Economic Overview - Economic uncertainty is affecting businesses and consumers in the U.S. due to ongoing tariff wars, yet the U.S. stock markets have reached record highs with a 14% year-to-date gain [1] - Analysts at Goldman Sachs suggest that investors should diversify their focus beyond a concentrated group of stocks that have driven market highs, as opportunities are emerging across various regions, sectors, and styles [2] FMCG Industry Insights - The global FMCG market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8% from 2025 to 2032, reaching $18.96 trillion, driven by shifts in consumer behavior and technological innovations [5] - Companies in the FMCG sector are well-positioned to withstand economic challenges due to the consistent demand for their products, which are typically low-priced [4] Investment Strategy - The best FMCG stocks are characterized by prudent financial management, healthy balance sheets, and sustainable profit margins, allowing them to navigate market fluctuations while providing shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks [6] - A methodology was employed to identify top FMCG stocks, focusing on those with an upside potential of over 20% and popularity among elite hedge funds in Q2 2025 [8][9] Company Highlights - **Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)**: Stock upside potential of 21.57%, with 55 hedge fund holders. The stock is viewed positively due to its underperformance relative to the sector and signs of operational improvement [10][11][12] - **Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR)**: Stock upside potential of 23.19%, with 34 hedge fund holders. The company anticipates sales growth of 2% to 4% over the next two years and a 7% to 9% CAGR in adjusted EPS through 2027 [14][15][16] - **Smithfield Foods Inc. (NASDAQ:SFD)**: Stock upside potential of 23.91%, with 27 hedge fund holders. The company recently confirmed a secondary public offering of 19.53 million shares priced at $23.35 each, with no proceeds going to Smithfield [17][18][19]

Group 1 - The company is hosting its 2025 Investor Day in New York, indicating a focus on engaging with investors and stakeholders [1] - The company has undergone significant transformation since the last Investor Day, suggesting a shift in strategy or operations [2] - The executive team will present the company's vision for the future and outline strategic priorities, highlighting a forward-looking approach [2] Group 2 - The Senior Vice President of Texture & Healthful Solutions will provide updates on the strategy and accomplishments in building a global presence, indicating ongoing development in this segment [3]

Group 1 - The company is hosting its 2025 Investor Day in New York, indicating a focus on engaging with investors and stakeholders [1] - The company has undergone significant transformation since the last Investor Day, suggesting a shift in strategy or operations [2] - The executive team will present the company's vision for the future and outline strategic priorities, highlighting a forward-looking approach [2] Group 2 - The Senior Vice President of Texture & Healthful Solutions will provide updates on the strategy for this segment, indicating ongoing development and focus on product offerings [3] - The presentation will include accomplishments since the last Texture Day, showcasing progress and achievements in the company's initiatives [3]

Summary of Ingredion's 2025 Investor Day Company Overview - **Company**: Ingredion (NYSE: INGR) - **Industry**: Ingredient solutions provider primarily for food and beverage, with growing segments in industrial, pharma, and beauty/home markets [9][10] Core Points and Arguments Business Transformation and Strategy - **Transformation Journey**: Ingredion has undergone significant transformation focusing on strategy development, portfolio optimization, and innovation [5][6] - **Strategic Vision**: The company aims to transition from being an ingredients provider to a solutions provider, enhancing value creation through disciplined capital allocation and strong risk management [7][12] - **Long-term Growth Targets**: New targets set for 2% to 4% net sales growth, 5% to 7% adjusted operating income growth, and 7% to 9% adjusted EPS growth for the next three years [33] Financial Performance - **Record Financials**: Achieved record levels of EBITDA, earnings per share, and cash, with increased gross profit margins [11] - **Cost Competitiveness**: Exceeded cost competitiveness targets, reinvesting savings into manufacturing and R&D [11][12] Market Position and Segmentation - **Market Segmentation**: Focus on texture and healthful solutions, with a strategy to leverage global reach and local expertise [14][19] - **Emerging Markets**: Significant growth potential in emerging markets, particularly in Asia-Pacific, with a focus on co-creating and reformulating products [35][54] Innovation and R&D - **Innovation Focus**: Emphasis on clean label products and texture solutions, with investments in R&D to drive innovation from "soil to shelf" [20][25] - **Predictive Formulation**: Utilizing advanced technologies to link consumer preferences to product development, enhancing speed to market [45][57] Operational Excellence - **Global Operating Model**: Transitioned to a global operating model to improve efficiency and service quality, with a focus on centralized procurement and supply chain management [29][59] - **Capacity for Growth**: Investments of over $300 million in recent years to enhance operational capacity and support growth initiatives [36][60] Important but Overlooked Content - **Customer Relationships**: Strong emphasis on leveraging deep customer relationships to identify growth pockets and co-create solutions [12][20] - **Sustainability Initiatives**: Focus on sustainable food packaging and biodegradable solutions in response to regulatory changes [28] - **Cultural Transformation**: Acknowledgment of the cultural shift within the organization to support solution selling and operational agility [41][66] Conclusion - **Future Outlook**: Ingredion is well-positioned for future growth with a strong focus on innovation, operational excellence, and market expansion, particularly in texture and healthful solutions [12][65]

