General Mills has wiped out any prospect of organic sales growth this year as volumes take longer to recover than anticipated amid a challenged consumer. The US-based manufacturer of snacks, breakfast cereals and pet food is resting its laurels on innovation, particularly in protein, fibre, health and weight management, to drive incremental sales and restore volumes. However, management presented a downbeat forecast for organic revenue and operating profit for fiscal 2026 at the Consumer Analyst Group o ...

Core Insights - General Mills, Inc. is recognized as one of the 12 Best Food Stocks to Buy in 2026 [1] - Deutsche Bank has raised its price target for General Mills from $50 to $51 while maintaining a Hold rating [2] - The company's second-quarter earnings exceeded analyst expectations, with net sales of $4.86 billion, surpassing projections of $4.78 billion [3] Financial Performance - For the quarter ending November 23, net sales fell by 7% to $4.86 billion, but this was above analyst expectations [3] - Adjusted earnings per share were reported at $1.10, exceeding the forecast of $1.03 [3] - The company confirmed its annual forecast, predicting a profit drop of 10% to 15% and organic net sales to range from a 1% gain to a 1% drop [3] Management Commentary - CEO Jeff Harmening noted improved momentum in the first half of the fiscal year but described the quarter as a turbulent operating environment [4]

Group 1 - Portuguese firms Cerealis and Better Foods have agreed to combine their milling activities into a new jointly owned business, with a 50/50 ownership structure [1][3] - Better Foods Group claims to be the largest milling group in Portugal, while Cerealis has a long history dating back to 1919 and was acquired by investment firms in 2021 [2][5] - The merger aims to enhance competitiveness and industrial capacity in the Portuguese milling sector, responding to market transformations and value chain consolidation [3][4] Group 2 - The merger is expected to improve efficiency, investment capacity, and service delivery, benefiting customers, employees, and partners [4] - Cerealis processes over 440,000 tons of cereals annually and employs more than 760 people, with a diverse product range sold globally [5] - The deal is subject to review by the Portuguese competition authority, Autoridade da Concorrência [4]