Kellanova, a huge consumer packaged goods company, has been acquired by Mars, and K stock is expected to be delisted soon, as its acquisition closed yesterday, Dec. 11. Consequently, the former owners of K stock may be thinking of looking to buy Kraft Heinz (KHC), which is the closest publicly traded alternative to Kellanova. About KHC Stock Kraft Heinz, as its name indicates, owns and markets the Kraft and Heinz brands. It also has many other consumer packaged food brands, such as Oscar Mayer, Jell-O, ...

Core Viewpoint - Kraft Heinz is struggling with uninspiring fundamentals despite a high-yield dividend, raising questions about its attractiveness as an investment [1][10]. Financial Performance - Kraft Heinz has consistently underperformed the market over one, three, and five-year periods, with total returns lagging behind the S&P 500 index [3]. - The company's annual revenue has only seen two increases since 2020, with 2024 revenue at $25.8 billion, a 3% decline from the previous year and below the 2020 figure of $26.2 billion [7]. Market Position and Challenges - The majority of Kraft Heinz's portfolio consists of mature brands that are losing favor as consumers shift towards healthier and more diverse options [6]. - The company announced plans to split into two separate businesses to focus on its major brands, but there are doubts about whether this will address the underlying issues of stagnant revenue [8][9]. Dividend and Cash Flow - Kraft Heinz offers a high dividend yield of 6.3%, supported by a free cash flow of nearly $3.2 billion in 2024, which is sufficient to cover the dividend payments [10]. - Despite the attractive dividend, concerns remain that continued mediocre performance will prevent stock price appreciation [11].

Group 1 - The Kraft Heinz Company is facing challenges with its brand perception, as noted by Jim Cramer, who suggests that the new consumer market is not buying Kraft Heinz products [1] - Cramer indicates that Kraft Heinz is reportedly planning to break up its brands, retaining faster-growing ones like Heinz Ketchup and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, while separating slower-growing brands such as Oscar Mayer and Velveeta [2] - The company produces a variety of food and beverage products under well-known brands, including Kraft, Heinz, Oscar Mayer, and Philadelphia [2]

Core Viewpoint - Kraft Heinz is splitting into two separate companies to better focus on their respective markets, amid struggles with share performance and changing consumer preferences [1][2][10]. Company Structure - The split will create Global Taste Elevation Co., focusing on faster-growing sauces and condiments, and North American Grocery Co., which will manage the North American grocery business [1][8]. Financial Performance - In 2024, Global Taste Elevation is projected to generate net sales of $15.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $4 billion, while North American Grocery is expected to generate about $10.4 billion in sales and adjusted EBITDA of $2.3 billion [8][9]. Shareholder Sentiment - Warren Buffett expressed disappointment with the split decision, highlighting concerns over the $300 million in expenses and the lack of a shareholder vote [3][5]. Strategic Challenges - The company has faced challenges due to a diverse portfolio of brands, making it difficult to focus and achieve strong market share [10]. Future Outlook - The split is expected to close in the second half of 2026, with a focus on maintaining a high dividend yield while addressing debt reallocation [11][12].

Kraft Heinz Separation Overview - Kraft Heinz plans to separate into two independent companies: Global Taste Elevation Co and North American Grocery Co[4, 25] - The separation aims to allow each company to dedicate resources, reduce complexity, and align capital allocation with strategic ambitions[26, 27] - The spin-off is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026 and is expected to be tax-free to Kraft Heinz and its shareholders[66] Global Taste Elevation Co - Global Taste Elevation Co had net sales of $154 billion in 2024 and adjusted EBITDA of $40 billion[28] - More than 75% of net sales are from market-leading brands with approximately 90% U S household penetration[41] - The company has a 7% 5-year CAGR in Taste Elevation and a 10% 5-year CAGR in Away From Home organic net sales[43] North American Grocery Co - North American Grocery Co had net sales of $104 billion in 2024 and adjusted EBITDA of $23 billion[28] - Nearly 75% of net sales are from market-leading brands[53] - The company has an opportunity to pursue whitespace in Away From Home, with industry average Away From Home sales at 19% compared to the company's 4%[57] Strategic Rationale - Portfolio complexity is correlated to lower growth rates[22] - The separation will minimize operational overlap and replication, with anticipated dis-synergies of up to $300 million, a substantial portion of which can be mitigated in the near term[58] - The company realized annual efficiencies of approximately $35 million from 2022 to 2024 through shared services efficiencies[13]