NEW YORK, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, is investigating potential claims against J.M. Smucker Company ("Smucker" or the "Company") (NYSE:SJM) on behalf of Smucker stockholders. Our investigation concerns whether Smucker has violated the federal securities laws and/or engaged in other unlawful business practices. Click here to participate in the action. On November 7, 2023, Smucker announced the closing of a transaction to ...

Mondelez International MDLZ reported better-than-expected earnings for the second quarter on Tuesday. The company posted quarterly earnings of 73 cents per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 68 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $8.984 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $8.831 billion. "We posted accelerated top-line growth in Q2 2025 underpinned by strong pricing execution in our chocolate business and robust growth across the vast majority of our geo ...

Economic Indicators - Pre-market futures show slight increases with Dow up +20 points, S&P 500 up +8 points, and Nasdaq up +50 points, following economic news [1] - ADP reported +104K new private-sector jobs in July, a significant rebound from the revised -23K in June and exceeding the consensus estimate of +64K [3][6] - Q2 GDP growth was reported at +3.0%, surpassing the expected +2.3% and marking a recovery from the -0.5% in Q1 [7][8] Company Earnings - Kraft Heinz (KHC) exceeded bottom-line earnings estimates by +7.8%, reporting 69 cents per share [2] - V.F. Corp. (VFC) reported a smaller-than-expected loss, improving by +31.5% [2] - Etsy (ETSY) missed Zacks consensus estimates by -53.7% [2] Sector Performance - The job growth breakdown shows Goods-producing jobs at +30% and Services at +70%, with Leisure & Hospitality leading at +46K new jobs [4] - Small companies added +12K jobs, while medium and large businesses contributed +46K jobs [5] - The Core PCE Price Index rose to +2.5%, indicating stronger-than-expected economic growth without runaway inflation [8][9] Market Expectations - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is expected to maintain interest rates at +4.25-4.50% during the upcoming meeting [9] - Anticipation surrounds whether voting members will support or oppose Fed Chair Jerome Powell's stance on interest rates [10] - Major companies like Microsoft (MSFT) and Meta Platforms (META) are set to report earnings after the market closes [11]

Core Insights - The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) reported second-quarter 2025 results with both top and bottom lines exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate, although both metrics experienced a year-over-year decline [1][4][11] - The company is focused on delivering high-quality, affordable products through investments in product innovation and manufacturing capabilities, enhancing brand appeal [2] - Kraft Heinz anticipates long-term profitable growth supported by strong cash flow generation and disciplined management of its net leverage ratio [3] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were 69 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents, but down 11.5% year over year due to lower adjusted operating income and increased taxes [4] - Net sales reached $6,352 million, a decline of 1.9% year over year, yet above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $6,286 million; organic net sales fell by 2% [5][11] - Adjusted gross profit decreased by 5.6% to $2.17 billion, with the adjusted gross margin contracting 140 basis points to 34.1% [7] Segment Performance - North America: Net sales of $4.76 billion, down 3.3% year over year; organic sales fell 3.2% [9] - International Developed Markets: Net sales of $897 million, up 1.3% year over year; organic sales declined 2.2% [10] - Emerging Markets: Net sales of $698 million, an increase of 4.2% year over year; organic sales grew 7.6% [12] Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.57 billion and long-term debt of $19.3 billion [13] - Cash dividends paid during the year-to-date period totaled $951 million, with share buybacks amounting to $435 million [14] Future Outlook - For 2025, Kraft Heinz expects organic net sales to decline between 1.5% and 3.5% year over year, with expectations for sequential improvement throughout the year [16] - Adjusted operating income is forecasted to decline by 5% to 10% year over year, with adjusted earnings per share projected in the range of $2.51 to $2.67 [17]

