Key Takeaways Kinross' Q2 production costs rose 4% to $1,074 per ounce, with AISC up 8% to $1,493 per ounce.The company expects 2025 AISC of $1,500 and cash costs of $1,120 per ounce amid inflation and lower output.KGC's AISC remains below Barrick and Newmont, though rising costs point to margin compression risks ahead.Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) saw a roughly 4% year-over-year rise in production costs of sales per ounce to $1,074 in the second quarter. All-in-sustaining costs (AISC), a key indicator of ...

Core Insights - Hershey plans to implement a double-digit price increase across its confection portfolio due to rising cocoa costs [1][4] - The price increase is not influenced by tariffs or trade policies, but rather reflects the reality of escalating ingredient costs, particularly cocoa [2] - Cocoa prices have experienced significant fluctuations, reaching a record high in December due to supply issues in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, although they have recently fallen to an eight-month low [4] Company Actions - During a quarterly earnings call, Hershey's CEO indicated that the company is adjusting pack sizes and pricing to manage high input costs, particularly for seasonal items, which will result in higher prices in the second and third quarters [5]

Core Insights - Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) is expected to report a decline in both revenue and earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) estimated at 59 cents, reflecting a 3.3% decrease year-over-year [1][8] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is projected at $2.9 billion, indicating a 1.8% decline from the previous year [1][8] - For fiscal 2025, the overall earnings guidance suggests a decline of 12.7% in EPS to $2.33, with organic net sales growth expected to decrease by 2% [1][4] Financial Performance - The adjusted operating margin for fiscal 2025 is projected at 14.4%, down from previous levels, with adjusted earnings forecasted at $2.35 per share, a decrease from $2.67 in fiscal 2024 [4] - The trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise for CAG averages almost -0.1% [1] Cost Pressures - Persistent cost inflation, particularly in input and protein costs, continues to impact margin performance, with an expected adjusted gross margin contraction of 170 basis points year-over-year [2] - Rising selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, including advertising and promotional spending, are further squeezing profitability [2] Market Conditions - The Foodservice segment is under pressure due to weaker commercial traffic and a sluggish recovery in out-of-home dining, reflecting broader industry challenges [3] - Currency volatility due to international exposure adds additional pressure on the company's performance [3]

Core Insights - Aris Mining Corporation (ARMN) and B2Gold Corp. (BTG) are both international gold mining companies with operations in the Americas, focusing on emerging markets [1] - Gold prices have increased approximately 26% this year, reaching a peak of $3,500 per ounce in April 2025, driven by geopolitical tensions and central bank purchases [2] - Both companies are positioned to benefit from the favorable gold price environment, but they face challenges from rising costs [24] Aris Mining Highlights - Aris Mining has shown an 8% year-over-year increase in gold production for Q1, aiming for a full-year production guidance of 230,000 to 275,000 ounces [4][8] - The Segovia Operations in Colombia are crucial for production growth, with expansion projects expected to increase production rates significantly in the second half of 2025 [5] - The company has a strong balance sheet with a cash balance of $240 million and generated $40 million in cash flow in Q1, supporting its growth initiatives [7] - However, Aris Mining's all-in-sustaining costs (AISC) increased to $1,570 per ounce, indicating a decline in cost efficiency [8][9] B2Gold Highlights - B2Gold is on track to produce between 970,000 and 1,075,000 ounces of gold in 2025, benefiting from new projects like the Goose Project and the Gramalote Project [12][13] - The company has a solid financial position with cash and cash equivalents of $330 million and a low long-term debt-to-capitalization ratio of 11.4% [14] - B2Gold offers a dividend yield of 2.2% and has a payout ratio of 44%, indicating a commitment to returning value to shareholders [14] - The company's AISC rose to $1,533 per ounce, reflecting cost inflation pressures across its operations [15] Stock Performance and Valuation - Year-to-date, Aris Mining's stock has increased by 89.1%, while B2Gold's stock has risen by 45.9%, compared to the Zacks Mining – Gold industry's increase of 56.6% [16] - Aris Mining is trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 4.44, which is a 67.2% discount to the industry average of 13.52X [19] - B2Gold is trading at a forward earnings multiple of 7.15, which is below the industry average but at a premium to Aris Mining [20] Earnings Growth Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Aris Mining's 2025 sales and EPS indicates a year-over-year growth of 55.7% and 226.5%, respectively [21] - B2Gold's 2025 sales and EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 56.2% and 231.3%, respectively [22]

