Lamb Weston (LW) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended May 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 23, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Natural Foods Products industry is facing a challenging macroeconomic environment characterized by persistent inflation and reduced consumer spending, leading to pressure on profit margins due to rising input costs and operational expenses [1][4][5] - The industry includes companies that manufacture and sell a variety of organic and natural food products, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, seafood, and packaged meals, primarily through wholesalers, retailers, and e-commerce [3] Key Trends - There is a notable shift towards healthier eating habits, with consumers increasingly seeking nutritious and organic food options, which is driving demand for fresh products [6] - Companies are adapting to the tough market landscape by emphasizing value-focused marketing and expanding their product lines to include more affordable options [4][5] Performance Metrics - The Zacks Natural Foods Products industry has outperformed the broader Zacks Retail - Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 over the past year, with a growth of 64.7% compared to 17.3% and 12.3% respectively [10] - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 20.02X, lower than the S&P 500's 22.63X and the sector's 24.98X [13] Company Highlights - Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) is focusing on product innovation, e-commerce, and competitive pricing, with a consensus estimate for current fiscal year earnings per share (EPS) at $5.08 and a stock gain of 96.6% over the past year [14][15] - Performance Food Group Company (PFGC) is capitalizing on its position in the food-away-from-home industry, with a current fiscal year EPS estimate of $4.36 and a stock gain of 40.1% in the past year [18][19]

分组1 - McCormick reported quarterly earnings of $0.69 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.65 per share, with an earnings surprise of +6.15% [1] - The company posted revenues of $1.66 billion for the quarter ended May 2025, slightly missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.22%, compared to $1.64 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, McCormick has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates two times [2] 分组2 - The stock has underperformed the market, losing about 3.4% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 gained 3.6% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.84 on revenues of $1.71 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.02 on revenues of $6.81 billion [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Food - Miscellaneous is in the bottom 24% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for McCormick's stock performance [8]

Core Viewpoint - General Mills reported quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.71 per share, but down from $1.01 per share a year ago [1][2] Financial Performance - The earnings surprise for the quarter was +4.23%, with the company having surpassed consensus EPS estimates in all four of the last quarters [2] - Revenues for the quarter were $4.56 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.04%, and down from $4.71 billion year-over-year [3] - The company has topped consensus revenue estimates twice in the last four quarters [3] Stock Performance - General Mills shares have declined approximately 16.3% year-to-date, contrasting with the S&P 500's gain of 3.6% [4] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [7] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.94 on revenues of $4.62 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.87 on revenues of $18.95 billion [8] - The estimate revisions trend for General Mills was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, which may impact future stock performance [7] Industry Context - The Food - Miscellaneous industry, to which General Mills belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 21% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [9] - Comparatively, Lamb Weston, another company in the same industry, is expected to report a year-over-year earnings decline of -16.7% [10]

Core Insights - Investors are increasingly focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) as a significant opportunity for growth, similar to past successes with companies like Amazon and Nvidia [1] Group 1: Company Summaries - **The Honest Company**: Specializes in personal and baby care products with clean ingredients, reported $97 million in revenue for Q1 2025, a 13% year-over-year increase, and is positioned for profitable growth [4] - **Stride**: A technology-based learning company with an 18% year-over-year revenue increase to $613 million in Q3 fiscal 2025, and profits of $99 million, with analysts predicting a 14% rise in stock price [6] - **Revolve Group**: An online fashion retailer utilizing AI, reported a 10% year-over-year sales increase and a 5% rise in net income, with mixed analyst opinions on stock price targets [8][9] - **Nomad**: A European frozen foods company with a 6% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, despite a recent sales decrease, all analysts rate it a buy with a target price 40% higher than current levels [10] - **Driven Brands**: Offers automotive services, reported a 7% sales increase in Q1, and plans to open 200 new stores in 2025, with a 30% average price target increase anticipated [11] - **Oddity Tech**: A cosmetics and skincare company using AI, reported a 27% revenue increase in Q1, but is seen as potentially expensive in the short term [12] - **Urban Outfitters**: Experienced an 11% revenue increase in Q1 fiscal 2026, with earnings per share nearly doubling, and all analysts expect further stock price increases [13] - **Shake Shack**: Reported a 10.5% sales increase in Q1 and more than doubled net income, with a positive long-term outlook despite a recent stock price surge [14] - **Academy Sports**: A sporting goods retailer facing short-term pressure but has long-term growth potential through new store openings and digital expansion, with a 20% average price target increase [16] - **Chef's Warehouse**: A specialty foods distributor with a 9% revenue increase in Q1 and earnings per share rising from $0.05 to $0.25, all analysts predict an 8% to 20% stock price increase [17][18]

Key Takeaways HSY may face up to $100M in unmitigated costs each in Q3 and Q4 from cocoa and Canadian tariffs. HSY is pivoting to lower cocoa items and using price pack architecture to preserve consumer demand. Innovation pipelines and reduced reliance on cocoa inputs are key to HSY's cost-mitigation efforts.The Hershey Company (HSY) is facing mounting pressure from soaring cocoa prices and tariff-related impacts, with up to $100 million in potential unmitigated costs per quarter in the second half of 202 ...

