Core Insights - Conagra Brands Inc reported mixed results for Q2, with earnings per share of 45 cents, exceeding the analyst consensus of 44 cents, while sales of $2.979 billion fell short of the $2.986 billion estimate [1][2] Financial Performance - The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $1.70 to $1.85, compared to the analyst estimate of $1.75 [2] - Conagra projected organic net sales for fiscal 2026 to change between a 1% decline and flat growth compared to fiscal 2025 [2] - The adjusted operating margin outlook was maintained at approximately 11.0% to 11.5% [2] Market Reaction - Following the earnings announcement, Conagra shares fell by 0.8%, trading at $17.21 [3] - Analysts adjusted their price targets for Conagra, with B of A Securities lowering it from $18 to $17, RBC Capital from $22 to $20, Evercore ISI Group from $23 to $22, and TD Cowen from $19 to $18 [4]

"配料成分第一位居然不是黑芝麻，那还能叫黑芝麻糊吗？" 近期，国民品牌南方黑芝麻因配料表排序问题引发热议，一句"灵魂拷问"道出了无数消费者的困惑。 黑芝麻排配料表第四位 近日，一名网友晒出其购买的核桃黑芝麻糊包装照片，认为配料表的排序与产品名称不符。 该配料表中，首位并非"黑芝麻"，而是包含大米、小麦、玉米等在内的谷物粗粮粉，食用葡萄糖和麦芽糊精紧随其后，作为产品名称核心元素的黑芝麻 仅位列第四位。 这名网友认为，配料表的排序与产品名称不符。 图片来源：社交平台 亏损下的业绩承诺延期 作为老牌国货食品企业，黑芝麻近些年受市场环境变化、战略摇摆等因素影响，已陷入业绩连降困境。 2021年—2024年，公司营收分别为40.25亿元、30.16亿元、26.77亿元、24.65亿元，四年间营收规模缩水近四成；盈利能力同样堪忧，同期归母净利润分 别为-1.09亿元、-1.4亿元、0.43亿元、0.78亿元，虽在波动回升，但四年累计仍亏损1.28亿元。 这一发现迅速引发关注，网友纷纷调侃"买的是黑芝麻糊，实际喝的是加糖米糊"，甚至建议产品直接改名为"南方米糊"。 随着舆论发酵，12月20日，南方黑芝麻旗舰店工作人员回应媒 ...

Core Insights - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. reported fiscal second-quarter earnings per share of $0.69, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.67, despite a 5% decline in earnings year-over-year [1][6] - The company's revenue for the quarter reached approximately $1.62 billion, surpassing the estimated $1.59 billion, driven by an 8% increase in sales volume [2][6] - The stock experienced a significant decline of 25%, dropping to $44.70, following the earnings report due to negative market reaction to the company's full-year guidance [4][6] Financial Performance - Revenue growth was attributed to customer wins and market share gains, although the price/mix fell by 8% due to pricing and trade support challenges [2] - In North America, Lamb Weston saw an increase in EBITDA due to higher volumes and cost savings, while the International segment faced a decline in EBITDA due to increased costs [3] - The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 15.95 and a price-to-sales ratio of about 0.97, indicating a favorable valuation relative to sales [5] Market Reaction - The market reacted negatively to the company's full-year guidance, projecting flat revenue and an 11% decrease in adjusted EBITDA at the midpoint, despite strong second-quarter performance [4] - The decline in stock price reflects investor concerns over future profitability and market conditions [4]

Market Overview - The Nasdaq closed up by 1.31%, driven by a strong performance in the tech sector, while the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 also saw gains of 0.89% and 0.84% respectively. The Dow lagged with a modest increase of 0.34% [2] - During the midday session, 56.1% of U.S. stocks were advancing, indicating a positive market sentiment, with the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Russell 2000 all vying for a close near 1% gains [3] Top Performers - Intuitive Machines surged by 33.6% after KeyBanc initiated coverage with a $20 price target, indicating strong investor interest in the space industry [4] - Amicus Therapeutics rose by 30.5% following the announcement of its acquisition by BioMarin in a $4.8 billion deal, highlighting significant M&A activity in the biotech sector [5] - CoreWeave increased by 21.5%, benefiting from a rebound in AI-related stocks and engagement with the Department of Energy on research efforts [5] Underperformers - Lamb Weston experienced a significant decline of 24.1% after reporting profit pressures in its latest quarterly results, reflecting challenges in the food sector [5] - BlackBerry fell by 13.2% following disappointing earnings, indicating ongoing struggles in the tech and software market [6] - Nike's stock dropped by 10.4% as investors reacted to the company's difficulties in the Chinese market, showcasing the impact of international market dynamics on performance [6] Sector Focus - The S&P 500's performance was notably influenced by AI-related stocks, with Oracle, Sandisk, Micron, and Advanced Micro Devices among the top performers, reflecting the growing importance of AI in the market [7]

