Jerome Powell gave the keynote address in Jackson Hole.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter. You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here. The Federal Reserve did what everyone thought it would do. Don't get used to it. The central bank cut rates for the third time this year. BI's economy team broke down the announcement and answered your questions. BI's Allie Kelly also has a recap on what the latest rate cut means for ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q3 2025 increased approximately 9.6% to $1.021 billion from $931.5 million in Q3 2024 [12] - Gross profit increased 10% to $247.2 million for Q3 2025 compared to $224.7 million for Q3 2024 [13] - GAAP net income was $19.1 million or $0.44 per diluted share for Q3 2025, compared to net income of $14.1 million or $0.34 per diluted share for Q3 2024 [15] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $65.1 million compared to $54.5 million for the prior year [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty sales were up 7.7% over the prior year, driven by unique placement growth of 5.3% and reported specialty case growth of 3.2% [8] - Excluding the impact of the Texas Produce Processing and Packaging Program, specialty case growth was 5.4% versus the prior year quarter [8] - Center-of-the-plate pounds growth was 9.6% higher than the prior year when excluding the Texas Commodity Poultry Program attrition [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Reported inflation was 7.4% in Q3 2025, with 4.4% inflation in the specialty category and 12.3% inflation in the center-of-the-plate category [12] - Unique customer growth was approximately 5.8% year-over-year when excluding the impacts of the Texas poultry attrition and Middle East conflict [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed the acquisition of Italco Food Products, enhancing its presence in the Colorado market [10] - The focus remains on leveraging a unique go-to-market and supply chain model to grow in urban and resort markets [10] - The company is cautiously optimistic about the fourth quarter performance, with strong holiday bookings anticipated [74] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that business and demand trends improved sequentially through Q3, with continued momentum into October [6] - The company has not seen a material impact from the government shutdown and remains optimistic about market performance [26][27] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a diverse customer base to mitigate risks associated with economic downturns [41] Other Important Information - The company raised its full-year financial guidance, estimating net sales for 2025 to be in the range of $4.085 billion to $4.115 billion [17] - Total liquidity at the end of Q3 was $224.6 million, with net debt approximately $575.2 million [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the case growth trends and backdrop? - Management noted that July and August were stronger than expected this year, with good results continuing into October [22] Question: What is the potential impact of the government shutdown? - Management indicated that they have not seen a significant impact from past government shutdowns and remain cautiously optimistic [26][27] Question: Can you discuss the updated guidance and any conservatism in it? - Management raised full-year revenue guidance and feels confident about the mid to higher end of the guidance based on October trends [31] Question: How is the acquisition of Italco expected to impact capacity in Colorado? - Management expressed excitement about the acquisition, noting it aligns well with their growth strategy in the Rockies [32] Question: Have you seen accelerating share gains recently? - Management reported that high growth markets are growing low double digits, with mature markets also performing well [38] Question: What are the trends in beef costs and inflation? - Management acknowledged elevated protein prices but noted effective management of the inflationary environment [44] Question: How is the digital penetration progressing? - Management reported over 60% adoption on the specialty side, with digital tools enhancing salesforce efficiency [67] Question: What is the outlook for business-related travel? - Management noted ongoing domestic tourism and strong performance despite complaints about travel [69] Question: What are the operational challenges in key markets? - Management indicated that while challenges exist, they are optimistic about growth opportunities in Texas and other markets [85]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q3 2025 increased approximately 9.6% to $1.021 billion from $931.5 million in Q3 2024 [11] - Gross profit increased 10% to $247.2 million for Q3 2025 compared to $224.7 million for Q3 2024 [12] - GAAP net income was $19.1 million or $0.44 per diluted share for Q3 2025, compared to net income of $14.1 million or $0.34 per diluted share for Q3 2024 [13] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $65.1 million compared to $54.5 million for Q3 2024 [13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty sales were up 7.7% year-over-year, driven by unique placement growth of 5.3% and reported specialty case growth of 3.2% [6] - Center-of-the-plate pounds were approximately 1.1% lower than the prior year, but excluding the Texas Commodity Poultry Program attrition, growth was 9.6% higher than the prior year [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Unique customer growth was reported at 2.6% year-over-year, impacted by the Texas commodity poultry attrition and temporary conflict in the Middle East [7] - In the Middle East, the business continued to grow and exceed expectations despite temporary impacts [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed the acquisition of Italco Food Products, aiming to leverage its supply chain model to grow in urban and resort markets [9] - The company is focused on maintaining a diverse customer base and is cautiously optimistic about future growth despite economic uncertainties [50] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for Q4 2025, noting strong holiday bookings and positive trends continuing into October [77] - The company has not seen a material impact from government shutdowns historically and remains optimistic about its customer base's resilience [27][28] Other Important Information - The company raised its full-year financial guidance for 2025, estimating net sales between $4.085 billion and $4.115 billion [15][16] - Total liquidity at the end of Q3 was $224.6 million, with net debt approximately $575.2 million [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the growth trends observed in Q3? - Management noted that July and August were stronger