Core Points - Hormel Foods Corporation announced a 1 percent increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the annualized rate to $1.17 per share, marking the 60th consecutive annual dividend increase [1] - The authorized quarterly dividend is set at 29.25 cents ($0.2925) per share, to be paid on February 17, 2026, to stockholders of record as of January 12, 2026, representing the 390th consecutive quarterly dividend [2] - Hormel Foods has maintained uninterrupted quarterly dividend payments since becoming a public company in 1928 [2] Company Overview - Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue [3] - The company’s brand portfolio includes well-known names such as Planters, Skippy, SPAM, and Jennie-O, among others, totaling over 30 brands [3] - Hormel Foods is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, recognized for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts [3]

Core Viewpoint - Hormel Foods is undergoing a restructuring process that involves cutting 250 corporate and sales jobs, which is expected to incur restructuring charges between $20 million and $25 million [1] Group 1: Company Actions - The company is reducing its workforce as part of a broader restructuring strategy [1] - Hormel Foods owns well-known brands such as Planters, Skippy, and Spam [1] Group 2: Financial Implications - The anticipated restructuring charges are estimated to be in the range of $20 million to $25 million [1]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods is planning to cut 250 corporate and sales positions as part of a corporate restructuring to align resources with strategic priorities and support future growth [1][2] - The company is focusing on areas such as technology, innovation, food safety, and quality to strengthen its overall business [2] - Hormel expects restructuring charges between $20 million and $25 million due to pension benefits, cash severance payments, stock compensation expenses, and employee benefit costs [3] Company Challenges - Hormel Foods is facing declining sales and rising costs, influenced by inflationary pressures and disruptions such as bird flu and a fire at an Arkansas peanut butter plant [4] - The company recently announced the departure of its CFO and the return of former CEO Jeff Ettinger in an interim capacity [4] Industry Context - The food and beverage industry has experienced significant job cuts in 2025 as companies adjust to slowing demand, with notable firms like Nestlé, General Mills, and Molson Coors also eliminating positions [5] - Nestlé announced plans to cut 16,000 jobs, representing about 6% of its global workforce of 277,000 [5]

Group 1: Company Overview - Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) is a leading American multinational manufacturer and marketer of processed food, operating in three segments: Grocery Products, Foodservice, and International [2] - The Grocery Products segment is the largest producer of manufactured meat and food products for retail sales in the U.S., featuring well-known brands such as Planters, SPAM, Skippy, Herdez, Jennie-O, and Hormel [2] Group 2: Financial Performance - Hormel Foods recently reported quarterly earnings, with analysts forecasting earnings of $0.41 per share on revenue of $2.98 billion [3] - Organic product sales increased by 6% year-on-year, while overall revenue grew by 4.5% [3] - Despite revenue growth, earnings per share declined by 5.4% year-on-year, and the company provided soft forward guidance, disappointing investors [3] Group 3: Dividend Policy - Hormel Foods has a strong dividend policy, having increased its dividends for 59 consecutive years [4] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.69% as of September 27 [4]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) is a significant player in the packaged foods industry, with a market cap of $13.7 billion and a diverse brand portfolio [1][2] - The company has faced stock price declines, with a 26.6% drop from its 52-week high and a 20.9% year-to-date decrease [3][4] Company Overview - HRL develops, processes, and distributes a variety of food products, including meat and nuts, to various customers globally [1] - The company is classified as a large-cap stock, highlighting its size and influence in the market [2] Financial Performance - In Q3, HRL reported an adjusted EPS of $0.35, falling short of the expected $0.41, while revenue reached $3.03 billion, exceeding forecasts of $2.98 billion [5] - The company anticipates a full-year adjusted EPS between $1.43 and $1.45 [5] Stock Performance - HRL shares have underperformed compared to the First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF, with a 17.7% decline over the past three months [3][4] - The stock has been trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a bearish trend [4] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street analysts maintain a cautious outlook on HRL, with a consensus "Hold" rating and a mean price target of $28.71, suggesting a potential upside of 15.7% [6]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) is recognized as one of the 13 incredibly cheap dividend stocks to invest in [1] - The company has transitioned from a primarily meat-focused business to a broader global branded food enterprise, generating over $12 billion in annual revenue from more than 40 brands worldwide [3] - Hormel Foods is classified as a Dividend King, having increased its dividend payouts for 59 consecutive years, currently offering a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share with a dividend yield of 4.67% as of September 19 [3] Company Overview - Hormel Foods Corporation is an American multinational food processing company operating through three main segments: retail, foodservice, and international [2] - The retail segment