Nike slumped 9.6%, as the impact from tariffs overshadowed an otherwise strong quarterly profit report. Frozen potato maker Lamb Weston fell 19.8%, despite also beating Wall Street's profit and revenue forecasts. Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday and further trimmed losses from earlier in the week for several major indexes. The S&P 500 jumped 0.8%, adding to gains made on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 283 points, or 0.6%, as of 10:05 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq jumped 1% an ...

Core Insights - Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. reported solid second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with both net sales and earnings exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate, although earnings decreased compared to the previous year [2][10] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were 69 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 67 cents, but represented a 5% decrease year-over-year due to reduced adjusted gross profit [2][10] - Net sales reached $1,618.1 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,593 million, and increased by $17.2 million year-over-year [3][10] Sales and Volume Analysis - On a constant-currency basis, sales were flat, with an 8% volume growth offset by an 8% decline in price/mix, driven by customer wins and share gains, particularly in North America and Asia [4] - The North America segment's net sales were flat at $1,069.5 million, with an 8% volume increase driven by customer contract wins, while the price/mix fell 8% [7] - The International segment's net sales grew 4% to $548.6 million, with a 7% volume increase, but a decline in price/mix by 8% [9] Profitability Metrics - Adjusted gross profit fell by $15.6 million year-over-year to $327.9 million, primarily due to weaker price/mix [5] - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $8.5 million year-over-year to $285.7 million, attributed to reduced adjusted gross profit and equity method investment earnings [6] Segment Performance - North America segment adjusted EBITDA increased by $18.6 million to $287.8 million, driven by higher volumes and reduced manufacturing costs [8] - International segment adjusted EBITDA decreased by $21.4 million to $27.2 million, mainly due to elevated manufacturing costs [11] Financial Health - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $82.7 million and long-term debt of $3,648.9 million [12] - Lamb Weston returned $51.6 million to shareholders through dividends and repurchased $39.6 million of common stock [13] Future Outlook - The company expects net sales at constant currency to be between $6.35 billion and $6.55 billion and adjusted EBITDA to be between $1.00 billion and $1.20 billion for fiscal 2026 [15]

Core Insights - Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) reported a decline in both earnings and sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, reflecting a challenging consumer environment and lower volumes, partially offset by productivity gains and strong performance in certain growth categories [1] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were 45 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 44 cents, but down 35.7% year over year due to lower adjusted operating profit [2] - Net sales decreased by 6.8% year over year to $2,979.1 million, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,990 million, with a 3.9% headwind from M&A and a 3% decline in organic net sales [3][11] - Organic net sales fell 3% due to a 3% decline in volume, while price/mix remained flat, with management noting a 100-basis-point headwind from retailer purchasing patterns [4][11] - Adjusted gross profit declined 17.1% to $698 million, with adjusted gross margin contracting 292 basis points to 23.4% [5] Segment Performance - Grocery & Snacks segment net sales fell 8.5% year over year to $1,209 million, impacted by a 7.0% adverse M&A effect and a 1.5% decline in organic net sales [6] - Refrigerated & Frozen segment net sales decreased by 6.5% to $1,251 million, with a 5.1% drop in organic net sales [7] - International segment sales declined 5.4% to $230 million, reflecting a 4.1% M&A impact and a 2.9% fall in organic net sales [8] - Foodservice sales decreased 1.3% to $288 million, with organic performance reflecting a 4.2% benefit from price/mix, offset by a 4.0% volume decline [9] Financial Health - In the first half of fiscal 2026, Conagra generated net cash from operating activities of $331 million, with capital expenditures totaling $219 million, resulting in free cash flow of $113 million [12] - The company ended the second quarter with net debt of $7.6 billion and paid a dividend of 35 cents per share [12] Future Outlook - Conagra reiterated its fiscal 2026 outlook, projecting organic net sales to range from a decline of 1% to growth of 1% compared to fiscal 2025, with adjusted EPS anticipated between $1.70 and $1.85 [13] - The outlook factors in continued elevated inflation in the cost of goods sold, with core inflation expected to be slightly above 4% [14] - Total cost of goods sold inflation is projected at approximately 7%, with measures expected to raise costs by roughly 3% annually before mitigation efforts [15]

