Core Viewpoint - Geopolitical tensions, delayed interest rate cuts, and tariff uncertainties are causing market volatility, despite a slight rebound in consumer confidence [1][4][5] Group 1: Market Conditions - The Federal Reserve maintained interest rates at 4.25% to 4.5%, indicating a cautious approach to rate cuts while monitoring the impact of tariffs on inflation [4] - Policymakers have lowered the 2025 economic growth forecast to 1.4% and increased the core inflation outlook to 3.1% due to tariff-related uncertainties [5] - Ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly between Iran and Israel, are contributing to market volatility, with potential U.S. involvement raising further concerns [6][7] Group 2: Investment Recommendations - In light of market volatility, investing in low-beta defensive stocks from the consumer staples sector is recommended, including Philip Morris International Inc. (PM), Nomad Foods Limited (NOMD), Altria Group, Inc. (MO), The Coca-Cola Company (KO), and Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) [2][11] - These stocks are characterized by low beta (greater than 0 but less than 1), high dividend yields, and favorable Zacks Ranks [3] Group 3: Company Profiles - **Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 13.7% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 and a dividend yield of 2.96% [9] - **Nomad Foods Limited (NOMD)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 7.3% for the current year, Zacks Rank 1, and a dividend yield of 3.96% [13] - **Altria Group, Inc. (MO)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 5.3% for the current year, Zacks Rank 2, and a dividend yield of 6.86% [15] - **The Coca-Cola Company (KO)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 3.1% for the current year, Zacks Rank 2, and a dividend yield of 2.95% [17] - **Ingredion Incorporated (INGR)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 6.1% for the current year, Zacks Rank 2, and a dividend yield of 2.34% [19]

Effective Oct. 1, 2025, the distribution expansion will bring a wide range of plant-based and clean label products, including the innovative Novation® range of functional native starches, plant-based proteins, and a comprehensive portfolio of stevia sweeteners developed by PureCircle by Ingredion, to meet growing consumer demand for clean label ingredients and sugar reduction. "Together with Ingredion, we stand at the forefront of ingredient innovation, committed to shaping the future of food with high-qual ...

Core Insights - Investors in the Food - Miscellaneous sector may consider Ingredion (INGR) and Danone (DANOY) as potential undervalued stocks [1] Valuation Metrics - Both INGR and DANOY currently have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions and improving earnings outlooks [3] - INGR has a forward P/E ratio of 12.34, while DANOY has a forward P/E of 20.04, suggesting INGR is more attractively priced [5] - The PEG ratio for INGR is 1.12, compared to DANOY's PEG ratio of 6.49, indicating INGR's better valuation relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - INGR's P/B ratio is 2.24, while DANOY's P/B ratio is 2.98, further supporting the argument that INGR is the superior value option [6] - Based on these valuation metrics, INGR holds a Value grade of A, while DANOY has a Value grade of C, highlighting INGR's stronger position in terms of value [6]

Investors might want to bet on Ingredion (INGR) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade primarily reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.The power o ...

Key Takeaways INTU, FOX, QFIN, UGI and INGR show consistent dividend growth and strong long-term earnings potential. These stocks witnessed positive estimate revisions and boast solid expected earnings growth this fiscal year. Each company ranks in the top Zacks tiers and carries a Growth Score of A or B for added upside potential.Wall Street staged a nice comeback from the lows hit in early April and is currently hovering near record highs. Optimism around U.S.-China trade negotiations, easing inflation ...

I rate Ingredion ( INGR ) with a Buy rating. The company has been successful in its strategy to manufacture products with higher added value and more functionalities. These products have higher selling prices and profit margins. DueDaniel Mellado is an economist from Carabobo University with a Master's Degree in Statistics from Simon Bolivar University, both obtained in Venezuela.Daniel worked analyzing the agricultural commodity market and the financial investment portfolio for an agribusiness group. Then, ...

