Core Insights - Hershey reported that Halloween sales have been soft this year but anticipates that last-minute buying will help bring sales up to 2024 levels [1] Company Summary - Hershey's Halloween sales performance has been weaker than expected this year [1] - The company expects a rebound in sales due to last-minute purchases, which could align sales with the levels seen in 2024 [1]

Core Insights - Kellanova reported a decline in profit for the third quarter, attributed to soft demand and increased costs [1] Company Performance - The company is experiencing challenges with demand, which is impacting profitability [1] - Higher costs are contributing to the profit decline, indicating potential pressure on margins [1]

Hershey raised its full-year outlook as higher prices bolstered the candymaker’s performance https://t.co/f8Ea0goNpK ...

Core Insights - dsm-firmenich reported a solid Q3 2025 with 2% organic sales growth, despite a challenging macro environment and high prior-year comparisons [3][10] - The company anticipates a full-year Adjusted EBITDA of around €2.3 billion, reflecting a strong increase of over €300 million compared to 2024, driven by organic growth and merger synergies [4][7] Financial Performance - Total sales for Q3 2025 were €3,070 million, a decrease of 5% compared to €3,244 million in Q3 2024 [2] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was stable at €540 million, with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 17.6% [2][11] - The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDA of €1,800 million for the year-to-date, up 19% from €1,517 million in 2024 [2] Business Unit Performance Perfumery & Beauty - Sales decreased by 1% to €970 million in Q3 2025, with a 2% organic sales growth [14] - Adjusted EBITDA was €214 million, with a margin of 22.1% [16] Taste, Texture & Health - Sales increased by 2% to €809 million, with a 3% organic sales growth [18] - Adjusted EBITDA rose to €167 million, with a margin of 20.6% [20] Health, Nutrition & Care - Sales decreased by 11% to €502 million, with a 3% organic sales growth [22] - Adjusted EBITDA remained stable at €96 million, with a margin of 19.1% [24] Animal Nutrition & Health - Sales increased by 6% to €782 million, but organic growth was flat due to lower volumes [26][28] - Adjusted EBITDA was €86 million, with a margin of 11% [29] Strategic Initiatives - The company is committed to exiting the Animal Nutrition & Health business, with the divestment process expected to conclude in Q4 2025 [5] - A share buyback program initiated on April 1, 2025, has seen approximately 85% executed, totaling €1 billion [6]

Core Viewpoint - First Pacific Company Limited is focused on defensive businesses in Southeast Asia and is set to present at the dbVIC - Deutsche Bank ADR Virtual Investor Conference on November 4, 2025, highlighting its growth and investment opportunities in the region [1][2]. Company Overview - First Pacific is a Hong Kong-based investment holding company with operations in consumer food products, telecommunications, infrastructure, and mining [7]. - The company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and offers access to defensive industries in Southeast Asia, benefiting from robust investor protections and a de facto USD valuation [3][7]. Financial Performance - The company has experienced six consecutive years of profit growth, with the last four years achieving record highs [4]. - Shareholders received a record high dividend per share for 2024 earnings, with expectations for 2025 to set a new record [3]. - First Pacific's share price increased by 25% in 2023 and 45% in 2024, with a recurring P/E ratio of 3.6x for FY 2024 [6]. Investment Portfolio - Key assets include Indofood, the world's largest maker of instant noodles, MPTC, the largest privately owned toll road operator, and major companies in power (Meralco), telecommunications (PLDT), and water (Maynilad) in the Philippines [5]. - The company is also the largest shareholder in Philex Mining, which plans to open a second gold and copper mine in 2026 [5]. Strategic Focus - First Pacific's strategy emphasizes investing in industries where it has expertise, focusing on Southeast Asia, and maintaining significant stakes in its investments to control cash flows [7]. - The company has low borrowings and an interest coverage ratio of 4x, maintaining investment-grade credit ratings from Moody's and S&P Global for three years [6]. Upcoming Events - The dbVIC - Deutsche Bank ADR Virtual Investor Conference will allow real-time interaction between investors and the company, with an archived webcast available for those unable to attend live [2][9].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, organic net sales declined by 2.5%, showing a modest year-over-year improvement of 80 basis points from a decline of 3.3% in the first half of the year [34] - Adjusted operating income decreased by 16.9%, with a margin decline of 310 basis points [37] - Free cash flow reached $2.5 billion, with a conversion rate of 109%, up over 30 percentage points from the previous year [42] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America organic net sales declined by 3.8%, with a 100 basis point improvement from the first half of the year [34] - Global away from home organic net sales declined by 2.4%, while international away from home saw growth for the 18th consecutive quarter [11][35] - Emerging markets experienced a 4.7% increase in organic net sales, driven by double-digit growth in Latin America and the Middle East and Africa [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. away from home industry remains under pressure, particularly in chains and restaurants, while non-commercial channels are growing [14] - In emerging markets, the Heinz brand grew by 14% in Q3, with a total of nearly 900,000 distribution points [16][18] - The company gained market share across 70% of its U.S. taste elevation portfolio in September [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is on track to separate into two focused entities by 2026, aiming to improve execution and drive efficiencies [5][6] - Investments in marketing, R&D, and technology are central to the company's recovery strategy [19][30] - The brand growth system is being utilized to enhance category growth and brand superiority [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The operating environment remains challenging due to worsening consumer sentiment and inflation [5] - The company anticipates a longer path to consumer recovery, with pressures expected to persist beyond Q4 [50] - The outlook for 2025 has been updated, expecting organic net sales to decline by 3% to 3.5% [47] Other Important Information - The company has returned $1.8 billion to shareholders year-to-date through dividends and share repurchases [45] - Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $2.50 to $2.57, reflecting a higher effective tax rate and interest expense [48] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for the consumer environment moving forward? - Management noted that the consumer is navigating a tough environment with worsening sentiment and rising costs, leading to a longer recovery path [50] Question: How is the company addressing challenges in Indonesia? - The company is executing a comprehensive plan to stabilize the distributor network and reset inventory levels in Indonesia [9] Question: What are the capital allocation priorities post-separation? - The company will focus on investing in the organic business, maintaining net leverage around three times, actively managing the portfolio, and returning excess capital to shareholders [43][44]

