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Can Dutch Bros Protect Its Margins as Coffee Inflation Heats Up?
ZACKS· 2025-11-20 18:31
Core Insights - Dutch Bros Inc. (BROS) is focusing on margin preservation amid rising input costs, particularly coffee, while maintaining strong traffic and new unit growth [1][2][7] - The company is experiencing significant coffee inflation, which is expected to persist into 2026, impacting margins despite the positive effects of its hot food program [2][7] - Digital adoption and targeted rewards are helping the company manage cost pressures and sustain transaction momentum [4][7] Financial Performance - BROS shares have declined 3.6% year-to-date, outperforming the industry average decline of 11% [5] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 4.2, higher than the industry average of 3.35 [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BROS' 2026 earnings per share remains at 86 cents, with a projected 27.6% rise in earnings [10][12] Operational Developments - The hot food program is contributing to higher ticket and transaction growth but introduces modest dilution to product margins [2][7] - Labor improvements are providing some relief, although increased payroll taxes in California are creating temporary margin headwinds [3] - Preopening expenses are rising as the company expands into new markets, impacting short-term EBITDA flow-through [3] Market Position - Demand fundamentals remain strong, with increased adoption of the Order Ahead feature and effective brand-building efforts supporting transaction growth [4] - Competitors like Starbucks, Sweetgreen, and Chipotle are experiencing varying declines in stock performance, with Sweetgreen seeing a significant drop of 81.1% [5]
Will Higher Coffee Prices Derail The J.M. Smucker's Volume Momentum?
ZACKS· 2025-07-22 18:06
Core Insights - The J.M. Smucker Company's coffee prices are significantly influenced by raw ingredient costs, tariffs, changing consumer patterns, and market volatility [1] - The company has raised coffee prices to address rising import costs, particularly due to tariffs, and has implemented pricing actions across its coffee portfolio [2][9] Pricing and Sales Performance - The primary driver for the price increase is the green coffee portfolio, with additional pricing actions in the Frozen Handheld and Spreads categories to offset rising costs [2] - In Q4 FY25, U.S. Retail Coffee segment sales increased by 11% due to higher net price realization, while volume/mix remained neutral [2][9] Earnings Outlook - Management indicated that EPS growth for fiscal 2026 would have surpassed expectations if not for high green coffee costs, noting an 80-cent impact from coffee inflation and pricing, and a 25-cent impact from tariffs [3] - The fiscal 2026 outlook anticipates approximately 20% net pricing, which may lead to a 10% decline in volumes due to price elasticity of demand [4] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors include Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Starbucks Corporation, both of which are actively pursuing strategies to enhance their market positions [5][7] - Keurig Dr Pepper has experienced a decline in its coffee segment, while Starbucks is focusing on revitalizing operations and expanding its market share through various strategic initiatives [6][7] Valuation and Estimates - The J.M. Smucker stock has decreased by 1.9% year-to-date, compared to a 3.9% decline in the industry [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 11.16X, below the industry average of 16.04X [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS suggests a year-over-year decline of 9.7%, while fiscal 2027 indicates an 8.7% growth [11]