Core Viewpoint - Ingredion Incorporated is set to release its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results on February 3, 2026, before market opening [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The financial results will cover the period ended December 31, 2025 [1] - A conference call will be held on February 3 at 8 a.m. CT to discuss the financial performance [2] Group 2: Company Overview - Ingredion is a leading global ingredient solutions provider serving customers in over 120 countries [3] - The company reported annual net sales of approximately $7.4 billion for 2024 [3] - Ingredion transforms grains, fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based materials into value-added ingredient solutions for various markets including food, beverage, and animal nutrition [3] - The company operates innovation centers called Idea Labs and employs more than 11,000 people [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a significant increase in revenue capacity, currently estimated at $200 million, with potential to double revenue due to recent facility expansions [39] - Gross margin has improved from 11.9% to consistently in the mid- to high 20s%, with a peak of 30% before investments in trade [40] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has expanded its product offerings from under five items to approximately seven items per store, with aspirations to reach 27 items [16][19] - The company is now present in about 15,000 stores, up from 8,000, indicating significant growth in market penetration [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The deli category, where the company operates, has shown resilience with a growth rate of approximately 4% this year, despite broader economic challenges [8] - The company has successfully entered new retail partnerships, including Target and Food Lion, enhancing its market presence [36] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to create a one-stop shop in the deli category, which is valued at $60 billion and is highly fragmented, presenting consolidation opportunities [5] - The management team is focused on driving margin expansion and increasing product penetration in existing stores [7][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed optimism about the company's growth trajectory, projecting it to become a billion-dollar business, up from $40 million to $200 million in recent years [46] - The company is experiencing strong demand for its products as consumers shift towards home dining, benefiting from the current economic climate [9] Other Important Information - The company has successfully integrated recent acquisitions, enhancing operational capabilities and customer relationships [44][45] - The management emphasizes the importance of retailer partnerships and flexibility in product branding to drive sales [26][29] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the Costco partnership performing? - The company reported strong sales performance with Costco, achieving $10 million in Q1 from a national buy, indicating positive traction [36] Question: What are the company's long-term growth targets? - The company aims for organic growth of 20% year over year, with plans to acquire an additional $500 million in revenue [46] Question: What is the expected EBITDA margin at scale? - The management anticipates reaching mid-teens EBITDA margins as the business scales [47]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a revenue capacity of approximately $200 million, with expectations to double this figure due to recent expansions and renovations of facilities [36] - Gross margin has improved significantly from 11.9% to consistently in the mid- to high 20s%, with a peak of 30% [37] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has expanded its presence from about 8,000 stores to approximately 15,000 stores, with an increase in the average number of items sold per store from under five to around seven [15][16] - The company has successfully entered new retail partnerships, including Target and Food Lion, and is now present in every Costco, BJ's, and half of Walmart locations [15][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The deli category, where the company operates, is valued at $60 billion and has shown growth, with the category growing 4% this year [4][8] - The company noted that the deli category is one of the most profitable parts of grocery stores, with margins often exceeding 50% for retailers [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to create a one-stop shop in the deli space, capitalizing on the fragmented market and focusing on expanding its product offerings [4] - The management team has been overhauled to include experienced professionals from leading companies, enhancing operational capabilities and strategic execution [6][7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed optimism about the deli category's growth, noting that it is outperforming other retail segments amid economic challenges [8][9] - The company is targeting a billion-dollar revenue goal, with plans for organic growth and strategic acquisitions to reach this target [43] Other Important Information - The company has implemented significant operational improvements, including insourcing functions that have positive margin implications [39] - The management emphasized the importance of partnerships with retailers and the flexibility in product branding to drive sales [24][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the Costco partnership performing? - The company reported strong performance in Costco, with sales increasing from $540,000 in the first year to $10 million last year, and achieving $10 million in Q1 this year alone [33] Question: What are the long-term growth targets? - The company aims for a billion-dollar business, with half of the growth expected to be organic and the other half through acquisitions, targeting $500 million in revenue from M&A [43] Question: What is the expected EBITDA margin at scale? - The management anticipates achieving mid-teens EBITDA margins once the company reaches scale [45]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a revenue capacity of approximately $200 million, with expectations to double this through recent facility expansions [38] - Gross margins have improved significantly from 11.9% to mid- to high 20s%, with a peak of 30% before investments in trade [39] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has expanded its presence from about 8,000 stores to an expected 15,000 stores, with an increase in the average number of items sold per store from under five to around seven [17][18] - The company is now in every Costco, BJ's, and half of Walmart locations, indicating strong penetration in club and mass retail channels [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The deli category, where the company operates, has shown resilience with a growth rate of approximately 4% this year, despite economic challenges [10] - The company noted that the prepared food section is one of the most profitable parts of grocery stores, driving incremental trips and larger baskets for retailers [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to create a one-stop shop in the deli category, which is valued at $60 billion and is highly fragmented [6] - The management team is focused on expanding product offerings and increasing shelf space in retail locations, with a goal of significantly increasing the number of items per store [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The CEO expressed optimism about the company's growth trajectory, projecting it to become a billion-dollar business, up from $40 million to $200 million currently [44] - The company is targeting a mid-teens EBITDA margin once it reaches scale, indicating confidence in future profitability [46] Other Important Information - The company has successfully integrated recent acquisitions, enhancing its operational capabilities and customer relationships [43] - The management team has been completely overhauled over the past three years, bringing in experienced professionals from leading companies [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the Costco partnership performing? - The CEO reported that Costco sales have significantly increased, with $10 million in sales from a digital multi-vendor mailer in Q1, indicating strong traction [35] Question: What are the company's long-term growth targets? - The CEO mentioned that the company is growing at 20% year over year, with plans to achieve $500 million in revenue through acquisitions [45] Question: What is the strategy for M&A? - The focus is on acquiring capabilities within the deli space, with an emphasis on incremental customers and capacity [41]

