Was: ESG issues, including those related to climate change and sustainability, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and damage our reputation
- 27% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
The inability to maintain mutually beneficial relationships with large customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
The two largest customers’ combined sales contribution decreased from approximately 25% in 2024 to 24% in 2025.
- 23% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
Deterioration of global economic conditions, an economic recession or slow growth, periods of inflation, or economic uncertainty in our key markets may adversely affect customer and consumer spending as well as demand for our products
New or increased tariffs and trade restrictions were added to supply-chain risks, while several prior specific geopolitical and economic examples were omitted.
- 22% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Business, Litigation, Laws and Regulations
Litigation, legal or administrative proceedings could have an adverse impact on our business and financial condition or damage our reputation
Consumer class actions involving privacy, data security, and personal-data protection were added as potential future claims.
All 33 risk factors
Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.
Risks Related to Our Company, Business and Operations
- 01Deterioration of global economic conditions, an economic recession or slow growth, periods of inflation, or economic uncertainty in our key markets may adversely affect customer and consumer spending as well as demand for our products23% rewritten
- 02We have many iconic brands with long-standing consumer recognition. Our success depends on our ability to maintain our brand image for our existing products, extend our brands to new platforms, and expand our brand image with new product offerings
- 03Customer consolidation, consumer behaviors, and competitive, economic and other pressures facing our customers, may impact our financial condition or results of operations
- 04The inability to maintain mutually beneficial relationships with large customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations27% rewritten
- 05Issues regarding procurement of raw materials may negatively impact us34% rewritten
- 06Changes in global trade policies have impacted and may continue to impact our financial condition or results of operationsNew
- 07Disruption of our supply chain could adversely affect our business
- 08Our results of operations can be adversely affected by labor shortages, turnover and labor cost increases or any failure to effectively manage changes in our workforce
- 09We may not be able to increase prices to fully offset inflationary and other pressures on costs, such as raw and packaging materials, labor and distribution costs, which may impact our financial condition or results of operations30% rewritten
- 10Our profitability may suffer as a result of competition in our markets
- 11Changing political and geopolitical conditions, including conflicts and the related implications may negatively impact our operations51% rewritten
- 12Our operations may be impaired as a result of disasters, business interruptions or similar events
- 13We may not be able to successfully consummate and manage ongoing acquisition, joint venture and divestiture activities which could have an impact on our results
- 14An impairment of the carrying value of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets could adversely affect our results
- 15Streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve processes, and improve our competitiveness may have a negative effect on employee relations
- 16If we are unable to fully realize the benefits from our CCI program or streamlining actions to reduce fixed costs, simplify or improve our competitiveness, our financial results could be negatively affected
- 17Fluctuations in foreign currency markets may negatively impact us
- 18We face risks associated with certain pension assets and obligations
- 19Climate change, or legal, regulatory or market measures to address climate change, may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
- 20Climate change and sustainability issues may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and damage our reputation28% rewritten
Risks Relating to Credit and Capital Markets, Our Credit Rating, Borrowings and Dividends
- 21Increases in interest rates or changes in our credit ratings may negatively impact us
- 22Our credit ratings impact the cost and availability of future borrowings and, accordingly, our cost of capital
- 23We may incur additional indebtedness to finance our acquisitions that may limit our ability to, among other matters, issue additional indebtedness, meet our debt service requirements, react to rising interest rates, comply with certain covenants and compete with less highly leveraged competitors
- 24The deterioration of credit and capital markets may adversely affect our access to sources of funding
- 25Uncertain global economic conditions expose us to credit risks from customers and counterparties
- 26The declaration, payment and amount of dividends is made at the discretion of our board of directors and depends on a number of factors
Risks Related to Intellectual Property, Information Technology, and Cybersecurity
- 27Our intellectual property rights, and those of our customers, could be infringed, challenged or impaired, and reduce the value of our products and brands or our business with customers
- 28Our operations and reputation may be impaired if our information technology systems fail to perform adequately or if we are the subject of a data breach or cyber-attack
- 29If we are not able to successfully implement our business transformation initiative or utilize information technology systems and networks effectively, our ability to conduct our business may be negatively impacted
Risks Related to Our Global Business, Litigation, Laws and Regulations
- 30Laws and regulations could adversely affect our business61% rewritten
- 31Litigation, legal or administrative proceedings could have an adverse impact on our business and financial condition or damage our reputation22% rewritten
- 32Our international and cross-border operations are subject to additional risks
- 33The global nature of our business, changes in tax legislation and the resolution of tax uncertainties create volatility in our effective tax rate
Other Mccormick 10-Ks
- FY2024 10-K risk factors33 risks
Brand strength, customer concentration, raw-material availability, and supply-chain execution are central operating risks.
Filed Jan 23, 2025
About this page
The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.