Appoints John O’Connor as Chief Financial Officer Appoints Ana Lopez as Senior Vice President Supply ChainCompany Reaffirms Full Year 2025 Outlook BEDMINSTER, N.J, Feb. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshpet, Inc. (“Freshpet” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FRPT) today announced the appointment of John O’Connor as Chief Financial Officer, effective February 9, 2026, and Ana Lopez as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, effective February 2, 2026. Mr. O’Connor succeeds Ivan Garcia, who has served as Interim Chie ...

BEDMINSTER, N.J., Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshpet, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRPT) (“Freshpet” or the “Company”) today announced it will report results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 on Monday, February 23, 2026 before market open. The Company will host a conference call with members of the executive management team to discuss these results with additional comments and details. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. ET on Monday, February 23, 2026. To participate ...

Key Points Chewy boosted its revenue and net profit margins while offering more than 130,000 pet products. Its expansion into high-margin business categories is commendable, but the entire pet industry is known for low margins. A high valuation and limited opportunities to expand net profit margins may mean it's better to stay on the sidelines. 10 stocks we like better than Chewy › Chewy (NYSE: CHWY) leverages e-commerce to boost sales for more than 130,000 pet products, but that hasn't been enou ...

Company Performance - Freshpet (FRPT) closed at $64.25, with a daily increase of +1.56%, outperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.06% [1] - Over the past month, Freshpet's shares have decreased by 3.61%, underperforming the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 1.35% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.99% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Freshpet is expected to report an EPS of $0.43, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 19.44% [2] - Revenue is forecasted to be $286.05 million, indicating an 8.88% growth compared to the same quarter last year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, earnings are projected at $2.49 per share, showing a significant increase of +223.38% from the previous year, while revenue is expected to remain at $1.1 billion [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Freshpet are crucial as they indicate confidence in the company's performance and profit potential [3] - The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, and Freshpet currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5] Valuation Metrics - Freshpet has a Forward P/E ratio of 43.47, which is significantly higher than its industry's Forward P/E of 12.96 [6] - The PEG ratio for Freshpet is 1.55, which is in line with the average PEG ratio for Food - Miscellaneous stocks [6] Industry Context - The Food - Miscellaneous industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector and currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 176, placing it in the bottom 29% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Company Performance - Freshpet (FRPT) closed at $60.13, reflecting a -4.62% change from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.14% [1] - Over the past month, Freshpet's shares have appreciated by 10.02%, outperforming the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 0.83% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.94% [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts expect Freshpet to report earnings of $0.43 per share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 19.44% [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $285.92 million, which represents an 8.83% increase from the prior-year quarter [2] - For the annual period, earnings are anticipated to be $2.49 per share and revenue is expected to reach $1.1 billion, reflecting growth of +223.38% and +13.08% respectively from the last year [3] Analyst Estimates and Valuation - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Freshpet indicate positive sentiment regarding the company's business operations and profit generation capabilities [4] - The Zacks Rank system currently assigns Freshpet a rank of 3 (Hold), with the consensus EPS estimate having moved 0.35% lower over the last 30 days [6] - Freshpet's Forward P/E ratio stands at 25.37, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 13.83 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 0.9, while the average PEG ratio for the Food - Miscellaneous industry is 1.96 [8] Industry Context - The Food - Miscellaneous industry, part of the Consumer Staples sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 201, placing it in the bottom 19% of over 250 industries [9]

Core Viewpoint - Brokerage recommendations, particularly for Freshpet (FRPT), suggest a favorable outlook, but reliance solely on these recommendations may not be prudent due to potential biases in the ratings [5][11]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Freshpet has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, indicating a "Buy" based on the recommendations from 18 brokerage firms, with 50% of these being "Strong Buy" [2]. - The ABR is calculated based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals, while the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model based on earnings estimate revisions [10]. Group 2: Analyst Bias and Effectiveness - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6]. - This bias suggests that the interests of brokerage firms may not align with those of retail investors, potentially misleading them regarding future stock price movements [7][11]. Group 3: Zacks Rank Comparison - The Zacks Rank, which categorizes stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, is considered a more effective indicator of stock price performance compared to the ABR [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is timely in reflecting changes in earnings estimates, unlike the ABR, which may not be up-to-date [13]. Group 4: Current Earnings Estimates for Freshpet - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet remains unchanged at $2.59 for the current year, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Freshpet holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the favorable ABR [15].

