Kraft Heinz is reportedly considering a spinoff of a large chunk of its grocery business as health-conscious American consumers increasingly shy away from processed foods. The $31 billion food and beverage conglomerate, born out of the 2015 merger of Kraft and Heinz, is said to be mulling the creation of a new entity that would include many Kraft products and could be valued at as much as $20 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.The remaining company would house goods such as sauces and condi ...

Ghingo will join Hormel Foods' board of directorsEttinger's role to conclude after 15 monthsAUSTIN, Minn., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced that John Ghingo will be promoted to the role of president, becoming the 11th person to hold the position in the company's nearly 135-year history. Jeffrey M. Ettinger, current member of the Hormel Foods board, will return to the company for a defined period of 15 months as int ...

Core Insights - The PLANTERS® brand is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the NUTmobile with a new design and a fresh crew of Peanutters, launching a nationwide tour to engage fans and promote their products [1][2]. Company Overview - PLANTERS® was founded in 1906 and has been a leading snacking solution for over a century, offering a wide range of nut products [5]. - The brand is owned by Hormel Foods Corporation, which has an annual revenue of approximately $12 billion and operates in over 80 countries [6]. NUTmobile Details - The new NUTmobile features unique updates such as a peanut door handle, a neon-lit selfie station, and a 360-degree exterior camera [2]. - The tour will include interactive events and photo opportunities for fans [4]. New Peanutters - The new crew consists of three individuals: Aria Conte, Hudson Ritchie, and Adleigh Mayes, each with diverse backgrounds and interests [7].