than expected, with good results continuing into September and October [23] Question: What impact do you foresee from the government shutdown? - Management indicated that they have not seen a significant impact from past government shutdowns [27][28] Question: How does the acquisition of Italco fit into your growth strategy? - The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to enhance market presence in the Rockies and leverage existing capabilities [41][66] Question: How is the company managing inflation and beef costs? - Management acknowledged elevated protein prices but emphasized effective supply chain management to navigate inflation [54] Question: What is the outlook for digital penetration and its impact on customer engagement? - Digital tools are enhancing salesforce efficiency, with adoption rates over 60% [72][73]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its first interest rate cut since December, which could have significant implications for consumer confidence and corporate spending [2][3] - Concerns have been raised about the Fed's ability to manage inflation and maintain financial stability, reflecting a shift in perception compared to previous administrations [2][4] - Recent political drama surrounding the Fed, including threats from President Trump and changes in governance, may further impact the institution's credibility and market reactions [4] Group 1: Federal Reserve Actions - The anticipated interest rate cut of 0.25 percentage points aims to stimulate various economic activities such as homebuying and hiring [3] - There is uncertainty regarding how other variables, such as tariffs and technology, will influence the effectiveness of the rate cut [3] Group 2: Market Reactions and Sentiment - Leaders express skepticism about the Fed's current management of inflation and labor market shifts, indicating a lack of confidence in its decision-making [2][4] - The potential for the President to claim victory from a rate cut could further complicate the Fed's credibility and market dynamics [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales increased approximately 8.4% to $1,035 million from $954.7 million in the second quarter of 2024 [12] - Gross profit increased 11.1% to $254.3 million for 2025 compared to $229 million for 2024 [14] - GAAP net income was $21.2 million or $0.49 per diluted share for 2025 compared to $15.5 million or $0.37 per diluted share for 2024 [16] - Adjusted EBITDA for 2025 was $65.4 million compared to $56.2 million for the prior year [16] - Adjusted net income was $22.5 million or $0.52 per diluted share for 2025 compared to $17 million or $0.40 per diluted share for the prior year [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty sales were up 8.7% over the prior year, driven by unique customer growth of approximately 3.6% and placement growth of 8.7% [9] - Center of the Plate pounds were approximately 4% lower than the prior year, but excluding the attrition related to the Texas commodity protein program, growth was 5.8% higher [10][36] - Gross profit margins increased approximately 59 basis points to 24.6% [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net inflation was 7.2% in the second quarter, with 5% inflation in the specialty category and 10.8% in the center of the plate category [13] - Excluding the impact of attrition from the commodity poultry program, net inflation in the center of the plate category was 4.1% [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating Hardee's operations in Texas with its legacy operations to drive top-line and bottom-line improvements [8] - The company aims to create a $500 million CW business across Texas through cross-selling and expanding its customer base [71] - The company is exploring tuck-in acquisitions to utilize the capacity of its facilities while continuing to grow organically [77] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the operating environment, noting that customers are generally resilient and the company is gaining market share [21][22] - The company raised its full-year guidance for 2025, estimating net sales in the range of $4 billion to $4.06 billion [19] - Management indicated that the second half of the year is expected to show typical seasonality with a projected 6% revenue growth [68] Other Important Information - The company achieved the Great Place to Work certification for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting its focus on people as its greatest asset [7] - Total liquidity at the end of the second quarter was $260.3 million, comprised of $96.9 million in cash and $163.4 million available under its ABL facility [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are there any pockets of weakness or elevated restaurant closures? - Management noted some choppiness but overall expressed satisfaction with market share gains and customer resilience [21][22] Question: Have you seen an uplift in business dining with the return to office policies? - Management indicated a net positive effect on lunch business in major cities but noted it is balanced with local market impacts [24][25] Question: How is summer travel impacting demand? - Management observed a good July, suggesting a rebalancing of tourism and local dining [30][32] Question: What should be expected regarding Hardee's planned attrition? - Management expects continued impacts on reported volume numbers but sees long-term profitability benefits from shedding low-margin programs [36][41] Question: What is the outlook for inflation in the second half? - Management indicated that aggregate inflation is expected to remain moderate, with potential unforeseen impacts from tariffs [47][60] Question: Can you elaborate on gross margin improvements? - Management acknowledged moving parts affecting gross margin but highlighted ongoing initiatives contributing to improvements [52][54] Question: What is the outlook for M&A activity? - Management remains opportunistic regarding M&A, looking for tuck-in acquisitions to complement organic growth [77] Question: Are the 2028 goals contributing to current results? - Management confirmed that several initiatives related to the 2028 goals are contributing positively to current performance [82]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales increased by approximately 8.4% to $1,035 million from $954.7 million in Q2 2024 [10] - Gross profit increased by 11.1% to $254.3 million, with gross profit margins rising approximately 59 basis points to 24.6% [12] - GAAP net income was $21.2 million or $0.49 per diluted share, compared to $15.5 million or $0.37 per diluted share in Q2 2024 [13] - Adjusted EBITDA was $65.4 million for Q2 2025, up from $56.2 million in the prior year [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Specialty