Core Viewpoint - The article summarizes significant analyst rating changes that are expected to impact the market, highlighting both upgrades and downgrades across various companies and sectors [1][6]. Upgraded Ratings - Roku (ROKU): Morgan Stanley upgraded the rating from "Underweight" to "Overweight," raising the target price from $85 to $135, citing strong performance in the digital advertising market and expected robust growth in U.S. advertising spending by 2026 [5]. - Okta (OKTA): Jefferies upgraded the rating from "Hold" to "Buy," increasing the target price from $90 to $125, noting Okta's efforts to build a comprehensive identity authentication platform that can capitalize on the growing demand for intelligent agents [5]. - ServiceNow (NOW): Guggenheim upgraded the rating from "Sell" to "Neutral," stating that the current stock price is below the previously set target price, making it attractive [5]. - Rockwell Automation (ROK): Goldman Sachs upgraded the rating from "Sell" to "Neutral," raising the target price from $329 to $448, highlighting the potential operational leverage from structural price increases under new management [5]. - L3 Harris Technologies (LHX): Morgan Stanley upgraded the rating from "Hold" to "Overweight," increasing the target price from $350 to $367, based on a positive outlook for the aerospace and defense sector in 2026, with demand growth expected to outpace supply [5]. Downgraded Ratings - Zimmer Biomet (ZBH): Baird downgraded the rating from "Outperform" to "Neutral," lowering the target price from $117 to $100, citing disappointing performance expectations for 2025 and potential market share loss to Stryker's Mako orthopedic surgical robot [5]. - Capri Holdings (CPRI): Wells Fargo downgraded the rating from "Overweight" to "Hold," raising the target price from $25 to $27, indicating that previous positive factors driving the stock price have diminished, leading to increased market divergence on growth expectations [5]. - Lockheed Martin (LMT): Morgan Stanley downgraded the rating from "Overweight" to "Hold," reducing the target price from $630 to $543, while still optimistic about the aerospace and defense sector's outlook [5]. - StubHub (STUB): Citizens Bank downgraded the rating from "Outperform" to "Market Perform," with no target price set, anticipating increased market competition in 2026 that may limit market share growth [5]. - GitLab (GTLB): KeyBanc downgraded the rating from "Overweight" to "Sector Weight," with no target price set, expressing concerns over pricing power potentially hindering growth and increased execution risks due to a shift to a usage-based billing model [5]. Initiated Coverage - MongoDB (MDB): Raymond James initiated coverage with a "Market Perform" rating and no target price, noting the balanced market sentiment around the stock despite its strategic importance in the independent database platform sector [11]. - D-Wave Quantum (QBTS): Jefferies initiated coverage with a "Buy" rating and a target price of $45, highlighting the increasing market attention and application rates for various quantum computing architectures [11]. - Omnicom Group (OMC): Morgan Stanley resumed coverage with a "Hold" rating and a target price of $88, indicating that the company's merger integration efforts present both opportunities and risks [11]. - Freshpet (FRPT): Morgan Stanley initiated coverage with a "Hold" rating and a target price of $71, recognizing the long-term growth potential in the pet food industry but cautioning against short-term economic pressures [11]. - Jumia Technologies (JMIA): Craig-Hallum initiated coverage with a "Buy" rating and a target price of $18, emphasizing the company's optimized product offerings and logistics network as key drivers for achieving sustainable double-digit growth by 2030 [11].