Investor Day 2025 September 17 | New York City 1 2025 Investor Day INTRODUCTION Welcome & Opening Remarks Noah Weiss Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications 2025 Investor Day 2 2 Forward-looking statements This presentation contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Ingredion intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by th ...

Core Points - Ingredion Incorporated will host its 2025 Investor Day on September 17, 2025, starting at 9 a.m. (ET) and concluding around Noon (ET) [1] - The event will feature presentations from the CEO, CFO, and other executive leadership team members, followed by a Q&A session [2] - A live webcast of the presentation will be available, and a replay will be archived on the company's website for one year [2] Company Overview - Ingredion Incorporated is a leading global ingredient solutions provider, serving customers in over 120 countries [3] - The company reported annual net sales of approximately $7.4 billion for 2024, transforming various plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for multiple markets [3] - With over 11,000 employees and innovation centers worldwide, Ingredion focuses on co-creating with customers to enhance the quality of life through the integration of people, nature, and technology [3]

Core Viewpoint - Value investing remains a preferred strategy for identifying strong stocks, utilizing fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find undervalued stocks in the market [2] Group 1: Associated British Foods (ASBFY) - ASBFY holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A, indicating strong potential for value investors [4] - The stock is currently trading at a P/E ratio of 10.34, significantly lower than the industry average of 15.65 [4] - ASBFY's Forward P/E has fluctuated between 9.40 and 12.63 over the past year, with a median of 11.29 [4] - The P/B ratio for ASBFY is 1.39, which is attractive compared to the industry's average P/B of 1.90 [5] - Over the past 52 weeks, ASBFY's P/B has ranged from 1.18 to 1.65, with a median of 1.47 [5] - The stock's strong earnings outlook further supports its classification as an impressive value stock [8] Group 2: Ingredion (INGR) - INGR also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a Value score of A, making it another solid value stock in the Food - Miscellaneous sector [6] - The current Forward P/E ratio for INGR is 10.78, with a PEG ratio of 0.98, both lower than the industry averages of 15.65 and 1.18 respectively [6] - Over the last 12 months, INGR's P/E has varied from 10.74 to 14.44, with a median of 12.02 [7] - INGR's P/B ratio stands at 1.92, slightly above the industry's average of 1.90, with a 52-week range of 1.91 to 2.54 and a median of 2.21 [7] - The combination of these metrics suggests that INGR is likely undervalued at present [8]