sales grew by 8.7% year-over-year, driven by unique customer growth of approximately 3.6% and placement growth of 8.7% [7] - Center of the Plate pounds were approximately 4% lower than the prior year, but excluding the impact of the Texas commodity protein program, growth was 5.8% [8][33] - Adjusted operating expenses increased by 9.3% year-over-year, representing 18.25% of net sales for Q2 2025 [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net inflation was reported at 7.2%, with 5% inflation in the specialty category and 10.8% in the center of the plate category [11] - Excluding the impact of attrition from the commodity poultry program, net inflation in the center of the plate category was 4.1% [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on integrating Hardee's operations in Texas with its legacy operations to drive top-line and bottom-line improvements [6] - The strategy includes shedding non-core programs to enhance distribution capacity and profitability [7][35] - The company aims to grow its business in Texas to over $500 million through cross-selling and expanding its customer base [70] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the resilience of their customer base and the ability to gain market share despite industry challenges [19][20] - The company raised its full-year guidance for 2025, estimating net sales between $4 billion and $4.06 billion [17] - Management noted that the second half of the year is expected to show typical seasonality, with a projected 6% revenue growth [66] Other Important Information - The company achieved the Great Place to Work certification for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting its focus on employee culture [6] - Total liquidity at the end of Q2 was $260.3 million, including $96.9 million in cash [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are there any pockets of weakness or elevated restaurant closures? - Management noted some choppiness but overall expressed satisfaction with market share gains and customer resilience [19] Question: Have you seen an uplift in business dining with return to office policies? - Management indicated a net positive impact on lunch business in major cities but noted a balance with local markets [21] Question: How is summer travel impacting demand? - Management observed a good July, suggesting a rebalancing of tourism and restaurant spending [28][30] Question: What is the expected impact of Hardee's planned attrition on reported case growth? - Management expects continued impacts from the attrition, particularly in high-volume, low-margin programs [35][39] Question: What is the outlook for inflation in the second half? - Management indicated moderate inflation expectations, with potential unforeseen impacts from tariffs [46] Question: Can you elaborate on gross margin performance? - Management acknowledged moving parts affecting gross margin but highlighted improvements from various operational initiatives [52] Question: What is the outlook for M&A activity? - Management remains opportunistic regarding M&A, with ongoing evaluations of potential tuck-in acquisitions [72][75] Question: Are the 2028 goals contributing to current results? - Management confirmed that several initiatives related to the 2028 goals are contributing positively to current performance [80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Conagra reported organic net sales of $3.2 billion in Q2, reflecting a 30 basis point increase year-over-year, driven by volume growth in the domestic retail business [19] - Adjusted gross margin was 26.4%, and adjusted operating margin was 15.3%, down 52 and 57 basis points respectively compared to the prior year, but up 110 basis points from Q1 [20] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.70, a decrease of $0.01 from Q2 of the previous year [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Grocery and Snacks segment delivered net sales of $1.3 billion, representing 1.2% organic growth driven by increased volumes and favorable price mix [21] - Refrigerated and Frozen segment also reported $1.3 billion in net sales, flat compared to the prior year, with increased volumes offset by negative price mix [21] - International segment saw organic net sales decline by 0.7%, driven by a 2.4% volume decline, partially offset by a 1.7% increase in price mix [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Conagra's portfolio held or gained volume share in 67% of its categories in Q2, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of share gains [8] - In the frozen and snacks domains, 87% of the portfolio held or gained volume share in Q2 [9] - The company outperformed its closest peer by 24 percentage points in share performance [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to maintain its strategy focused on brand building and innovation, despite economic pressures and inflation [5][17] - Conagra aims to prioritize top-line momentum and consumer loyalty through continued investments in brand building [17] - Limited pricing actions will be implemented to offset rising cocoa and sugar prices while maintaining a disciplined approach to brand management [17][29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that inflation and unfavorable foreign exchange rates will pressure profitability in the second half of the fiscal year [5][15] - The expectation for inflation relief has been pushed to fiscal 2026, with ongoing economic pressures shaping consumer purchasing decisions [5][15] - The company updated its guidance for fiscal 2025, expecting organic net sales growth near the midpoint of a range of down 1.5% to flat [18][29] Other Important Information - Conagra generated $754 million in net cash flows from operating activities in the first half of fiscal 2025, down from the prior year [26] - The company has repaid over $600 million of debt in the last twelve months, aiming for a long-term net leverage goal of three times by the end of fiscal 2026 [28][31] - The adjusted tax rate is expected to be approximately 23%, down from 23.5% based on year-to-date favorability [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for organic net sales growth? - The company now expects full-year organic net sales growth to be near the midpoint of the guidance range of minus 1.5% to flat growth versus fiscal 2024 [29] Question: How is the company addressing inflation and foreign exchange impacts? - Limited pricing actions will be taken to offset some inflation in cocoa and sugar, while the company remains committed to brand investments [17][29] Question: What is the outlook for free cash flow conversion? - The company expects full-year free cash flow conversion to be greater than 100%, with stronger performance anticipated in the second half of the year [28][31]