Core Insights - Freshpet has transformed the pet food industry by offering a variety of real foods and treats made from fresh meats, vegetables, and fruits [2] Company Overview - Freshpet products are sold in branded refrigerators located in grocery, mass, club, and pet specialty stores [2] Leadership - The presentation features Freshpet's CEO, Billy Cyr, who is leading the company's innovative approach in the pet food market [2]

Freshpet Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Freshpet - **Industry**: Pet Food - **Focus**: Fresh pet food made from real meats, vegetables, and fruits, sold in branded refrigerators in grocery and pet specialty stores [1][3] Key Points and Arguments Company Progress and Capabilities - Freshpet has made significant progress in building its manufacturing network and scaling the business, now guiding for positive free cash flow a year ahead of schedule [3][4] - Improvements categorized into three areas: personnel, systems, and processes [4][5] - **Personnel**: Expanded team with key hires including a new COO and enhanced finance and marketing teams [4] - **Systems**: Investment in data analytics and manufacturing operations to improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) [5][6] - **Processes**: Simplification of operations to enhance efficiency as the company transitions from $300 million to $1 billion in revenue [6] Financial Performance and Margins - Focus on operational efficiency is expected to drive gross margin improvements, with a target of 48% by 2027 [8][44] - Logistics costs reduced from 11.5% to 5.5% of sales, and quality costs decreased from over 6% to around 2% [48][49] - Yield improvements in production are a key driver for lowering input costs [49] Market Dynamics and Growth Outlook - The pet food category, particularly dog food, has experienced a slowdown due to consumer hesitance in making long-term commitments amid economic uncertainty [9][10] - There is a significant pent-up demand for pet ownership that is expected to be unleashed once consumer confidence returns [10][12] - The cat food segment is growing at 5-6%, as cats are perceived as lower maintenance pets [13] Strategic Initiatives - Freshpet is adapting its marketing strategy to emphasize value and the benefits of fresh food, targeting consumers willing to trade up in quality [15][16] - Focus on expanding distribution in high-traffic retail locations like Walmart and Costco [17] - Plans to increase household penetration from 2.3 million MVPs (Most Valuable Pet owners) to 3-5 million [22] Competitive Landscape - Freshpet anticipates increased competition in the fresh pet food space but believes its established brand loyalty and manufacturing capabilities provide a strong competitive moat [40][41] - The company has invested in diverse product offerings and a broad retail footprint to maintain its market position [41][42] Technology and Innovation - New manufacturing technology is expected to enhance product quality and operational efficiency, with initial products ready for shipment soon [50][54] - The company is optimistic about the potential for yield and throughput improvements from the new technology [56][58] E-commerce and Consumer Trends - Freshpet's e-commerce sales are growing, with a focus on meeting consumers where they prefer to shop, including DTC and partnerships with platforms like Instacart [66][71] - The company aims to improve customer acquisition costs while increasing the lifetime value of customers [76][77] Long-term Vision - Freshpet is committed to improving returns on invested capital and has achieved free cash flow positivity this year, marking a significant milestone [86] - The company views the current economic challenges as temporary and remains focused on long-term growth in a large and expanding total addressable market (TAM) [84][85] Additional Important Insights - Freshpet's marketing strategy has evolved to better resonate with consumers, focusing on the quality and value of its products [78][79] - The company has built a strong business foundation over the past decade, investing $1.3 billion to create a resilient operation [86]

Group 1 - The core thesis for Freshpet (FRPT) is that it may become a GARP (Growth at a Reasonable Price) stock due to a declining stock price and an expanding market [1] - Freshpet is actively setting up pop-up freezers that are stocked with high-quality pet food, indicating a strategic move to enhance market presence [1] Group 2 - The article reflects a focus on long-term investment opportunities, particularly in sectors such as restaurants, retailers, and food manufacturers [1]