Group 1: Lam Research Corporation - Lam Research reported revenues of $5.17 billion and a gross margin of 50.1% for the quarter ending June 2025, with net income rising to $1.72 billion or $1.35 per diluted share, up from $1.03 in the prior quarter [1] - The company expects revenues around $5.2 billion next quarter, with earnings per share near $1.20, indicating continued strength in its core business [1] - Lam Research's stock has climbed 34.72% over the past year, with a strong 41% gain so far in 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the demand for advanced chips [3] - The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, up from $0.23, payable on October 15, 2025, marking its commitment to returning value to shareholders [6] - Lam Research continues to innovate with the launch of the ALTUS Halo tool for advanced chip production and has invested in Zettabyte, focusing on the growing AI market [7] Group 2: Ingredion Incorporated - Ingredion increased its quarterly payout to $0.82 per share on August 27, 2025, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders [5] - The company reported a 13% jump in operating income to $271 million in Q2 2025, with earnings per share rising to $2.99 from $2.22 in the previous year [11] - Ingredion's stock has declined by 5.17% over the past year, but it offers a dividend yield of 2.5% and has increased dividends for 15 consecutive years, indicating potential value for investors [10] - The company is expanding its partnership with Univar Solutions to distribute plant-based ingredients and is investing $50 million to enhance its Cedar Rapids facility, showing a focus on growth beyond food ingredients [12] Group 3: Nordson Corporation - Nordson reported sales of $742 million in Q3 2025, a 12% increase compared to the prior year, with adjusted earnings per share jumping 13% to $2.73 [17] - The company offers a dividend yield of 1.04% and has increased dividends for 63 straight years, with a payout ratio under 30% [16] - Analysts are positive on Nordson's future, with all surveyed giving it a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating and an average price target of $256.44, indicating roughly 15% upside from the current price [19] Group 4: Market Overview - Recent dividend increases from Lam Research, Ingredion, and Nordson indicate confidence in their ability to generate steady cash flows amid uncertain economic conditions [20] - The semiconductor equipment sector, represented by Lam Research, shows strong growth potential, while Ingredion combines growth with a focus on healthier food options [20]

Economic Overview - U.S. consumer confidence dropped to 97.4 in August from 98.7 in July, indicating a decline of 1.3 points, with short-term expectations for income, business conditions, and employment also falling to 74.8 [4][5] - Concerns about the economy have been exacerbated by tariffs imposed by President Trump, which have raised inflation fears and impacted consumer confidence [5][6] - A weak labor market, characterized by slow job additions, has further fueled recession fears, despite low layoffs and unemployment rates [7] Investment Recommendations - Given the economic uncertainty, it is advisable to invest in low-beta defensive stocks from the utility and consumer staples sectors, which include Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO), Fortis, Inc. (FTS), Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN), Ingredion Incorporated (INGR), and Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV) [2][10] - These stocks are characterized by a beta greater than 0 but less than 1, indicating lower volatility, and they also offer high dividend yields [3] Company Profiles - **Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)**: Engaged in regulated natural gas distribution and storage, serving approximately 3.3 million customers across eight states. Expected earnings growth rate is 7.2% for the current year, with a beta of 0.75 and a dividend yield of 2.09% [8][9] - **Fortis, Inc. (FTS)**: Operates in the electric and gas utility sector, primarily in Canada and the Caribbean. Expected earnings growth rate is 4.6% for the current year, with a beta of 0.48 and a dividend yield of 3.57% [10][11] - **Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN)**: Focuses on natural gas distribution systems and pipeline projects, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Expected earnings growth rate is 25.3% for the current year, with a beta of 0.59 and a dividend yield of 4.72% [12][13] - **Ingredion Incorporated (INGR)**: Provides ingredient solutions specializing in nature-based sweeteners and starches, serving various sectors. Expected earnings growth rate is 6.7% for the current year, with a beta of 0.77 and a dividend yield of 2.47% [14] - **Carriage Services, Inc. (CSV)**: A leading provider of death care services in the U.S., offering a range of funeral and burial services. Expected earnings growth rate is 23.4% for the current year, with a beta of 0.86 and a dividend yield of 1.03% [15][16]

Company Overview - Ingredion Incorporated is a leading global ingredient solutions provider headquartered in the suburbs of Chicago, serving customers in over 120 countries [2] - The company reported annual net sales of approximately $7.4 billion for 2024, transforming grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for various markets [2] - Ingredion operates innovation centers called Idea Labs globally and employs more than 11,000 people, focusing on co-creating with customers to enhance life through the integration of people, nature, and technology [2] Dividend Announcement - The board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share on the common stock, marking the 11th consecutive year of dividend increases in the third quarter [1] - The dividend is scheduled to be payable on October 21, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on October 1, 2025 [1]