US Foods (USFD) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.Individual in ...

Aristotle Funds, an investment advisor, released its “Core Equity Fund” fourth-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. U.S. equity markets reached new all-time highs in Q4 2025, with the S&P 500 Index rising 2.66% and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index increasing by 1.10%. Within the Russell 1000 Growth Index, healthcare, communication services, and financials were the top performing sectors, while utilities, real estate, and materials lagged. The U.S. economy showed ...

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Feb. 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHEF) (the “Company” or “Chefs’”), a premier distributor of specialty food products in the United States, the Middle East, and Canada, today announced that the Company will participate in a fireside chat at the UBS Global Consumer & Retail Conference in New York, NY on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The fireside chat will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET. Investors and interested parties may listen to a webcast of the fireside chat by ...

Core Insights - US Foods Holding has launched Menu IQ, an AI-driven tool designed to assist restaurants in tracking and managing food costs, thereby supporting data-driven menu planning decisions [1][5] - The introduction of Menu IQ addresses the primary concern of restaurant operators regarding menu profitability, as highlighted by the company's senior vice-president of digital commerce, James Jones [2] Group 1: Product Features - Menu IQ is integrated within MOXē, US Foods' consolidated business application, providing users with access to product catalogs, inventory management, and order tracking [1][5] - The tool features AI recipe management, allowing operators to upload recipes for automatic calculation of ingredients and food costs [4] - A real-time profitability tracking function offers continuous insights into which menu items contribute most to margins, accessible from any location [4] Group 2: Operational Benefits - Menu IQ is designed to align with existing restaurant workflows, enabling staff to transition from analysis to action without complex processes [3] - The platform provides actionable insights, identifying underperforming dishes and suggesting areas for improvement to enhance profitability [4] - The tool is connected with MOXē Inventory, allowing operators to access real-time cost data through the US Foods food cost calculator [5]

Core Insights - The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF) reported Q4 revenue of $1.14 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.1 billion, indicating strong business activity and demand during the holiday season [1][6] - The company anticipates FY26 revenue between $4.35 billion and $4.45 billion, slightly above the consensus of $4.4 billion, reflecting ongoing growth momentum [2] - Benchmark raised its price target for The Chefs' Warehouse to $84 from $79, maintaining a Buy rating due to strong underlying business momentum [2] Financial Performance - Q4 revenue reached $1.14 billion, surpassing the consensus of $1.1 billion, showcasing effective execution in both domestic and international markets [1][6] - The projected FY26 revenue range is $4.35 billion to $4.45 billion, indicating a positive outlook for the company's financial performance [2] Market Position - The company is experiencing consistent growth in market share, with year-over-year organic volume growth, unique item placements, and new customer acquisitions [1] - The Chefs' Warehouse distributes specialty food and center-of-the-plate products across the United States, the Middle East, and Canada, highlighting its broad market reach [3]

Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) is included among the 16 Best Dividend Stocks with Rising Payouts. Sysco (SYY) PT Lifted by Guggenheim as Firm Highlights Importance of Local Case Growth On February 13, Guggenheim raised its price recommendation on Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) to $95 from $91. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The firm did not change its earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027. It said that Sysco’s “nearly unprecedented” 22% run relative to the S&P 500 so far this year has made near-ter ...

Core Insights - Sysco Corporation is launching a pilot program called Home Grown by Sysco to enhance the availability of locally sourced foods and artisan products [1][2] - The pilot program will feature approximately 10,000 locally sourced products and will initially operate in specific regions of the United States and Canada, with plans for expansion within the next year [2][3] Group 1: Program Details - The Home Grown by Sysco program is part of Sysco's sustainability strategy, aiming to bring locally sourced products to more consumers [3][8] - The definition of "locally sourced" includes items from geographic areas close to Sysco distribution centers, typically within the same state or province [3] - The pilot program is set to begin on February 24, 2026, covering the Great Lakes, Northeast, South Florida, Montreal, and British Columbia regions [2][4] Group 2: Market Demand and Commitment - The initiative responds to increasing customer demand for locally grown and artisan products, with two-thirds of diners indicating a preference for such offerings in table-service restaurants [4][6] - Sysco emphasizes its commitment to supporting small businesses, including independent restaurants and local suppliers, as part of the program's goals [6] Group 3: Operational Enhancements - The pilot will also focus on improving software and identifiers to enhance customer experience before scaling the program across North America [7] - Sysco operates 339 distribution centers across 10 countries, serving approximately 730,000 customer locations, and generated over $81 billion in sales for the fiscal year 2025 [8][9]