Core Insights - Deere & Company is committed to supporting Brazil's agricultural transformation, positioning itself as a key player in the country's rise as a global agricultural superpower [1] - Brazil's agricultural production is expected to increase significantly over the next decade, with soybeans projected to rise by 46%, corn by 50%, sugarcane by 20%, and cotton by 38% [1] Group 1: Market Position and Growth - Corn and soy account for 90% of Brazil's total grain production, highlighting the strategic importance of these crops for Deere [1] - Deere's tractor market share in Brazil has nearly doubled from 2009 to 2024, with significant growth in the combine (1.5 times), planter (2.5 times), and sprayer (2 times) markets [4] - The company has made substantial investments in Brazil, including eight factories, four facilities, and one R&D center, diversifying its product portfolio beyond just soybeans [3] Group 2: Technological Innovations - Expanding farming areas by utilizing degraded land and implementing double cropping practices will support agricultural growth, with Deere's precision solutions playing a crucial role [2] - Deere is addressing poor cell coverage in Brazil by developing satellite-based solutions for real-time data management, expecting its connected machines to grow from 17 in 2020 to 200 by 2030 [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Other players like AGCO Corporation and CNH Industrial are also focusing on the Brazilian market, with AGCO announcing new facilities and investments to enhance its manufacturing presence [5][7] - CNH Industrial showcased innovative products at Agrishow 2025, indicating a competitive environment in agricultural machinery [6] Group 4: Financial Performance - Deere's shares have increased by 21.9% this year, outperforming the industry growth of 21% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.7% [8] - The forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) ratio for Deere is 25.11X, compared to the industry average of 23.46X, suggesting it may not be a compelling value proposition at current levels [10] Group 5: Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deere's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 26.5%, with revenues expected to drop by 15% [11] - However, fiscal 2026 estimates show a potential recovery with earnings growth of 17% and a revenue increase of 7.3% [11]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation reported second-quarter fiscal 2025 results with adjusted earnings of 35 cents per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but down from 38 cents in the prior year [1] - Net sales increased by 0.4% year over year to $2,898.8 million, although it missed the consensus estimate of $2,905 million, with volumes declining by 5.7% [1] Financial Performance - Gross profit decreased to $484.4 million from $503.8 million in the year-ago quarter [2] - Adjusted operating income fell to $264.9 million from $275.9 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 9.1%, down from 9.6% [2] Segment Performance - Retail unit net sales decreased by 0.3% year over year to $1,783.8 million, with volumes down 6.6%, primarily due to lower commodity shipments [3] - Foodservice segment net sales increased by 0.5% to $936.4 million, with organic net sales rising by 4%, despite a volume decline of 7.3% [5] - International unit net sales grew by 7% to $178.5 million, with volumes up by 8.9%, driven by strong export performance, particularly in refrigerated products [7] Profitability by Segment - Segment profit for the Retail unit increased by 3.6% due to operational efficiencies and lower expenses [4] - Foodservice segment profit declined by 5.8% due to margin pressures, despite increased net sales [6] - International segment profit decreased by 20.7% due to an unfavorable export customer mix and softness in Brazil [8] Financial Health - Hormel Foods ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $669.7 million and total long-term debt of $2,850.7 million [9] - The company returned nearly $159 million to shareholders via dividends [10] Future Outlook - Hormel Foods expects fiscal 2025 net sales to be between $12 billion and $12.2 billion, with organic net sales growth projected at 2% to 3% [12] - Operating income is anticipated to be between $1,118 million and $1,185 million, while adjusted operating income is expected to range from $1,175 million to $1,248 million [13] - Full-year diluted EPS is projected to be between $1.49 and $1.59, with adjusted EPS expected between $1.58 and $1.68 [14] Stock Performance - HRL stock has risen by 5.9% in the past three months, contrasting with a 1.8% decline in the industry [15]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported net sales of $2.9 billion for the second quarter, reflecting a 1% organic increase compared to the previous year [26] - Gross profit margin was 16.7%, impacted by higher commodity input costs, partially offset by savings from the Transform and Modernize initiative [27] - Diluted earnings per share were $0.33, with adjusted diluted earnings per share at $0.35, aligning with expectations [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail segment maintained leadership positions, with notable growth from the Applegate brand and Jennie O lean ground turkey, which continues to perform strongly [9][10] - The food service business outperformed the broader industry, with strong volume and net sales growth from branded products [12] - The international segment saw double-digit volume and net sales growth, particularly in exports and China [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates strong second-half growth, particularly from the Turkey portfolio and the Planters brand, with overall net sales growth expected to be between 2% to 3% for the full year [20][34] - The competitive landscape for turkey has tightened, with expectations for share gains as competitors shutter facilities [94] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains committed to delivering profitable and predictable growth, focusing on a diversified portfolio and the Transform and Modernize initiative [21][31] - Increased advertising investments are planned for the second half, particularly for the Planters brand and other key products [46] - The company is strategically positioned to navigate changing consumer preferences and market dynamics [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to deliver strong second-half results, supported by positive momentum in key brands and segments [41][42] - The consumer sentiment is described as strained due to inflation and uncertainty in the macro environment, impacting overall demand [107] - The company is focused on managing input cost pressures and leveraging its diversified portfolio to sustain growth [33][34] Other Important Information - The company announced leadership changes, including the appointment of Kevin Myers to lead supply chain efforts and the retirement of Scott Okri [22][23] - Capital expenditures for fiscal 2025 are expected to be between $275 million to $300 million, focusing on capacity and technology investments [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you help bridge the operating income outlook for the year? - Management highlighted strong positioning for the second half, with positive momentum in the Planters brand and value-added turkey [40][41] Question: What are the expectations for Turkey in the back half? - Management noted a tightening supply in the turkey market and emphasized the focus on value-added products [52][55] Question: Can you elaborate on the expected margin expansion in the second half? - Management expects margin expansion driven by turkey pricing and strong performance from the Planters brand [60][61] Question: How does the company plan to grow in the food service segment? - Management indicated a strong pipeline of innovation and favorable year-over-year comparisons as key drivers for growth [64][65] Question: What are the savings from the Transform and Modernize initiative? - Management reported executing 66 projects under the initiative, with a focus on improving logistics and inventory management [69][71] Question: What products are related to the inventory build for summer demand? - Management indicated that inventory was built for Planters and promotional products like Spam, while managing commodity input costs [74][76] Question: Is the company still confident in achieving the $250 million operating income growth target by FY 2026? - Management affirmed confidence in the target, emphasizing ongoing initiatives and the benefits of the Transform and Modernize program [105][106] Question: What is the current consumer sentiment? - Management described consumer sentiment as strained due to inflation and uncertainty, impacting overall demand [107]

Award-winning internship program offers students from 50 colleges and universities three months of hands-on business experience AUSTIN, Minn., May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- It's more than an internship — it's a launchpad to a rewarding career. Typically, more than 70% of Hormel Foods interns become full-time team members at the company. Starting today, the company will welcome over 95 students from 50 colleges and universities across the country. The award-winning Hormel Foods summer internship program o ...

Baker will assume the role at the end of the fiscal year following the planned retirement of Scott AakreAUSTIN, Minn., May 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced that Jeff Baker, group vice president of Retail marketing for Value-Added Meats, will assume the role of group vice president for Retail marketing at the end of the company's fiscal 2025. Following the retirement of Scott Aakre, group vice president and chief marketing off ...

Aakre extends his service to the company by joining Hormel Foods board of directorsAUSTIN, Minn., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced that Scott Aakre, group vice president and chief marketing officer for Retail, will retire at the end of the company's fiscal 2025 after 35 years of distinguished service. His responsibilities will be transitioned internally. The company also announced that Aakre, who serves on The Hormel Foun ...

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call February 27, 2025 9:30 AM ET Company Participants Jess Blomberg - Director of Investor Relations Jim Snee - President and Chief Executive Officer Jacinth Smiley - Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer John Ghingo - Executive Vice President, Retail Segment Conference Call Participants Peter Galbo - Bank of America Ken Goldman - JPMorgan Heather Jones - Heather Jones Research Rupesh Parikh - Oppenheimer Ben Thurber - Barclays ...