Core Insights - Conagra Brands reported revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter ended August 2025, a decrease of 5.8% year-over-year, with EPS at $0.39 compared to $0.53 in the same quarter last year [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.61 billion by 0.89%, while the EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of $0.33 by 18.18% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Net Sales growth in Grocery & Snacks was -8.7%, better than the average estimate of -10.1% [4] - Net Sales growth in Refrigerated & Frozen was -0.9%, compared to the average estimate of -3.6% [4] - Price/Mix for Foodservice increased by 3.8%, exceeding the average estimate of 2% [4] - Organic Volume for Foodservice decreased by -3.6%, slightly worse than the average estimate of -3.3% [4] - Price/Mix for International was 1.7%, below the average estimate of 3.1% [4] - Organic Volume for International declined by -5.2%, worse than the average estimate of -2.9% [4] - Net Sales growth for International was -18%, significantly worse than the average estimate of -9.7% [4] - Net Sales growth for Foodservice was -0.8%, better than the average estimate of -1.3% [4] Sales Breakdown - Sales in Grocery & Snacks amounted to $1.08 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $1.06 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -8.7% [4] - Sales in Foodservice were $264.5 million, exceeding the average estimate of $263.17 million, with a year-over-year change of -0.8% [4] - Sales in International reached $212.3 million, below the average estimate of $238.18 million, representing a year-over-year decline of -18.1% [4] - Sales in Refrigerated & Frozen were $1.08 billion, surpassing the average estimate of $1.05 billion, with a year-over-year change of -0.9% [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fiscal first quarter results exceeded expectations, with a net debt reduction of over $400 million compared to the previous year [30] - The company is on track to pay down $700 million in debt for fiscal 2026, supported by divestitures and cash flow from operations [27][30] - Overall inflation guidance remains slightly above 7%, with core inflation pressures primarily from animal proteins [20][96] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Frozen business is expected to regain momentum after service interruptions, with innovations like Dolly Parton frozen meals performing well [41][42] - The company experienced a shift in promotional events, impacting sales timing, but anticipates a return to growth in frozen and snacks categories [7][14] - The company reported a 3% growth in frozen business in Q2 of the previous year, indicating potential for recovery [39] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a low single-digit decline in consumption trends for the second quarter, attributed to timing shifts in promotional events [5][6] - Retailers are returning to pre-COVID promotional levels, which is expected to support volume growth [81] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on driving volume in frozen and snacks while maximizing cash through inflation-justified pricing [8][68] - There is an emphasis on innovation and marketing to attract value-seeking consumers, particularly in lower-income demographics [76][78] - The company plans to leverage technology, including AI, to enhance core processes and lower costs [57] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about the second half of the fiscal year, expecting positive sales growth driven by volume momentum and effective pricing strategies [7][15][68] - The company acknowledges ongoing inflation and value-seeking behavior among consumers but believes it can navigate these challenges effectively [76][70] Other Important Information - The company has achieved service levels of 98%, which is crucial for restoring consumer confidence and merchandising activities [14][67] - The company is about 85% covered for Q2 in terms of commodity pricing, with a focus on managing exposure to animal proteins [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the expected inflection in sales growth for the second half? - Management attributes the expected growth to volume momentum in frozen products and successful pricing strategies [7][8] Question: How much did trade expense timing benefit organic sales growth in Q1? - The benefit from trade expense timing was approximately 50 basis points in Q1, which will flip to Q2 [12] Question: What is the outlook for frozen entrees given recent share loss? - Management remains positive about the frozen business outlook, citing strong innovation and recovery from supply interruptions [39][42] Question: How is the company addressing inflation and pricing elasticity? - The company tracks elasticities weekly and has built in historical expectations, indicating confidence in managing pricing without significant volume loss [71][100] Question: What are the expectations for promotional levels and volume share performance? - Promotional levels are returning to pre-COVID norms, and the company is cautiously optimistic about improving volume share performance [81][84]

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Market Overview - U.S. stocks traded lower with the Dow Jones falling approximately 0.1% as the federal government entered a shutdown due to Congress's failure to agree on a spending plan [1] - The Dow traded down 0.08% to 46,360.72, NASDAQ fell 0.36% to 22,577.49, and S&P 500 dropped 0.29% to 6,669.38 [1] Sector Performance - Health care shares increased by 0.9% on Wednesday, while communication services stocks decreased by 1.2% [2] Company Earnings - Conagra Brands Inc reported better-than-expected earnings for Q1, posting earnings of 39 cents per share, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of 33 cents per share [3] - The company also reported quarterly sales of $2.633 billion, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of $2.615 billion [3] - Conagra Brands affirmed FY2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $1.70 to $1.85 per share [3] Stock Movements - Chijet Motor Company, Inc. shares surged 173% to $0.4432 after entering an MOU for a private placement offering of up to $1 billion [8] - Ryvyl Inc. shares increased 60% to $0.4708 following a $75 million merger agreement with RTB Digital [8] - Healthcare Triangle, Inc. shares rose 25% to $3.27 after its QuantumNexis EMR platform surpassed $20 million in processed revenue [8] - Cheer Holding, Inc. shares dropped 72% to $0.1876 after announcing an $8.5 million offering [8] - Reitar Logtech Holdings Limited shares fell 35% to $4.60, and Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. shares decreased 29% to $0.2033 after a reverse stock split announcement [8] Economic Indicators - U.S. private businesses cut 32,000 jobs in September, contrasting with market estimates of a 50,000 gain [10] - The volume of mortgage applications in the U.S. declined by 12.7% in the week ending Sept. 26 [10]

