Hormel Foods(US:HRL) Benzinga·2025-12-05 17:59Core Viewpoint - Hormel Foods Corporation reported fourth-quarter results that exceeded profit expectations but fell short on revenue, while providing a positive outlook for the upcoming year despite ongoing cost pressures [1]. Financial Performance - The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 32 cents, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of 30 cents [2]. - Quarterly sales amounted to $3.185 billion, which was below the expected $3.228 billion [2]. Management Commentary - Jeff Ettinger, interim CEO, noted solid top-line growth driven by brand relevance and a strong value-added portfolio, but acknowledged challenges in profitability due to persistent input cost inflation [3]. - The company anticipates fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.43 to $1.51 per share, exceeding the analyst projection of $1.36 [3]. - Hormel Foods forecasts sales between $12.2 billion and $12.5 billion, compared to the analyst estimate of $12.148 billion [3]. Stock Performance - Following the earnings announcement, Hormel Foods shares increased by 1.1%, trading at $24.42 [4]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - B of A Securities analyst Peter Galbo maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $25 to $26 [6]. - JP Morgan analyst Thomas Palmer maintained an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $27 to $28 [6]. - Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery also maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $25 to $26 [6].