Group 1 - Shares of Utz Brands, Inc. have decreased by approximately 50% over the past year as the market adjusts to its previously high valuations [2] - The Insiders Forum, led by Bret Jensen, focuses on small and mid-cap stocks that are attractively valued and have seen significant insider purchases [2] - The portfolio managed by The Insiders Forum aims to outperform the Russell 2000 benchmark over time [2]

Core Insights - Utz Brands (UTZ) stock is considered undervalued due to strong execution across its core brands, market share gains, and margin expansion through supply-chain improvements [1] - The company's valuation remains inexpensive, indicating potential for growth [1] Company Strategy - The investment strategy focuses on technical analysis combined with the CAN SLIM methodology to identify high-growth companies often overlooked by mainstream analysts [1] - The emphasis is on emerging businesses with strong financial momentum, rapid earnings growth, and signs of institutional interest, which are indicators of potential stock price increases [1] Market Analysis - The research process integrates both fundamental and technical perspectives, paying attention to indicators such as relative strength, unusual trading volume, and earnings acceleration [1] - The goal is to identify stocks poised for significant breakouts before they gain broader market recognition [1] Community Engagement - Writing on Seeking Alpha serves as a platform to validate investment ideas, document research, and connect with a community of investors [1] - The focus is on uncovering under-the-radar growth stocks with strong fundamentals and favorable technical setups [1]

Summary of UTZ Brands FY Conference Call (November 18, 2025) Company Overview - **Company**: UTZ Brands (NYSE:UTZ) - **Industry**: Packaged Food and Beverage, specifically focusing on salty snacks Key Points California Expansion - **Investment Impact**: The California expansion involves a modest upfront investment estimated at $4-$6 million in the first year, which is considered a startup cost rather than an ongoing expense [3][4][5] - **Market Size**: California represents 10% of the overall salty snack category, and the company aims to achieve a 16% margin target despite the initial investment [3][4] - **Sales Performance**: Current sales in California are $79 million, primarily through direct-to-warehouse channels, with expectations to grow as distribution expands [5][6] Metrics for Success - **Distribution Gains**: Key metrics include distribution gains, top-line growth, market share increases, and margin recovery over the next 12-24 months [8][9][10] - **Consumer Awareness**: Initial investments will focus on consumer awareness and execution in stores, with a lag expected between investment and return [8][9] Financial Performance - **Cash Flow and Leverage**: The minimal cash outlay for California will not affect the company's leverage targets, which aim to approach three times by year-end [11][12] - **CapEx Reduction**: Preliminary CapEx for 2026 is projected to be $60-$70 million, down from $100 million in previous years, with a focus on improving free cash flow [12][66] Market Share and Growth - **Outperformance**: UTZ has outperformed the salty snacks category for nine consecutive quarters, driven by maintaining market share in core areas and expanding into new markets [13][14] - **Brand Performance**: The company's "power four" brands (Utz, Boulder Canyon, Zapps, On the Border) are key drivers of growth, with successful distribution and marketing strategies [22][28] Pricing and Consumer Trends - **Pricing Strategy**: The company has experienced a modest pricing headwind of about 1%, attributed to targeted promotions and a rational pricing environment [17][18] - **Consumer Focus**: Affordability remains a key focus, with ongoing adjustments to pricing and product offerings to meet consumer demand [17][18][52][53] Innovation and Marketing - **Innovation Pipeline**: The company is focused on introducing new flavors and healthier options, leveraging existing brands to minimize investment while maximizing consumer appeal [29][30][31] - **Marketing Strategy**: Investment in marketing has increased, with a focus on both push and pull strategies to enhance brand awareness and consumer engagement [38][39][41] Operational Efficiency - **Productivity Initiatives**: The company has achieved significant productivity savings, with expectations to maintain a 3-4% improvement in COGS moving forward [54][55] - **Supply Chain Transformation**: Ongoing supply chain improvements are expected to enhance operational efficiency and support growth initiatives [62][64] Capital Allocation - **Debt Management**: The company prioritizes reducing leverage while considering share buybacks and maintaining a modest dividend [66][68] - **Growth Investments**: Future capital allocation will focus on growth opportunities, particularly in California and other expansion markets [66][70] Overall Outlook - **Future Prospects**: The company is optimistic about its growth trajectory, supported by a modernized supply chain, strong brand portfolio, and favorable market conditions [69][70] This summary encapsulates the key insights and strategic directions discussed during the UTZ Brands FY conference call, highlighting the company's focus on expansion, financial health, and market positioning within the salty snacks industry.