Core Insights - Conagra Brands (CAG) reported quarterly earnings of $0.39 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.33 per share, but down from $0.53 per share a year ago, indicating an earnings surprise of +18.18% [1] - The company generated revenues of $2.63 billion for the quarter ended August 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.89%, but down from $2.79 billion year-over-year [2] - Conagra Brands has underperformed the market, with shares down approximately 34% year-to-date compared to the S&P 500's gain of 13.7% [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.46 on revenues of $3.01 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.73 on revenues of $11.25 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Conagra Brands was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Food - Miscellaneous industry, to which Conagra Brands belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 22% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a challenging environment [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Conagra's stock performance [5]

Q1 FY26 Financial Performance - Organic net sales decreased by 0.6% to $2,611 million[58] - Adjusted gross margin decreased by 153 bps to 24.4%[58] - Adjusted operating margin decreased by 244 bps to 11.8%[58] - Adjusted EPS decreased by 26.4% to $0.39[58] Segment Performance - Grocery & Snacks net sales decreased by 1.0% to $1,080 million[61] - Refrigerated & Frozen net sales increased by 0.2% to $1,076 million[61] - International net sales decreased by 3.5% to $212 million[61] - Foodservice net sales increased by 0.2% to $265 million[61] Debt and Cash Flow - Net debt decreased from $8 billion to $7.6 billion[42] - Free cash flow was $(26) million, a decrease from $136 million[70] Outlook - The company reaffirms FY26 guidance for organic net sales growth of -1% to +1%[51] - The company reaffirms FY26 guidance for adjusted operating margin of approximately 11.0% to 11.5%[51] - The company reaffirms FY26 guidance for adjusted EPS of $1.70 to $1.85[51] Other Key Points - Total inflation is now expected in the low 7% range[48] - Capital expenditures are estimated at approximately $450 million for FY26[49]

Core Insights - The company, known for brands like Reddi-Wip and Slim Jim, reported quarterly earnings that exceeded analysts' expectations [1] Financial Performance - The quarterly earnings showcased a strong performance, indicating robust demand for the company's products [1] - Analysts had anticipated lower earnings, making the actual results a positive surprise [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Conagra's organic net sales for Q1 2026 were $2.6 billion, reflecting a 0.6% decline compared to the prior year [18] - Adjusted gross margin was 24.4% and adjusted operating margin was 11.8%, both down from the previous year but slightly better than initial expectations [18] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.39, down $0.14 from the year-ago period [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Grocery and Snacks segment net sales were $1.1 billion, representing a 1% decline in organic net sales [19] - Refrigerated and Frozen segment also delivered $1.1 billion in net sales, with organic net sales up 0.2% [20] - International segment organic net sales declined 3.5%, while Foodservice segment returned to growth with a 0.2% increase [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - 44% of Conagra's portfolio held or gained volume share in Q1, an improvement from Q4 fiscal 2025 [7] - Frozen portfolio volumes improved by 3.2 points compared to Q4 fiscal 2025, with significant share gains in frozen vegetables, meals, and prepared chicken [8] - Snacks business saw strong volume in protein snacks, but faced declines in specific products due to promotional timing shifts [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing its frozen and snacks segments while investing in supply chain resiliency [16] - Conagra is maintaining a disciplined approach to capital allocation, with $450 million planned for capital expenditures [15] - The company successfully completed divestitures of Chef Boyardee and frozen seafood businesses, using proceeds to reduce net debt by over $400 million [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expects inflationary pressures and weak consumer sentiment to persist, reaffirming full-year guidance for fiscal 2026 [5] - Core inflation expectations have increased to the low 7% range, primarily due to rising costs in animal proteins [14] - The company anticipates organic net sales growth for the second half of the year as supply constraints ease [28] Other Important Information - Conagra reduced net debt by nearly $1.1 billion compared to the year-ago period, ending the quarter with net leverage at 3.55 times [25] - The company is on track to complete its supply chain modernization efforts, including the Baked Chicken project [12] - Adjusted SG&A expenses were unfavorable to the prior year due to higher incentive compensation and advertising spend [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for organic net sales growth? - The company continues to expect organic net sales growth in the range of negative 1% to positive 1% for fiscal 2026 [26] Question: How is the company managing inflation and tariff costs? - The company has been able to mitigate a large portion of tariff costs in Q1 but expects higher net tariff costs in Q2 due to inventory utilization [28] Question: What is the outlook for the second quarter? - The company expects organic net sales to decline in low single digits in Q2, driven by recent consumption trends and trade expense shifts [28]

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Conagra Brands beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter sales on Wednesday, helped by resilient demand for its pantry staples such as Slim Jim meat snacks and Act II popcorn, even as inflation wei... ...