Nestle has issued a global recall of its SMA baby formula and follow-on formula over potential contamination with cereulide bacteria, which can cause persistent vomiting and diarrhea.The food giant – which also sells Nescafe, Purina pet food and Cheerios – announced Monday it was voluntarily recalling the product “out of an abundance of caution.”It said it is not aware of any illnesses linked to the products, but it is advising parents not to feed the formula to infants or young children.Nestle has issued a ...

This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. After years of price increases, shoppers may start to see some signs of relief at the grocery store as food giants look to reignite growth. Cheerios and Nature Valley bar maker General Mills said last month it cut prices on nearly two-thirds of its grocery products in North America, resulting in an uptick in product volume. PepsiCo also plans to lower prices this year acro ...

Core Insights - General Mills reported earnings per share of $1.10, exceeding the estimated $1.02, and revenue of approximately $4.86 billion, surpassing the estimated $4.78 billion [1][5] - The company has faced challenges, including a decline in second-quarter profit and sales, but implemented price cuts to attract consumers affected by inflation, which boosted sales [2][5] - General Mills reaffirmed its full-year outlook, demonstrating confidence in its strategic direction despite a volatile environment [3][5] Financial Metrics - The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 10.15, indicating the market's valuation of its earnings [4] - The price-to-sales ratio is about 1.38, and the enterprise value to sales ratio is around 2.07, reflecting the company's valuation compared to its sales [4] - The debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.47, highlighting its use of debt financing relative to equity [4]

Key Takeaways WBD Tells Shareholders to Take the Netflix DealFormer Fed Governor Kevin Warsh Considered for Fed ChairGIS and ABM Report Earnings This Morning, MU After the CloseWednesday, December 17, 2025This morning, we take a pause from big economic prints and/or market-moving earnings reports. We’re sandwiched between yesterday’s big Employment Situation report and tomorrow’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Rate, both of which were delayed due to the government shutdown. But we’ll be more caugh ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported improvement in organic sales and Holistic Margin Management, with a focus on transformation initiatives [4][5] - Pricing adjustments have been effective, with over 90% of pricing actions performing as expected [5][19] - The company anticipates profit growth in the fourth quarter, aided by favorable trade timing and the 53rd week [9][61] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America Retail has shown growth in volume share across eight of the top ten categories, with a focus on the Remarkability Framework [6][14] - The North America Pet segment has gained share in core products, with the Life Protection Formula performing well [6][8] - The Love Made Fresh initiative has reached approximately 5% market share among early customers, with strong consumer ratings [7][8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pet category overall grew about 1% in Q2, with dog feeding lagging behind due to shifts in consumer behavior [32] - The cereal category remains under pressure, with a decline of about 3%, but there are signs of improvement in specific products like Cheerios [70] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maintain momentum in organic sales and profitability through strategic pricing and product innovation [4][9] - There is a focus on enhancing the Remarkability Framework across all business lines to drive growth [30][39] - The company is monitoring competitive pricing strategies and believes it is well-positioned against competitors [18][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the second half of the fiscal year, expecting continued improvement in sales and profitability [28][29] - The operating environment remains volatile, with potential impacts from government actions and consumer sentiment [66] - Management is confident in the ability to deliver transformation savings and maintain competitive pricing [76] Other Important Information - The company has completed pricing adjustments on two-thirds of its portfolio, with positive responses in most categories [74] - There is ongoing work to improve the performance of the Wilderness brand, with new product launches planned [78] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sustainability of volume growth in North America Retail - Management acknowledged some shipment timing benefits but remains optimistic about continued category improvement [12][14] Question: Competitive environment and pricing strategies - Management noted that discounting levels have remained stable and emphasized the importance of effective execution in pricing [16][18] Question: Expectations for fiscal 3Q and 4Q - Management expects improvements in price mix and volume growth, but cautioned about potential volatility [25][29] Question: Impact of Love Made Fresh on base business - Management indicated it is too early to assess the impact of Love Made Fresh on the core business [58][60] Question: Inflation and cost of goods sold outlook - Management reaffirmed guidance for base inflation around 3% and noted minimal tariff impacts [51][52] Question: Performance of the pet category - Management reported that the dog feeding segment is lagging, but long-term growth is expected due to trends in humanization [32][33] Question: Effectiveness of pricing investments - Management reported a high success rate in pricing adjustments, with ongoing monitoring of performance [74][76] Question: Channel shifts in pet purchases - E-commerce is identified as a growing channel for pet purchases, reflecting consumer behavior changes [90]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported improvement in organic sales and effective execution of Holistic Margin Management and transformation initiatives [4][5] - Pricing adjustments have been successful, with over 90% of pricing actions performing as well or better than expected [5] - The company anticipates profit growth in the fourth quarter, aided by favorable trade timing and the 53rd week [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America Retail has shown growth in volume share in eight of the top ten categories, with a focus on the Remarkability Framework [6][8] - The North America Pet segment has gained share in its core business, particularly in the Life Protection Formula and treats [6][7] - The Love Made Fresh initiative has reached approximately 5% market share among early customers, with strong consumer ratings [7][8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pet category overall was up about 1% in Q2, with dog feeding lagging behind due to shifts in consumer behavior and discretionary spending [32] - The cereal category remains under pressure, with a decline of about 3%, as consumers shift towards high-protein alternatives [69] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to continue driving category improvement and competitiveness in North America Retail while managing pricing effectively [14][18] - There is a focus on innovation and marketing improvements, with expectations for new product launches and advertising to support growth [18][39] - The company is committed to monitoring the competitive environment and adjusting strategies as necessary [18][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges a volatile environment with potential impacts from government actions and consumer sentiment [28][66] - There is cautious optimism for continued organic sales improvement in the second half of the fiscal year, with a focus on price mix and volume recovery [29][66] - The company remains confident in its ability to deliver transformation savings and maintain profitability despite inflationary pressures [77][66] Other Important Information - The company has completed pricing adjustments on two-thirds of its portfolio, with positive responses in most categories [75] - The management is focused on improving the performance of underperforming segments, such as Wilderness, with new product launches and marketing strategies [79] Q&A Session Summary Question: Sustainability of volume growth in North America Retail - Management noted a slight shipment timing benefit in Q2 but expects to continue driving category improvement in the second half [14] Question: Competitive environment and pricing strategies - Management indicated that competitive discounting levels have remained stable, and they are confident in their pricing execution [18][19] Question: Expectations for fiscal 3Q and 4Q - Management expects improvement in the second half, with a focus on price mix and volume recovery, though some timing impacts may affect results [29] Question: Consumer behavior in pet feeding category - The pet category is seeing a shift towards e-commerce, with dog feeding lagging due to consumer pullback in discretionary spending [32][91] Question: Inflation and cost of goods sold outlook - Management reaffirmed a base inflation forecast of around 3%, with expectations for tariff impacts to continue [52][66] Question: Effectiveness of pricing investments - Management reported a high success rate for pricing adjustments, with ongoing monitoring of performance in specific categories [75][88]