Financial Performance - Net sales for the first quarter of 2025 decreased by 4% to $1,813 million compared to $1,882 million in the same quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower raw material costs and foreign exchange impacts [77]. - Operating income increased by 30% in the first quarter of 2025, driven by volume growth and lower raw material costs [73]. - Gross profit margin improved to 26% in the first quarter of 2025 from 22% in the first quarter of 2024, reflecting an 8% decrease in cost of sales to $1,347 million [78]. - Net income attributable to Ingredion decreased to $197 million in the first quarter of 2025 from $216 million in the same quarter of 2024, largely due to a prior year gain from the sale of the South Korea business [84]. Segment Performance - Texture & Healthful Solutions segment net sales increased to $602 million in the first quarter of 2025, up from $597 million in the same quarter of 2024, with operating income rising 34% to $99 million [85][86]. - Food & Industrial Ingredients - LATAM segment net sales decreased by 7% to $573 million, while operating income increased by 26% to $127 million [87][88]. - Food & Industrial Ingredients - U.S./Canada segment net sales decreased by 4% to $520 million, but operating income increased by 6% to $92 million [89][90]. Liquidity and Cash Flow - Total available liquidity as of March 31, 2025, was $3.8 billion, with $1.5 billion in domestic liquidity and $2.3 billion in international liquidity [93][94]. - Cash provided by operating activities was $77 million for the first quarter of 2025, down from $209 million in the same quarter of 2024, primarily due to a $223 million change in working capital [97]. - Capital investment commitments for the remainder of 2025 are anticipated to be between $400 million and $450 million [98]. Risks and Challenges - The company faces various risks including changes in consumer preferences and geopolitical conflicts that may impact raw material availability and pricing [108]. - There is increased competitive pressure in the corn-refining industry, affecting market prices for primary products and co-products, particularly corn oil [109]. - Operating difficulties at manufacturing facilities and liabilities related to product safety and quality are ongoing concerns [109]. - The company is exposed to risks from climate change and regulatory measures aimed at addressing it [109]. - The company must manage costs effectively to achieve budgets and realize expected synergies from maintenance and investment projects [109]. - The ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and attract a skilled workforce is critical for the company's operations [109]. - The company is subject to legal and regulatory proceedings that may impact its business operations [109]. - Changes in government policy and tax rates could affect the company's financial performance and growth prospects [109]. Market Risk Disclosures - There have been no material changes in the company's market risk disclosures regarding interest rates, raw material costs, and foreign currencies during Q1 2025 [111].