Core Insights - Shares of Lamb Weston (NYSE: LW) fell 22% after disappointing earnings, marking a 60% decline from its all-time high in 2023 and reaching the lowest share price since 2017 [1] Financial Performance - In Q2, Lamb Weston reported a 1% increase in sales and adjusted earnings per share of $0.69, surpassing Wall Street expectations [2] - Full-year guidance indicated flat revenue year-over-year and an 11% decline in adjusted EBITDA at the midpoint, which alarmed the market [2] Sales and Pricing Dynamics - Sales volume increased by 8% in North America and 7% internationally, but an 8% drop in pricing mix in both markets offset these gains [3] - The company is facing challenges due to strong potato crops and ongoing weakness in the quick-service restaurant sector [3] Operational Challenges - Lamb Weston is ramping up production at a new processing plant in Argentina, impacting EBITDA and free cash flow generation [4] - Management anticipates cost savings of $100 million by 2026 and $250 million by 2028, but the current guidance for declining adjusted EBITDA disappointed investors [4] Capital Expenditure and Future Outlook - The company has significantly increased capital expenditures to over $1 billion in 2024, compared to $400 million the previous year [5] - 2026 is seen as a crucial year for demonstrating that these investments will lead to market share gains, with potential cash flow from operations projected at $900 million against an enterprise value of $12.2 billion [5] Valuation Perspective - Despite increased sales volume, the lower pricing mix and weak profitability suggest that Lamb Weston may deserve its discounted valuation for the time being [6] - The company is currently viewed as less attractive during its turnaround phase, although it may appeal to value investors in the future [7]

Core Insights - Lamb Weston reported $1.62 billion in revenue for the quarter ended November 2025, marking a year-over-year increase of 1.1% and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.59 billion by 1.6% [1] - The company achieved an EPS of $0.69, up from $0.66 a year ago, with a surprise of 2.99% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.67 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - The stock of Lamb Weston has returned +6.7% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.5% change [3] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3] Pricing and Volume Analysis - Consolidated pricing/mix decreased by 8%, worse than the two-analyst average estimate of -5.7% [4] - North American pricing/mix also fell by 8%, compared to the -6.1% average estimate [4] - International volume increased by 7%, slightly below the 8% estimated by analysts [4] - North American volume rose by 8%, exceeding the 4% estimate [4] - Consolidated volume increased by 8%, surpassing the two-analyst average estimate of 5.3% [4] - International pricing/mix declined by 8%, compared to the -5.1% estimate [4] - Geographic sales in the international market reached $548.6 million, slightly above the three-analyst average estimate of $546.84 million, reflecting a year-over-year change of +3.7% [4] - North American geographic sales totaled $1.07 billion, exceeding the $1.05 billion estimate, but showed a -0.2% change compared to the year-ago quarter [4]

Carnival Cruise - Carnival Cruise reported a mixed quarter with adjusted EPS of 34 cents, exceeding expectations of 25 cents per share [1][2] - Revenue for the quarter was $6.33 billion, slightly below the expected $6.36 billion, but annual revenue reached an all-time high of over $26.5 billion, marking the best year in the company's history [2] - Demand remains strong as consumers are willing to pay higher prices for cruises, with 2026 bookings already matching 2025's record levels [3][4] - The company is improving profitability per passenger while keeping expenses in check, with enhanced fuel efficiency contributing to lower costs [5] - Carnival's balance sheet has improved, with reduced debt leading to a stronger financial position and lower borrowing costs, now considered investment grade by credit rating agencies [6][7] KB Home - KB Home faced challenges in the housing sector, with shares down 6% despite beating expectations with adjusted EPS of $1.92 against a forecast of $1.79 [9] - Revenue was reported at $1.7 billion, exceeding the expected $1.66 billion, but profits and volumes are significantly lower than the previous year due to higher mortgage rates and affordability pressures [10] - The company anticipates 2026 housing revenue to be between $5.6 billion and $6.1 billion, aligning with Wall Street estimates, but acknowledges ongoing challenges in consumer confidence and market conditions [11][12] Lamb Weston - Lamb Weston reported adjusted EPS of 69 cents, better than expected, but revenue of $1.62 billion showed only a 1% year-over-year increase [14] - The company is experiencing margin pressure and pricing challenges, with lower prices offsetting volume gains and rising input costs squeezing profitability [15] - Management is attempting to cut prices to maintain market share in North America, but this strategy is impacting near-term profitability [15][16]