Joining me right now for some of the other movers to look at here, Diane King Hall is with us. And we'll start off with General Mills, the earnings there. And good morning to you, Dian. Good morning to you.Uh when I looked at the numbers today from General Mills, I asked the question, are people eating cereal again. And it looks like it based on the numbers. The growth not necessarily in North America, but it did beat expectations on both the top and bottom line.Uh earnings coming in at a buck 10 per share ...

Core Insights - General Mills' latest earnings reveal significant strain on U.S. consumers and the broader economy, with organic net sales down 1%, adjusted operating profit down 20%, and margin compression in North America [1][4]. Consumer Behavior - Lower-income and middle-class consumers are increasingly opting for generic store brands to manage grocery expenses, negatively impacting General Mills, which produces brands like Cheerios and Nature Valley [2][6]. - Despite a trend of eating at home, consumers are not necessarily choosing General Mills' products, indicating a shift in purchasing behavior [3]. Economic Context - The post-pandemic inflation allowed brands to raise prices, but consumers remain cautious due to a sluggish job market, leading to lower volumes and increased promotional needs for General Mills [4][6]. - The economic environment is characterized by a bifurcated consumer base, with high-income shoppers continuing to spend while lower-income shoppers are cutting back [6][7]. Market Performance - General Mills' stock performance reflects broader consumer trends, with a modest 2% increase indicating relief rather than renewed growth confidence [5]. - The operating profit in North America has fallen over 20% year-over-year, aligning with trends reported by major grocery partners like Kroger [6]. Macro Economic Factors - The U.S. economy is facing a volatile backdrop with high effective tariff rates and persistent inflation pressures, contributing to a lack of renewed economic momentum [7]. - The Federal Reserve's cautious approach following interest rate cuts adds to the uncertainty in the economic landscape [7].

General Mills beat quarterly sales estimates on Wednesday, as more consumers ate at home than dined out, boosting demand for the Cheerios maker's pantry staples and breakfast cereals. ...

Core Viewpoint - General Mills is experiencing challenges in the consumer staples sector, but this weakness may present a buying opportunity for long-term investors [1] Group 1: Company Performance - General Mills has seen a significant decline of 27.19% in its stock price over the past year, contributing to its underperformance compared to the S&P 500 [2] - The company is actively making price investments across its brands to stimulate demand, which has resulted in improved sales and volumes [4] - The ready-to-eat cereal market, where General Mills is a key player, is not a high-growth segment, and consumer preferences are shifting away from traditional cereals [6] Group 2: Brand Strength and Market Position - General Mills owns strong brands like Nature Valley, which holds nearly 25% of the domestic cereal bar market, catering to the changing preferences of on-the-go families [6] - The company also leads in the pet food market with its Blue Buffalo brand, which is known for its strong brand loyalty among pet owners [7] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Dividend Policy - General Mills has a market capitalization of $25 billion and a current dividend yield of 5.34%, making it attractive compared to other S&P 500 companies [9][10] - The company's payout ratio is 58%, and its annual dividend obligations consume less than 80% of free cash flow, indicating a stable dividend policy [11] - With 40% of its debt maturing in the coming years, General Mills aims to strengthen its balance sheet while supporting long-term dividend growth [11]