Group 1 - Consumers in the US are becoming more cautious about spending, even on small treats like Oreo cookies, leading to a decline in revenue and sales volumes for Mondelez during the second quarter [1][2] - Mondelez's North American sales fell by 3.5% year over year in the second quarter, attributed to consumer anxiety regarding personal finances, job expectations, and inflation [2] - Many customers are opting for smaller packs of cookies that are more expensive per unit, contributing to a decrease in the overall volume of snacks sold in the US [2][9] Group 2 - The threat of tariffs has influenced shopping behavior, with companies like Conagra and Walmart planning to pass on some costs to consumers, potentially resulting in higher prices [7] - Tariffs may have also led to reduced availability of Mondelez products on retail shelves, as stores adjusted their purchasing strategies in anticipation of tariff impacts [8] - Despite the overall slowdown in food consumption and snacking, some consumers are still willing to spend on dining out, indicating a complex consumer behavior landscape [10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Orders increased by 2% year over year to $259 million, driven by an 8% growth in project-related orders, particularly in EMEA [5][6] - Sales for Q1 were $235.9 million, down 2% from the prior year, attributed to a 3% decline in short cycle sales [12][16] - Gross profit decreased by $11.8 million year over year to $77.2 million, impacted by lower sales volume and tariff-related costs [14][16] - Adjusted earnings per diluted share were $0.50, a decrease of $0.12 compared to the prior year, primarily due to a $0.11 tariff-related impact [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Short cycle orders were down 4% due to surcharges and price increases, while project-related sales remained unchanged from the prior year despite order growth [5][12] - SG&A expenses decreased by 5% excluding acquisition-related costs, resulting in an adjusted SG&A of $54.8 million [10][15] - Adjusted operating income was $18.5 million with an adjusted operating margin of 7.8% [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The backlog increased by $67 million or 23% year over year to $360 million, driven by longer cycle project orders [6][12] - Strength was noted in vertical end markets such as battery production, e-commerce, food and beverage, aerospace, oil and gas, and rail projects [6][7] - Tariffs were identified as a headwind, with an expected $10 million impact on operating profit in the first half of the year [9][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational execution, cost control, and advancing its strategic plan, particularly in targeted end markets [18][58] - The pending acquisition of Keto Crosby is expected to scale the business, expand customer capabilities, and enable synergies [10][18] - The company anticipates achieving tariff cost neutrality by 2026 and margin neutrality by fiscal 2027 [9][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the order backlog and the potential for growth in targeted industries despite macroeconomic uncertainties [6][57] - The company expects the next few quarters to remain volatile but anticipates stabilization in demand over time [6][18] - Management remains focused on mitigating tariff impacts and is implementing price adjustments to offset these costs [9][17] Other Important Information - The company is preparing for the integration of Keto Crosby and expects to close the acquisition by the end of the calendar year [10][36] - Free cash flow was a use of cash of $21.4 million in the quarter, reflecting normal working capital seasonality [16][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you help parse out the gross margin performance in the quarter? - Management noted a 180 basis point erosion in gross margin tied to tariffs and a mix of lower volume of higher margin products [20][22] Question: How should we think about gross margins moving forward? - Management expressed confidence in expanding margins, anticipating improvements as the year progresses and production ramps up [24][25] Question: Can you provide more detail on order backlog in areas like EV battery and e-commerce? - Management highlighted a strong funnel of opportunities in battery production, e-commerce, and defense industries, with positive trends in steel and heavy equipment [27][28] Question: Can you provide an update on the Keto Crosby acquisition? - Management confirmed that the acquisition is advancing and expects to close by the end of the year, with preparations for integration underway [34][36] Question: How much of the backlog is actionable this year? - Management indicated that 70-80% of the current backlog is actionable within the fiscal year, with the remainder extending beyond that timeframe [40][41] Question: What are the expectations for cash flow this year? - Management noted that cash flow predictions are challenging due to deal costs and timing of the acquisition closure, but improvements in working capital are expected [46][47]