Sysco Corporation Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) - **Industry**: Food Service Distribution - **Fiscal 2025 Sales**: Approximately $81 billion - **Customer Locations**: Roughly 730,000 - **Sales Composition**: 60% from restaurants, 40% from recession-resistant sectors (government, education, healthcare, large campuses) [1][4][5] Core Business Insights - **Market Position**: Leading global distributor in the food away from home industry with the highest market share and profitability [4][29] - **Specialty Foods**: Number one specialty foods distributor with multiple brands exceeding $1 billion in sales, contributing over $10 billion annually [4] - **International Growth**: Nine consecutive quarters of double-digit profit growth in international markets, with a focus on expanding fulfillment capacity and product assortment [5][9][14] Growth Drivers - **Market Trends**: Food away from home continues to gain market share from grocery, driven by busy lifestyles, food innovation, and improved to-go experiences [6][7][8] - **U.S. Market Share**: Sysco holds approximately 18% market share in a $377 billion U.S. food service market, with the potential for further growth [8][9] - **Non-Commercial Segment**: This segment is growing faster than the restaurant business, indicating resilience against economic fluctuations [10] Financial Performance - **Sales Growth Guidance**: Reiterated guidance for FY 2026 with sales growth of 3%-5% and adjusted EPS growth of 1%-3% [30] - **Historical Performance**: Achieved CAGRs of 5% on the top line and 9% on the bottom line over the past four years [30] - **Operating Leverage**: Positive operating leverage with gross profits growing faster than operating expenses [31] Strategic Initiatives - **Sales Improvement**: Focus on improving sales consultant retention and productivity through training and technology [15][27] - **Merchandising Strategy**: Transitioning to a center-led merchandising strategy to optimize product assortment and supplier relationships [19][20] - **M&A Opportunities**: Continued focus on strategic acquisitions to drive growth, targeting an average contribution of 50 basis points from M&A [36] Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns - **Dividend Growth**: Commitment to long-term dividend growth, with a target payout ratio of 40%-50% of EPS [44][45] - **Share Repurchase**: Plan to return approximately $1 billion to shareholders through share repurchases [44] - **Cash Flow Generation**: Generated approximately $1.8 billion in cash flow last year, demonstrating strong quality of earnings [34] Market Outlook - **Confidence in Growth**: Strong confidence in achieving at least 2.5% local volume growth in the second half of the fiscal year, supported by internal initiatives and M&A contributions [12][26] - **Resilience in Various Sectors**: Continued growth in travel, leisure, education, and healthcare sectors, which are generally recession-resilient [32] Conclusion - **Investment Thesis**: Sysco is positioned as a compelling investment opportunity due to its leadership in a growing industry, strong financial performance, and commitment to shareholder returns [46][48]

February 17, 2026 CAGNY 2026 Forward-Looking Statements Such forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are made and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions, including those outside of Sysco's control. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation: the impact of geopolitical, economic and market conditions and developments, including changes in global trade policies and tariffs and foreign conflicts; risks related to our bu ...

Flitman said the company continued to capture share gains across independent restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality, while also driving cost initiatives. He highlighted more than $150 million of cost of goods savings in 2025 and said the company now expects at least $300 million of cost of goods savings over the three-year plan, up from an original goal of $260 million. He also cited an approximately $40 million gross profit benefit from improved inventory management (above a prior $35 million estimate) a ...