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From Wall Street To Wontons: How entrepreneur Nadia Spellman turned a love of childhood comfort food into a thriving $7 million food brand. https://t.co/sIQ8Ex4557 ...

Core Insights - Conagra Brands, Inc. is recognized as one of the Best 52-Week Low Mid Cap Stocks to Buy Now, with a Hold rating maintained by Bernstein analyst Alexia Burland Howard [1] - The company reported fiscal Q1 2026 results, exceeding EPS and revenue estimates, but experienced a year-over-year revenue decline of 5.81% [2] - Management highlighted ongoing challenges from inflationary pressures and cautious consumer sentiment, while emphasizing a focus on disciplined execution and balanced capital allocation [3] Financial Performance - Conagra Brands, Inc. achieved an EPS that was $0.06 above estimates and revenue that exceeded estimates by $15.10 million [2] - The total revenue for the quarter was $2.63 billion, reflecting a decrease of 5.81% compared to the previous year [2] - Organic net sales also saw a decline of 0.6% during the same period [2] Management Commentary - During the earnings call, management acknowledged the dynamic operating environment influenced by inflation and consumer sentiment [3] - The company remains committed to disciplined execution and balanced capital allocation strategies [3] - Conagra Brands, Inc. operates in the food sector, offering a diverse range of branded food products across retail and foodservice channels [3]

Company Overview - The Campbell's Company (CPB) is valued at a market cap of $9.7 billion and is a leading multinational food company known for its soups and packaged food brands, including Campbell's, Prego, V8, Pepperidge Farm, and Snyder's of Hanover [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts expect Campbell to report adjusted earnings of $0.74 per share for fiscal Q1 2026, reflecting a 16.9% decline from $0.89 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2026, the adjusted EPS is projected to be $2.46, down 17.2% from $2.97 in fiscal 2025, but is expected to rise 8.1% annually to $2.66 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - CPB stock has declined 33.3% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which surged 18.4%, and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund, which returned 2.3% [4] Analyst Ratings - Bernstein analyst Alexia Burland Howard reaffirmed a "Buy" rating on Campbell's stock with a price target of $39, citing optimism around steady demand for core brands and cost-control efforts [5] - The overall consensus on Campbell's stock is cautious, with a "Hold" rating. Among 19 analysts, there are two "Strong Buy," 13 "Hold," one "Moderate Sell," and three "Strong Sell" recommendations. The mean price target of $33.83 indicates a potential upside of 7.8% from current market prices [6]