Tariffs Make McCormick Look Less Spicy

Core Insights - McCormick's fiscal third-quarter results showed a 3% year-over-year increase in net sales, driven by organic growth and a weaker U.S. dollar [4][6] - The company reported adjusted earnings of $0.85 per share, exceeding expectations by a penny, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of growth [5][4] - Despite stable revenue and earnings, McCormick has cut its full-year earnings guidance due to rising costs from inflation and tariffs, now projecting earnings of $3.00 to $3.05 per share [6][9] Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q3 2024 was $1.68 billion, compared to $1.72 billion in Q3 2025, reflecting a 3% increase [3] - Adjusted earnings per share rose from $0.83 to $0.85, a 2% increase [3] - Adjusted gross profit margin decreased from 37.5% to 38.7%, a decline of 1.2 percentage points [3] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report on October 7, McCormick's stock fell by 4%, indicating investor disappointment over future growth prospects [7] - The stock's decline is part of a longer-term downward trend, as investors have shifted focus to companies with more substantial growth narratives [8]