Core Insights - Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) announced a $17 million investment in its Houston brewery as part of its Brewing Futures program, which includes a total commitment of $300 million for facility investments across the U.S. by 2025 [1][9] - The investment aims to enhance brewing excellence and improve transportation capabilities, ensuring efficient product delivery throughout Texas, building on over $50 million already invested in the Houston site in the past three years [2][4] - AB InBev's Brewing Futures initiative focuses on creating a sustainable workforce, supporting job creation, and advancing opportunities for veterans in the manufacturing sector [3] Investment and Economic Impact - The Houston brewery has been a key operational hub for nearly 60 years, with AB InBev and its distributor partners investing over $2.3 billion in capital projects in Texas to date [4] - The company employs nearly 1,000 individuals across four facilities in Texas, significantly contributing to the local economy and the American brewing industry [4] - Nationally, AB InBev operates over 100 facilities and employs 65,000 Americans, having invested nearly $2 billion in facility upgrades over the past five years [5] Growth Strategy - AB InBev is experiencing strong revenue momentum driven by consumer demand for its diverse brand portfolio and strategic pricing initiatives [7] - The company is focusing on expanding its premium and super-premium beer offerings, with brands like Corona and Stella Artois performing well internationally [8] - AB InBev is also diversifying into new categories such as ready-to-drink beverages and hard seltzers, while enhancing its digital platforms for better customer engagement [10]

Core Insights - Campbell's Company (CPB) has faced significant challenges in 2025, with its stock down 20.4% year to date, underperforming the S&P 500's 1.8% growth and the Zacks Consumer Staples sector's 6.6% return [1][8] - The company's stock closed at $33.32, just above its 52-week low of $32.83, and is trading below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating ongoing weakness in momentum and investor sentiment [4][5] Company Performance - CPB's Snacks segment has been particularly weak, with net sales in the division totaling $1,012 million, down 8% year over year, and organic net sales down 5% when excluding the Pop Secret divestiture [9][10] - The decline in the Snacks segment is attributed to a 5% drop in volume/mix, with net price realization remaining flat, and management expects a slower recovery than initially anticipated [10][11] - The company is also facing persistent cost inflation, leading to a decline in adjusted gross profit margin by 110 basis points to 30.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 [11][12] Financial Outlook - Campbell's has reaffirmed its full-year guidance, projecting organic net sales to range from a 2% decline to flat year over year, with adjusted EBIT estimated to grow 3-5% [13] - Adjusted EPS is expected to decline by 4-1%, in the range of $2.95-$3.05, compared to $3.08 reported in fiscal 2024 [13][14] - The overall operating landscape remains tough, with inflation-driven margin erosion and a subdued earnings outlook contributing to the stock's underperformance [14]

Core Insights - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with revenues and earnings exceeding expectations and showing year-over-year growth [1][3] - The company has achieved seven consecutive quarters of sequential adjusted EBITDA growth, reflecting effective execution of its multi-year strategy [1][6] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share for Q3 were 44 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 24 cents and up from 10 cents in the same quarter last year [3][7] - Net sales increased by 7.5% year over year to $8,059 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7,846 million, driven by a 4% rise in wholesale unit volumes and inflation effects [3][7] - Gross profit rose 6.1% year over year to $1,082 million, with a gross margin of 13.4%, a slight contraction from 13.6% in the previous year [5][6] Segment Performance - Revenue from the Natural segment grew 12% to $4,160 million, Conventional sales increased by 2.7% to $3,628 million, and Retail sales saw a 0.4% rise to $573 million [4] Cost and Margin Analysis - Operating expenses were $1,025 million, up from $992 million in the prior year, but as a percentage of sales, they decreased to 12.7% from 13.2% [6] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $157 million, marking a 20.8% increase from $130 million in the same quarter last year [6] Financial Health - Total liquidity stood at $1.49 billion as of May 3, 2025, including nearly $52 million in cash and approximately $1.44 billion in unused capacity under its asset-based lending facility [7] - Free cash flow for Q3 was $119 million, up from $49 million in the prior-year quarter [7] - Total outstanding debt, net of cash, was $1.93 billion, a decrease of $118 million from the previous quarter [8] Future Guidance - For fiscal 2025, UNFI anticipates net sales between $31.3 billion and $31.7 billion, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $550 million and $580 million [9][10] - The company projects a net loss of $55 million to $80 million for fiscal 2025, contrasting with earlier expectations of a net loss of $13 million and net earnings of $3 million [9]

Core Insights - The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM) reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with net sales missing estimates while adjusted earnings exceeded expectations, both metrics showing a year-over-year decline [1][3][10] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $2.31, down 13% year over year, but above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.25 [3][10] - Net sales totaled $2,143.8 million, a 3% decline year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,191 million [3][10] - Excluding noncomparable sales from divestitures and currency impacts, net sales decreased by 1%, attributed to a 3% drop in volume/mix, partially offset by a 3% increase in net price realization [3][10] Segment Performance - U.S. Retail Pet Foods: Sales fell 13% to $395.5 million, with an 11-percentage-point negative impact from volume/mix [5] - U.S. Retail Coffee: Sales increased 11% to $738.6 million, driven by a 10% rise in net price realization [6] - U.S. Retail Frozen Handheld and Spreads: Sales decreased slightly to $449.8 million, with a profit drop of 5% to $91 million [7] - Sweet Baked Snacks: Sales were $251 million, down 26% year over year, with a profit decline of 72% to $20 million [8] - International and Away From Home: Sales increased 3% to $308.9 million, with a profit increase of 13% to $69.2 million [9] Financial Health - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $69.9 million, with long-term debt of $7,036.8 million and total shareholders' equity of $6,082.6 million [11] - Operating cash flow was $393.9 million, and free cash flow was $298.9 million for the quarter [11] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, SJM anticipates net sales growth of 2-4%, factoring in the impact of recent divestitures [13] - Comparable net sales are expected to rise approximately 3.5-5.5%, driven by higher net price realization, despite volume/mix declines [14] - Adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 is set between $8.50 and $9.50, down from $10.12 in fiscal 2025 [15]