Core Insights - The article provides a market analysis focusing on four major companies: Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer Inc, Newmont Goldcorp Corp, and Novo Nordisk A/S, highlighting their recent performance and market trends [1] Company Summaries Eli Lilly and Company - Eli Lilly has shown significant growth in its pharmaceutical sales, particularly in diabetes and oncology segments, contributing to a robust revenue increase [1] - The company is actively investing in research and development to expand its product pipeline, which is expected to drive future growth [1] Pfizer Inc - Pfizer has experienced fluctuations in revenue due to varying demand for its COVID-19 vaccine, with a notable decline in sales as the pandemic situation evolves [1] - The company is focusing on diversifying its portfolio and enhancing its pipeline with new drug approvals to stabilize revenue streams [1] Newmont Goldcorp Corp - Newmont has reported a decrease in gold production, which has impacted its overall financial performance, reflecting challenges in the mining sector [1] - The company is implementing cost-cutting measures and exploring new mining projects to improve operational efficiency and profitability [1] Novo Nordisk A/S - Novo Nordisk continues to lead in the diabetes care market, with strong sales growth driven by its innovative insulin products [1] - The company is also expanding its presence in obesity treatment, which is expected to further enhance its market position and revenue potential [1]

Market Trends - The Santa Claus Rally is anticipated as a familiar market trend, historically resulting in stock increases 80% of the time during this period since 1972 [1] - This year's rally is expected to be accompanied by volatility due to factors such as AI speculation, a weakening labor market, and record-low consumer sentiment [2] Labor Market and Layoffs - October saw over 150,000 layoffs, the highest figure in 20 years, impacting companies including Amazon, which laid off 14,000 corporate employees [2] Stock Market Performance - The tech-heavy Nasdaq Index fell 5% recently, indicating cracks in the bull market, with Amazon shares dropping 6% [3] Investment Opportunities - Utz Brands Inc. (UTZ) is highlighted as an attractive investment, trading at 13 times forward earnings, significantly lower than its long-term average, with a profit outlook of 5% growth this year and 15% next year [12] - Greenwich LifeSciences Inc. (GLSI) is noted for its potential in cancer immunotherapy, with recent insider buying and FDA Fast Track designation, despite a 33% decline in shares due to short selling [15][19] - Matador Resources Co. (MTDR) is recognized for its strong insider buying activity and attractive cost structure, trading at a low valuation compared to peers, with a 4% dividend yield [22][25][26] Insider Buying as a Bullish Signal - Insider buying is considered a strong bullish signal, with examples of significant gains following such activity in companies like Longeveron Inc. and Nuvation Bio Inc. [14][27] Upcoming Events - A Profit Surge Event is scheduled, where insights on market volatility and trading opportunities will be shared [7][28]

Core Insights - Utz Brands is acquiring logistics infrastructure assets to enhance its presence in California, the largest market for salty snacks in the U.S. [1][2] - The acquisition includes direct store delivery routes from Insignia International, positioning California as a key growth area for Utz, which currently holds a 2% market share in the state [2][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves direct store delivery routes across California and additional assets in the Midwest, although the purchase amount remains undisclosed [2][3]. - California's retail sales of salty snacks amount to $4.1 billion, representing approximately 10% of the U.S. market [2]. Group 2: Market Position and Growth Potential - Utz's CEO, Howard Friedman, expressed optimism about the company's growth momentum and plans to accelerate its market presence in California by 2026 [3]. - The company aims to leverage its expanded scale to compete more effectively against larger snack manufacturers like Hershey and PepsiCo's Frito-Lay [5]. Group 3: Financial Performance - In the third quarter, Utz reported a 3.4% increase in net sales, reaching $377.8 million, and has seen consistent growth in volume share for nine consecutive quarters [6]. - Utz's retail sales grew by 3%, outperforming the overall salty snack market, which experienced a 1.2% decline [6].