Core Insights - Service Corporation International (SCI) reported third-quarter 2025 revenue of $1.06 billion, reflecting a 4.4% increase from the prior-year quarter, indicating an evolving revenue mix across its cemetery and funeral operations [1] Cemetery Operations - Cemetery revenue rose to $484.0 million from $448.0 million a year ago, primarily driven by higher recognized preneed cemetery revenue, which totaled $338.5 million compared to $307.0 million in the prior-year period [2] - On a comparable basis, cemetery revenue increased by 6.9%, while comparable core cemetery revenue grew by 6.7% [3] - Cemetery preneed sales production increased by approximately 10%, supporting higher revenue recognition as contracts matured [3] Funeral Operations - Total funeral revenue increased to $574.1 million from $566.0 million in the third quarter of 2024, although comparable funeral revenue declined by 0.3% [4] - Core funeral services experienced a decline of 3.5% on a comparable basis, impacting at-need revenue, which was partially offset by a 3.1% increase in comparable total average revenue per service due to higher pricing and mix [4] Non-Funeral Home Sales Channels - Comparable non-funeral home revenue increased by 12.6%, driven by a 13.4% rise in average revenue per service, despite a slight decrease in services performed [5] - Comparable non-funeral home preneed sales revenue declined, mainly due to the company's decision to defer delivery of certain merchandise until the time of need, affecting the timing of revenue recognition [5] Overall Performance - The revenue growth in the quarter highlights how SCI's top line is shaped by changes in mix, with higher recognized preneed cemetery revenue, rising average revenue per service, and growth in non-funeral home revenue supporting consolidated revenue growth, despite declines in funeral service volumes [6] - Shares of SCI have gained 3.9% in the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 2.3% [6]

Group 1 - The core issue facing Nestlé is an international recall of infant formula due to a quality issue with an ingredient, which has intensified scrutiny on the company [1][2] - The recall has affected products in over 60 countries, initiated by the detection of Bacillus cereus bacteria in specific batches of its Nan stage 1 formula [2][3] - Nestlé has stated that no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the recalled products, but the recall has expanded to include countries across Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East [3] Group 2 - Accusations have emerged that Nestlé delayed the recall and released information gradually, raising concerns about the company's decision-making and communication [4][6] - Consumer advocacy group Foodwatch claims that contaminated peanut oil was used in around ten Nestlé factories in Europe, suggesting a lack of trust in the company's reliability [5][6] - Analysts estimate that the potential impact on Nestlé's sales could reach approximately SFr1.2 billion ($1.5 billion), representing about 1.3% of the company's total sales [4][7]