Core Insights - Hershey reported $2.61 billion in revenue for the quarter ended June 2025, a year-over-year increase of 26% [1] - The EPS for the same period was $1.21, compared to $1.27 a year ago, indicating a slight decline [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.55 billion by 2.62%, while the EPS surprised by 19.8% against the consensus estimate of $1.01 [1] Revenue Performance - North America net sales reached $2.4 billion, surpassing the five-analyst average estimate of $2.32 billion, with a year-over-year change of 28.4% [4] - International net sales were $213.73 million, slightly below the estimated $227.95 million, but still reflecting a 4.4% increase year-over-year [4] - North America Confectionery net sales were $2.09 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $2.02 billion, with a year-over-year change of 32% [4] - North America Salty Snacks net sales were $315.52 million, above the average estimate of $306.06 million, showing an 8.8% year-over-year increase [4] Segment Income - North America Confectionery segment income was $503.93 million, compared to the average estimate of $470.57 million [4] - Unallocated corporate expenses showed a loss of $179.65 million, better than the estimated loss of $220.51 million [4] - North America Salty Snacks segment income was $66.48 million, exceeding the average estimate of $55.67 million [4] Stock Performance - Hershey shares returned +5.9% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +3.4% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Here is how Kraft Heinz performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts: View all Key Company Metrics for Kraft Heinz here>>> While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health. As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing t ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The second quarter results met expectations with an improvement in year-over-year top line performance [4] - A noncash impairment charge of $9.3 billion was recorded due to a sustained decline in stock price, affecting the carrying value of intangible assets [15][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In emerging markets, top line growth was approximately 8% driven by both price and volume, with the highest operating income margin ever achieved [26] - North America retail showed a decline of 2.7% in the latest four weeks, excluding cold cuts and bacon, with year-to-date performance down 4% [27] - Significant investments in product renovations and marketing are expected to yield a 20% market increase year-over-year in the second half [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing challenges in North America retail, which is seen as a gating factor for overall growth [44] - Inflation is expected to be around 5% to 7% for the year, with pricing actions taken to mitigate impacts [24][52] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on unlocking long-term shareholder value through strategic evaluations and potential transactions [9][10] - Investments are being made in product superiority, manufacturing capabilities, and marketing, with a goal to increase marketing spend to 4.8% of net sales by the end of 2025 [21][24] - The brand growth system is being expanded to more brands, with a focus on product renovation and innovation [60][69] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strategy and ongoing investments, despite current challenges in certain business segments [29][37] - The company is committed to maintaining financial discipline while exploring strategic options [9][10] Other Important Information - The company is actively monitoring inflationary pressures and adjusting pricing strategies accordingly [24][52] - There is a strong emphasis on innovation, with a goal to increase the percentage of sales from innovative products [67][69] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on strategic transactions and potential business separation - Management confirmed that the board is evaluating strategic options to unlock long-term value while maintaining financial discipline [9][10] Question: Details on the sizable impairment charge - The impairment charge was due to a sustained decline in stock price affecting intangible assets, which had been monitored for some time [15][16] Question: Pricing and promotion strategies - The company is investing in pricing and marketing, with a year-over-year pricing increase of about 100 basis points and additional marketing investments [21][24] Question: Sales trends in emerging markets - Emerging markets showed an 8% growth in top line, with confidence in achieving double-digit growth by year-end [36][37] Question: Gross margin outlook and inflation impact - Inflation is expected to remain a challenge, with actions in place to mitigate its effects, including pricing adjustments [52][53] Question: Innovation pace and future plans - The company aims to increase innovation as a percentage of sales, with a focus on core product renovations and new market entries [67][69]

36.8% July 30, 2025 Q2 2025 BUSINESS UPDATE TO ACCOMPANY MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS JULY 30, 2025 This presentation contains a number of forward-looking statements as defined under U.S. federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, statements, estimates, and projections relating to our business and long-term strategy; our ambitions, goals, targets, and commitments; our activities, efforts, initiatives, plans, and programs, and our investments in such activities, efforts, init ...