Core Insights - Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Utz Brands by 23.7% during Q2, owning 36,797 shares valued at $462,000 [2] - Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 95.97% of Utz Brands' stock, indicating strong institutional interest [3] Institutional Activity - Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acquired a new position valued at approximately $196,000 in Q1 [3] - Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings by 7.2%, now owning 7,439,869 shares worth $104,753,000 after acquiring an additional 501,374 shares [3] - Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings by 38.0%, owning 5,671,757 shares valued at $79,858,000 after acquiring 1,560,884 shares [3] - GW&K Investment Management LLC raised its holdings by 19.7%, now owning 1,531,986 shares worth $21,570,000 [3] Analyst Ratings - UBS Group lowered its price target from $13.50 to $11.50, maintaining a "neutral" rating [4] - Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating with a price target of $14.00 [4] - TD Cowen reduced its price target from $14.00 to $12.00, setting a "hold" rating [4] - The consensus rating for Utz Brands is "Moderate Buy" with a target price of $16.07 [4] Stock Performance - Utz Brands stock opened at $10.52, with a market cap of $1.49 billion [5] - The company has a PE ratio of 150.34 and a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 [5] - The stock has a 12-month low of $10.19 and a high of $18.29 [5] Financial Results - For the latest quarter, Utz Brands reported an EPS of $0.23, meeting consensus estimates [6] - Revenue for the quarter was $377.80 million, up 3.4% year-over-year, exceeding the consensus estimate of $374.25 million [6] - The company has set FY 2025 EPS guidance at 0.824-0.847 [6] Dividend Information - Utz Brands announced a quarterly dividend of $0.061, representing an annualized yield of 2.3% [7] - The dividend payout ratio is currently 342.86% [7] Insider Transactions - Director Christina Choi sold 5,703 shares at an average price of $13.63, resulting in a 14.47% decrease in her position [8] - Insiders currently own 16.32% of the stock [8] Company Overview - Utz Brands, Inc. specializes in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of snack foods, offering a variety of products including potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn under various brand names [9]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding company or industry insights [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has maintained its expectation for EBITDA margins of around 16% in 2026, with an anticipated 100 basis points of expansion each year [23][28] - The company reported a 1% drag on pricing in the recent quarter, which was in line with expectations [42][46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is seeing strong growth in its Boulder Canyon brand, which is the number one potato chip brand in the natural channel, with velocities up about 35% [80] - The On the Border brand is experiencing short-term challenges, but management believes these issues are not structural and can be addressed [76][78] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has a 1.9% market share in California, which represents a significant opportunity as the state accounts for about 10% of the salty snacks category in the U.S. [41] - Expansion markets such as Florida, Illinois, Colorado, and Missouri are averaging about 6% growth, outperforming the average expansion market share [114][115] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to make incremental investments to support its expansion into California, leveraging a proven playbook from previous market entries [26][27] - The strategy focuses on holding core markets while expanding into new geographies, with a strong emphasis on innovation and communication to drive growth [111][112] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about the salty snacks category, noting that consumer participation is increasing and the pricing environment remains rational [120][121] - The company is committed to increasing marketing investments, particularly in retail media, to drive consumer engagement and support brand growth [124][125] Other Important Information - The company is addressing recent challenges related to potato supply quality, which impacted gross margins, but expects these issues to be isolated and resolved [61][66] - The company is focused on productivity improvements and supply chain optimization to enhance operational efficiency and support top-line growth [98][102] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the California route acquisition and its impact? - Management indicated that the acquired network will allow for product introduction in early 2026, with confidence in driving growth through existing customer relationships [40] Question: What is the outlook for pricing and volume mix? - The company experienced a 1% drag on pricing but expects to manage this through effective revenue management strategies [46][47] Question: How does the competitive landscape affect the company? - Management views competitor innovations as a net positive for the category, as they can drive consumer interest and engagement [88][90] Question: What are the expectations for market share dynamics? - The company is seeing incremental market share gains in core markets, driven by strong relationships with retailers and effective execution [111][112] Question: What is the company's approach to innovation? - Management believes that innovation can drive category growth and is focused on simplifying ingredients and addressing consumer trends [130][133]

Utz Brands, Inc. Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Presentation October 30, 2025 Disclaimer Forward-LookingStatements Certain statements made herein are not historical facts but are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. The forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by or include, without limitation, statements such as "may," "can," "should," "will," "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," " ...