Core Insights - Nomad Foods Limited (NOMD) is facing increasing input cost pressures, particularly in protein categories such as chicken and red meat, due to heightened demand and disruptions related to Asian flu in Europe [1][7] - The company's management indicated that pricing actions are being implemented but will likely lag behind cost inflation in the near term, leading to a revised lower adjusted EBITDA growth guidance for 2025 [2][3] Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, Nomad Foods reported a gross margin increase of 90 basis points year-over-year to 27.8%, but adjusted EBITDA declined by 1.8%, indicating early signs of margin pressure [2][7] - The updated guidance for adjusted EBITDA growth for 2025 has been revised downward to a range of 0% to 2%, from a previous range of 2% to 4% [2] Market Position and Strategy - Nomad Foods has a history of pricing to recover cost increases, but prolonged inflation in protein inputs may challenge consumer elasticity, particularly in value-seeking markets like the UK [3] - The company must balance cost recovery with demand retention while maintaining brand strength to offset margin pressure in the upcoming quarters [3] Peer Comparison - Conagra Brands (CAG) is also facing elevated protein and input costs, resulting in a 389-basis-point adjusted gross margin decline in Q3 fiscal 2025, and is focusing on portfolio restructuring [4] - Lamb Weston reported 9% global volume growth in Q3 fiscal 2025 and is executing over 30 strategic projects, despite a 5% decline in price/mix due to strategic pricing adjustments [5] Valuation Metrics - Nomad Foods shares have decreased approximately 5.5% in the past month, compared to a 1.7% decline in the industry [6] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 7.89X, significantly lower than the industry average of 15.77X [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nomad Foods' current financial-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 4.6% and 7.3%, respectively [11] - For Q2 2025, the consensus estimate for sales is $892.71 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth estimate of 5.54% [12]

Core Insights - The TJX Companies is experiencing increased operating costs, particularly in wages and sourcing, impacting its financial performance [1][3] - The company anticipates further declines in gross margin due to tariff-related costs and ongoing inflationary pressures [2][3] Financial Performance - In Q1 of fiscal 2026, selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses rose to 19.4% of sales, an increase of 20 basis points from the previous year, primarily driven by higher store payroll costs [1][7] - Gross margin decreased by 50 basis points to 29.5%, influenced by unfavorable inventory hedge adjustments [1] - For Q2 of fiscal 2026, gross margin is projected to decline by another 40 basis points year-over-year to 30% [2][7] - The company expects fiscal 2026 gross margin to be between 30.4% and 30.5%, reflecting a 10-20 basis point drop from the prior year [2][7] Cost Management - The company is implementing mitigation strategies, including pricing adjustments and sourcing shifts, to address cost pressures [2][3] - Ongoing inflation in wages, freight, and tariffs complicates the maintenance of gross margin, necessitating a balance between margin preservation and value positioning [3] Peer Comparison - Dollar General reported an 8.5% year-over-year increase in SG&A in Q1 of fiscal 2025, attributed to higher labor costs and incentive compensation [4] - Burlington Stores experienced a 4.8% year-over-year rise in SG&A, with sourcing costs increasing to $197 million from $183 million [5] Valuation and Estimates - TJX shares have declined by 8.2% in the past month, compared to a 5% decline in the industry [6] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for TJX is 26.74X, lower than the industry average of 32.42X [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings growth of 4.7% for fiscal 2026 and 10.3% for fiscal 2027 [9]

Core Insights - Newmont Corporation's first-quarter 2025 results indicate significant increases in unit costs, with gold costs applicable to sales rising 16% year over year to $1,227 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs (AISC) reaching $1,651 per ounce, reflecting a 13% sequential and 15% year-over-year increase [1][6] Cost Trends - Newmont expects gold AISC for its total portfolio to be $1,630 per ounce in 2025, up from $1,516 per ounce in 2024, driven by increased direct operating costs and inflation [2][6] - Higher labor costs, which account for about half of Newmont's direct costs, are a significant concern, alongside rising materials and contract services costs [2][6] - The company anticipates unit costs for the second quarter to be similar to or slightly higher than the first quarter due to increased sustaining capital spending, which is expected to peak in the second quarter [2] Peer Comparisons - Barrick Mining Corporation experienced a 22% sequential increase in AISC to $1,775 per ounce, influenced by operational challenges and lower production [3] - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited reported a slight decline in AISC of 0.6% in the first quarter but projects an increase for the remainder of 2025, with total cash costs per ounce expected between $915 and $965 [4] Market Performance - Newmont's shares have increased by 43.2% year to date, compared to a 48.1% rise in the Zacks Mining – Gold industry, largely due to a rally in gold prices [5] - The company is currently trading at a forward 12-month earnings multiple of 12.12, which is approximately 9.6% below the industry average of 13.4X, and holds a Value Score of A [9] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Newmont's earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 20.1% for 2025 and 11.7% for 2026, with EPS estimates trending higher over the past 60 days [10]