includes well-known brands such as Planters, SPAM, Skippy, Herdez, Jennie-O, and Hormel [2] - The foodservice division supplies products like pizza toppings and bacon to restaurants and other food outlets, while the international business encompasses global sales and investments abroad [2] Financial Performance - The company has evolved significantly, now generating more than $12 billion in annual revenue [3] - Hormel Foods has a strong track record of dividend growth, being a Dividend King with 59 years of consecutive dividend increases [3] - The current quarterly dividend is $0.29 per share, reflecting a dividend yield of 4.67% [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 6% growth in top line revenue, with volume growth across all segments: retail up 5%, foodservice up 7%, and international up 6% [4] - Despite the top line growth, the bottom line was negatively impacted by escalating cost pressures that exceeded expectations [5] - The company anticipates continued pressure on the bottom line for Q4, with a similar outlook as Q3 [6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail segment experienced a 5% growth, foodservice segment grew by 7%, and international segment saw a 6% increase [4] - The company is focusing on strategic pricing actions in response to commodity cost pressures, particularly in the foodservice and retail segments [10][14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The foodservice industry is facing traffic pressure, with consumers not visiting channels like QSRs and convenience stores as frequently [36] - Retail consumers are trading down to lower-priced alternatives, leading to significant growth in private label products [37] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on modernizing its portfolio and operations through the Transform and Modernize initiative, which aims to yield efficiencies and savings [32][56] - There is an emphasis on strategic pricing actions to manage commodity inflation while maintaining consumer engagement [14][39] - The company aims to leverage its unique protein-centric portfolio to meet evolving consumer demands for convenience and value [30][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer sentiment remains low due to inflationary pressures, leading to cautious consumer behavior [35] - The company is optimistic about its ability to drive both top line and bottom line growth by 2026, with ongoing initiatives to improve operational efficiency [6][70] Other Important Information - The company is reviewing its SG&A spending, which has increased significantly without corresponding sales growth, indicating potential areas for cost optimization [25][26] - The Transform and Modernize initiative is expected to deliver benefits beyond the initial three-year target, with a focus on long-term growth [56][58] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the key focuses for the interim CEO and President moving forward? - The interim CEO emphasized the importance of achieving net sales growth of 2-3% and operating income growth of 5-7%, while also focusing on the building blocks for a successful 2026 [24][25] Question: How is the company addressing pricing challenges in different segments? - The company is implementing strategic pricing actions in both foodservice and retail segments, with a focus on understanding consumer elasticity and brand strength [12][14] Question: What is the current status of the Transform and Modernize initiative? - The initiative is on track, with 90 projects executed in Q3 alone, and is expected to continue delivering value and efficiencies [56][58] Question: What are the capital allocation priorities for the company? - The company prioritizes increasing dividends, strategic M&A opportunities, and expanding its global footprint, while being disciplined in its capital allocation strategy [62][64]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved organic net sales growth of 6% in the third quarter, marking three consecutive quarters of growth [9][34] - Adjusted EPS for the third quarter was $0.35, with cash flow from operations at $157 million, showing a sequential improvement but down compared to the prior year [38][39] - Gross profit remained relatively flat year over year due to higher than expected input costs, with inflationary pressures impacting margins [35][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Retail segment grew volume and net sales by 5% over last year, driven significantly by the Turkey portfolio [34][35] - The Foodservice segment outperformed the broader industry with 2% organic volume growth and 7% organic net sales growth [35][25] - The International segment saw 8% volume growth and 6% net sales growth, primarily led by the China market [34][28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company faced significant commodity inflation, with pork bellies up approximately 30% and beef prices remaining near all-time highs [36][30] - The foodservice industry traffic remained soft, impacting overall visits slightly down year over year [24][25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on delivering profitable growth through its Transform and Modernize initiative, which is expected to provide incremental benefits [9][41] - The strategy includes building a consumer-led growth engine powered by protein-centric solutions and modernizing product offerings [16][24] - The company plans to share holistic 2026 guidance in the fourth quarter earnings call, aligning expectations with market dynamics [11][45] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's future despite disappointing bottom-line results, emphasizing the strength of its protein-centric portfolio [31][46] - The company anticipates continued net sales growth in the fourth quarter, although profitability recovery is