Core Viewpoint - Zevia PBC (ZVIA) may initially appear as a penny stock with negative EBITDA, but a deeper analysis reveals its profitable potential [1]. Company Analysis - Zevia PBC is authorized to sell stock, indicating potential for capital raising [1]. - The company operates in the beverage sector, focusing on healthier alternatives, which aligns with current consumer trends towards wellness [1]. Investment Considerations - The analysis suggests that despite its current financial metrics, Zevia PBC could present long-term investment opportunities due to its growth potential in the health-conscious market [1].

Core Insights - Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO) reported a 3% year-over-year increase in net sales to $1.227 billion, driven by the Simple Mills acquisition, but faced continued pressure on profitability with declining margins [1][8] Financial Performance - Adjusted EBITDA decreased by 11.4% to $118.1 million, with the adjusted EBITDA margin contracting by 160 basis points to 9.6% [2] - Adjusted net income fell by 29.8% to $48.7 million, and adjusted diluted earnings per share dropped by 30.3% year over year to 23 cents [2] - Gross margin declined by 190 basis points year over year to 47.9%, attributed to lower sales price mix, reduced production volumes, and increased outside purchases related to the Simple Mills acquisition [3] Cost Structure - Selling, distribution, and administrative expenses rose to 38.8% of net sales, an increase of 10 basis points from the prior year, driven by higher workforce-related costs and wage inflation [4] - Adjusted SD&A improved to 38.3% of net sales, a decrease of 30 basis points when excluding items affecting comparability [4] Strategic Actions - The company is taking steps to address margin pressure, including aligning the supply chain with changing demand, closing several bakeries, and converting others to higher-margin organic production [5][6] - Investments in innovation are expected to exert further pressure on margins in the near term [5] Market Performance - FLO's shares have declined by 49.9% over the past year, compared to a 19.4% decline in the industry and a 1.6% dip in the Zacks Consumer Staples sector [7] - The company currently trades at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 9.96, below the industry average of 14.11 and the sector average of 16.02, indicating a discount relative to peers [10]

Group 1 - The UK's competition regulator is accelerating its investigation into Associated British Foods' acquisition of the Hovis bread brand from private equity firm Endless, moving towards a more detailed inquiry [1]

Core Insights - Armanino enters 2026 from a position of strength, having delivered record-setting performance in 2025 while maintaining strong margins, consistent cash generation, and a debt-free balance sheet [2][5][18] - The company is the leading foodservice pesto supplier in the U.S., benefiting from scale, brand trust, and operational expertise, which allows for responsible growth and market expansion [3][4] Financial Performance - Armanino expects to close 2025 with record full-year revenue and gross margin, driven by strong demand and operational leverage [5] - The company completed its BRC audit with an AA rating, reinforcing its commitment to quality and operational excellence [5] Growth Strategy - The growth strategy is anchored in three core pillars: strengthening the U.S. foodservice business, unlocking Tier-1 Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) opportunities, and advancing international growth, particularly in Asia [6][7][8][9] - The company aims to deepen customer relationships and expand its portfolio with complementary sauces, enhancing its position as a strategic partner [7] Leadership and Operational Excellence - Armanino has strengthened its leadership team to enhance execution and financial stewardship, appointing key executives with extensive experience in the food industry [12][13][14] - Investments in automation, equipment upgrades, and technology are prioritized to improve efficiency and scalability, ensuring the manufacturing footprint supports future growth [15][16] 2026 Outlook - As Armanino transitions to accelerated execution in 2026, the focus will be on expanding global distribution of core products and increasing adoption of secondary sauces [17][18] - The company is well-positioned to scale profitably while preserving its financial characteristics, aiming to compound shareholder value through consistent execution and strong cash generation [18]