Core Insights - Ingredion Incorporated reported strong performance in Q1 2025, driven by sales growth across global regions, particularly in clean label solutions, with a 34% increase in operating income for the texture and health solutions segment [1][4][10] - The company has raised its full-year earnings expectations due to the excellent performance in the first quarter, emphasizing its commitment to becoming the preferred choice for customers [1][21] - Despite a 4% decline in net sales compared to Q1 2024, the company achieved a 30% increase in reported operating income and a 26% increase in adjusted operating income [4][10][36] Financial Performance - Reported diluted EPS for Q1 2025 was $3.00, down from $3.23 in Q1 2024, while adjusted diluted EPS increased to $2.97 from $2.08 [2][4] - Total net sales for Q1 2025 were $1.813 billion, a decrease of 4% from $1.882 billion in Q1 2024, primarily due to changes in pricing mix and foreign exchange impacts [6][32] - Operating income for Q1 2025 was $276 million, reflecting a 30% increase from $213 million in Q1 2024, with adjusted operating income also showing a significant increase [10][37] Segment Performance - The texture and health solutions segment reported operating income of $99 million, a 34% increase year-over-year, driven by lower raw material costs and increased sales volume [13][37] - The Latin America food and industrial ingredients segment achieved operating income of $127 million, a 26% increase, benefiting from favorable market conditions and cost reductions [15][37] - The U.S./Canada food and industrial ingredients segment saw a slight increase in operating income to $92 million, up 6% year-over-year, attributed to improved product mix and cost management [17][37] Outlook - The company expects full-year 2025 reported EPS to range between $10.93 and $11.63, with adjusted EPS projected between $10.90 and $11.60, reflecting anticipated sales growth despite potential pricing and foreign exchange challenges [21][23] - For 2025, net sales are expected to achieve low single-digit growth, with operating income projected to grow close to 20% due to last year's impairment charge base effect [21][22] - The company anticipates a moderate increase in costs for the year, with capital expenditures expected to be between $400 million and $450 million [22][23]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, net sales were $1.8 billion, down 4% year-over-year, while gross profit dollars increased by 12%, with margins up 350 basis points to 25.7% [17][18] - Adjusted operating income rose by 26% year-over-year to $273 million, driven by lower raw material costs and greater sales volume [17][18] - Adjusted EPS increased by $0.89 per share, primarily due to an operating margin increase of $0.60 and other income of $0.17 [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Texture and Healthful Solutions segment saw net sales up 1% and operating income up 34%, with a margin of 16.4%, reflecting lower input costs and greater volumes [20] - Food and Industrial Ingredients LATAM experienced a 7% decline in net sales, but operating income improved by 26% to $127 million due to lower raw material costs [20] - In the U.S./Canada segment, net sales were down 4%, but operating income increased by 6% to $92 million, driven by lower raw material costs [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Organic growth was driven by a 3% increase in net sales volume, with Texture and Healthful Solutions growing by 7% across all geographies [8] - LATAM's net sales volumes decreased by 2%, primarily due to soft volumes in brewing, while the U.S./Canada segment saw strong volumes in brewing offset by weaker specialty starch sales [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on three strategic pillars: business growth, cost competitiveness, and a people-centric culture, with significant investments in expanding specialty industrial starch capacity [12][13][14] - The commitment to sustainability is highlighted by recognitions from Fortune and Ethisphere, reflecting the company's ethical practices and environmental efforts [14][16] - The company is actively monitoring the evolving trade environment and has set up a tariff response hub to navigate complexities [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains cautiously optimistic about 2025, citing customer collaborations driving volume growth and a diversified ingredient portfolio [29][30] - Key economic indicators such as low unemployment and moderating food inflation are viewed as positive signs for future performance [30] - The company anticipates minimal impact from current tariffs, with a strong local production and sales model [27][30] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $55 million of outstanding common shares and paid out $52 million in dividends in the first quarter [23] - Full-year cash from operations is expected to be between $825 million and $950 million, reflecting updates to working capital investments [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide insights on the updated guidance for Q2? - Management indicated that Q2 guidance is against a record year and expects solid performance in Texture and Healthful Solutions, while LATAM may see seasonal weakness [32][34] Question: What are the implications of recent corn planting data on costs? - Management noted that while some corn costs are unhedged, they have hedged 80-85% of their needs, which helps stabilize pricing [36][37] Question: How does the company view volumes amid consumer uncertainty? - Management remains optimistic about volume growth, particularly in Texture and Healthful Solutions, driven by affordable formulation trends [44][46] Question: What is the outlook for the LATAM segment? - The LATAM segment is expected to perform well, with positive operating income growth despite some volume declines in beverages [64][66] Question: How does the company plan to handle potential trade downs in consumer behavior? - Management stated that their product mix is resilient, with growth in private label products and clean label solutions, which are in demand regardless of economic conditions [58][60]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q1 2025, the company reported net sales of $1.8 billion, a decrease of 4% compared to the prior year, while gross profit dollars increased by 12%, leading to a gross margin of 25.7%, up 350 basis points [16][19][20] - Adjusted operating income rose by 26% year over year to $273 million, driven by lower raw material costs and increased sales volume [16][19] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter increased by $0.89, primarily due to an operating margin increase and lower financing costs [22][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Texture and Healthful Solutions segment saw net sales increase by 1% and operating income grow by 34%, with a margin of 16.4%, up 400 basis points from the previous year [19][20] - Food and Industrial Ingredients LATAM reported a 7% decrease in net sales, but operating income improved by 26% to $127 million, benefiting from lower raw material costs [19][20] - In the U.S./Canada segment, net sales decreased by 4%, while operating income increased by 6% to $92 million, driven by lower raw material costs [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a 3% organic growth in net sales volume, with a 7% increase in the Texture and Healthful Solutions segment [7][19] - The LATAM segment experienced a 2% decline in net sales volumes, primarily due to soft demand in brewing, although there was recovery in confectionery and bakery markets [8][19] - The U.S./Canada segment's strong volumes in brewing were offset by weaker sales of specialty starches for papermaking and packaging [8][19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three strategic pillars: business growth, cost competitiveness, and a people-centric performance culture [10][12][13] - A $50 million investment was announced for the Cedar Rapids facility to expand specialty industrial starch capacity and support innovation in sustainable food packaging [11] - The company is committed to reducing earnings volatility through expanded hedging practices and operational excellence [10][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for the remainder of 2025, highlighting customer collaborations driving volume growth and the importance of monitoring economic indicators such as unemployment and food inflation [29][30] - The company does not anticipate significant financial impacts from current tariffs, as most products are produced and sold locally [27][30] - Management is actively monitoring the evolving trade environment and has set up a tariff response hub to navigate complexities [28][30] Other Important Information - The company received several recognitions, including being named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies and one of Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies [13][14] - Cash generated from operations was $77 million, with capital expenditures of $92 million planned for organic growth initiatives [22][23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide insights on the updated guidance for Q2 and segment performance? - Management indicated that Q2 guidance is against a strong prior year, with expectations for the U.S./Canada segment to remain strong despite seasonal weakness in LATAM [34][35] Question: How do you view the impact of recent prospective plantings on corn costs? - Management noted that while some corn costs are unhedged, they have hedged 80-85% of their needs, which helps stabilize pricing [38] Question: What are the expectations for volumes in the context of consumer uncertainty? - Management remains optimistic about mid-single-digit sales volume growth, driven by trends towards affordable formulations [46][49] Question: How does the sales mix look in light of potential consumer trade downs? - Management stated that the ingredients supplied to private label customers are not significantly impacted by trade downs, and clean label solutions are performing well [56][60] Question: Can you elaborate on the performance in LATAM and any portfolio shifts? - Management highlighted improved performance in LATAM due to a stable Argentine peso and strategic shifts in product mix to higher-margin uses [65][66] Question: What is the size of the Pakistan affiliate business and potential sale implications? - Management indicated that the Pakistan business is similar in size to the South Korea business, but details on potential sale proceeds are not yet available [68][70]