expected to lag into next year due to ongoing commodity pressures [10][42] - Management acknowledged the need to adjust 2026 targets based on current market conditions and consumer sentiment [44][59] Other Important Information - The company declared and paid its 388th consecutive quarterly dividend, totaling $474 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2025 [39] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $72 million, with a commitment to invest approximately $300 million for fiscal 2025 [39][40] Q&A Session Summary Question: What has changed in the outlook since the last call? - Management noted that while some expectations were met, the steep rise in commodity markets significantly pressured earnings, alongside disappointing foodservice traffic recovery [54][56] Question: What are the opportunities for shareholder returns? - Management highlighted the company's strong position in innovation and growth across various segments, emphasizing the importance of driving both top and bottom line growth [63][66] Question: How does the long-term growth algorithm apply to 2026? - Management stated that while the long-term growth goals remain, they will provide specific guidance for fiscal 2026 in the upcoming call, considering current market dynamics [71][72] Question: What is the impact of seasonality on commodity costs? - Management acknowledged typical seasonal declines but noted that current markets remain elevated, which may not provide material benefits due to existing inventory levels [74][75] Question: How is pricing being managed in retail? - Management explained that pricing actions are being carefully considered based on commodity costs, consumer response, and brand health, with recent pricing actions expected to benefit in Q4 and 2026 [78][84]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales and revenues decreased by 9% to DKK 12.018 billion, with equipment operations net sales also down 9% to DKK 10.357 billion [10] - Net income attributable to Deere and Company was €1.289 billion, or $4.75 per diluted share [10] Business Segment Data and Key Metrics Changes - Production and Precision Ag segment net sales fell 16% year over year to €4.273 billion, primarily due to lower shipment volumes and unfavorable price realization [10][11] - Small Ag and Turf segment net sales decreased by 1% year over year to €3.025 billion, with operating profit declining slightly to €485 million, resulting in a 16% operating margin [12] - Construction and Forestry segment net sales were down 5% year over year to DKK 3.059 billion, with an operating profit of €237 million and a 7.7% operating margin [19][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S. and Canada, large ag equipment industry sales are expected to decline approximately 30% in fiscal year 2025 due to high interest rates and elevated used inventory levels [13] - Small ag and turf industry demand in the U.S. and Canada is projected to decrease by 10% [14] - European market sentiment is improving, with expectations for industry sales to be flat to down 5% in fiscal year 2025 [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined execution amidst challenging market dynamics, with a strong emphasis on managing production costs and inventory levels [6][8] - Deere is positioning itself to respond effectively to market demand inflections, having reduced inventories significantly across all business segments [29][32] - The company is investing in technology and precision agriculture solutions to drive future growth and improve customer outcomes [59][110] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that global uncertainty and high interest rates are impacting customer sentiment, leading to cautious capital purchases [28] - Despite challenges, there are signs of optimism in certain markets, with improved retail sales and order activity in specific segments [9][44] - The company remains committed to delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders, leveraging its operational efficiencies and market position [67][68] Other Important Information - Tariff costs in the quarter were approximately $200 million, with a forecasted pretax impact of nearly $600 million for fiscal year 2025 [37][38] - The company has seen a positive response to pricing actions taken in the North American earthmoving market, with retail settlements up mid-single digits year over year [39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide additional color on the quarter's performance? - Management highlighted the challenges posed by global trade dynamics and interest rate expectations, emphasizing the importance of focusing on controllable factors like production and inventory management [28] Question: What are the expectations for production in relation to retail demand next year? - Management indicated that production is expected to align closely with retail demand, particularly in large ag, while small ag and turf may see some lift due to underproduction this year [75] Question: Can you elaborate on the early order programs and their trends? - Management noted that while there is caution in ordering due to market uncertainty, early returns on planters and combines are positive, though it is still early in the programs [81][82] Question: How is the company addressing pricing competition in the market? - Management acknowledged the competitive pricing environment but expressed optimism about the market's ability to bear higher pricing, especially with positive retail sales trends [86] Question: What is the outlook for cash flow guidance? - Management explained that the cash flow guidance remains unchanged due to the uncertain environment, but they feel confident about inventory levels and retail sales trends [94]

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]