By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Candy and snacks giant Mars' $36 billion bid to acquire Pringles maker Kellanova is set to clear a major hurdle by winning unconditional European Union antitrust approval, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The deal, among the biggest in the sector, would bring under one roof brands ranging from M&Ms, Snickers and Whiskas cat food to Pringles crisps, Pop-Tarts and Kellogg's cereals. It has already secured a green light without any conditions from U. ...

Core Viewpoint - Mars' acquisition of Kellanova is likely to receive approval from the European Commission before Christmas, with a new deadline set for December 19 to complete the investigation into the deal [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Timeline - The European Commission had previously suspended its investigation into the merger due to a lack of requested information, which has now been received, allowing the investigation to resume [2][3]. - The original deadline of October 31 for the investigation was cancelled, and the new provisional deadline is December 19 [2]. Group 2: Merger Details - Mars confirmed the acquisition of Kellanova, the maker of Pringles and Cheez-It, for $35.9 billion [4][5]. - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission approved the merger in June, making the EU approval the last remaining hurdle [3]. Group 3: Competition Concerns - Preliminary findings from the European Commission indicated that the merger could lead to higher consumer prices due to Mars' increased negotiating power with retailers in the European Economic Area [4][6]. - Several retailers in the EEA have expressed concerns regarding the potential impact of the merger on pricing [6].

Company Overview - Kellanova (K) is a global snacking and food company formed in October 2023, valued at $27.6 billion by market cap, following the split from the Kellogg Company [1] - The company retains well-known brands such as Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Special K, and MorningStar Farms, and is headquartered in Chicago, operating in over 180 countries [1][2] Market Position - Kellanova is classified as a "large-cap stock" with a market cap exceeding $10 billion, highlighting its size, influence, and dominance in the packaged goods industry [2] - The company benefits from strong market presence and consumer loyalty due to its established brands, along with global diversification from manufacturing in 20 countries [2] Stock Performance - Kellanova's stock currently trades 5.5% below its 52-week high of $83.22, achieved on March 4, and has declined 2% over the past three months, underperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 14% rise [3] - Year-to-date, Kellanova shares have dipped 2.9%, lagging behind the Nasdaq's YTD gains of 15.3%, and have decreased 2.5% over the past 52 weeks compared to the Nasdaq's 26.3% returns [4] Financial Results - Kellanova reported mixed Q2 results on July 31, with overall revenues pressured by soft industry demand, but a 0.3% year-over-year increase in sales to $3.2 billion, narrowly beating expectations [5] - Adjusted operating income fell 5% to $477 million, and adjusted EPS declined 6.9% to $0.94, falling below consensus estimates [5]

Group 1 - The European Union antitrust regulators have resumed their investigation into Mars' $36 billion acquisition bid for Kellanova, the maker of Pringles [1] - A decision regarding the investigation is set to be made by December 19 [1]

Core Viewpoint - Kraft Heinz announced its plan to split into two independent publicly traded companies, marking a shift away from the "big and all-encompassing" strategy that has characterized large food enterprises [1][2] Group 1: Company Structure and Strategy - One of the new companies will focus on faster-growing segments such as sauces, spreads, and shelf-stable meals, with projected revenue of approximately $15.4 billion in 2024 [1] - The other company will concentrate on underperforming fresh grocery and foodservice channels, with expected revenue of about $10.4 billion in 2024 [1] - The split aims to simplify the corporate structure, allowing for better capital allocation and prioritization, ultimately enhancing performance and long-term shareholder value [1] Group 2: Historical Context and Performance - The split reverses the 2015 merger between Heinz and Kraft, which created North America's third-largest food company but has since seen a significant decline in market value [2] - Kraft Heinz has experienced a continuous decline in sales for seven consecutive quarters, with a 1.9% drop in the latest quarter, and its stock price has fallen over 68% since the merger [2] - Warren Buffett expressed disappointment over the split, although Berkshire Hathaway remains the largest shareholder [2] Group 3: Industry Challenges - The company faces challenges from inflation, consumer spending cuts, and competition from private labels, as well as reduced snack demand due to GLP-1 weight loss drugs [2] - Analysts noted that Kraft Heinz has struggled to adapt to changing consumer preferences, particularly in the health and organic food segments [4] - The company has been criticized for not investing adequately in its business, leading to a decline in brand popularity [4] Group 4: Future Outlook - The CEO indicated signs of improvement in North America due to reinvestment in products and more targeted marketing [5] - The split is seen as an attempt to replicate the success of Kellogg's recent restructuring, which involved separating popular brands into a new company [5]

Core Insights - Kellanova reported Q2 2025 organic net sales of $3,202 million, slightly exceeding analyst expectations of $3,188 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 0.3% [1][2] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.94, falling short of the expected $0.99 and representing a 6.9% decline from the previous year [1][2] - The company is focusing on growth in emerging markets and maintaining cost discipline, although it faces challenges in North America and Europe [1][4] Financial Performance - Revenue (GAAP) for Q2 2025 was $3.20 billion, a 0.3% increase from $3.19 billion in Q2 2024 [2] - Adjusted operating profit (Non-GAAP) decreased by 5.0% to $477 million from $502 million in the prior year [2][5] - Free cash flow for the year-to-date period turned negative at ($39 million), compared to $443 million generated in the same period last year [2][8] Regional Performance - North America saw organic net sales and sales volumes decline by 3.8% year over year, with adjusted operating profit down 5.6% [6] - Europe experienced a 5.1% drop in organic net sales and a 9.3% decrease in adjusted operating profit, attributed to order disruptions [6] - The AMEA region reported a significant 18.7% increase in organic net sales, driven by strong demand for noodles, particularly in Africa [7] Strategic Focus - Kellanova has completed the separation of its North America cereal business, allowing a shift in focus to global snacks and convenience foods [4] - The company is planning a merger with Mars, Inc., which is expected to influence its strategic direction [4][9] - Management emphasizes the importance of brand strength, international expansion, and efficient supply chain operations to navigate ongoing industry pressures [4][9]

Company Performance - Kellanova reported quarterly earnings of $0.94 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.99 per share, and down from $1.01 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -5.05% [1] - The company posted revenues of $3.2 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.80%, but slightly down from year-ago revenues of $3.19 billion [2] - Over the last four quarters, Kellanova has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Outlook - Kellanova shares have lost about 1.5% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 8.2% [3] - The company's earnings outlook is crucial for investors, as it includes current consensus earnings expectations for upcoming quarters and any recent changes to these expectations [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.89 on revenues of $3.26 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.75 on revenues of $12.77 billion [7] Industry Context - The Consumer Products - Discretionary industry, to which Kellanova belongs, is currently in the top 29% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact Kellanova's stock performance [5] - The Zacks Rank for Kellanova is currently 3 (Hold), suggesting that the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6]

Group 1 - Kellanova reported its 2025 second quarter earnings results, which are available on the company's website and filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [1] - The company is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods, with a legacy of over 100 years [2] - Kellanova's net sales for 2024 were approximately $13 billion, indicating a strong market presence [2] Group 2 - The company's purpose is to create better days and ensure equitable food access, aiming to impact 4 billion people by the end of 2030 [3] - Kellanova is committed to sustainability and addressing issues related to hunger, wellbeing, and diversity [3]

Core Insights - Algorhythm Holdings' subsidiary, SemiCab India, has secured a significant expansion of its Master Services Agreement with Kellanova India, positioning it as a top five provider of transportation services to Kellanova in India [1][4] - The agreement involves managed transportation services along key corridors in India, utilizing SemiCab's AI-powered, cloud-based Collaborative Transportation Platform to enhance cost efficiency and delivery accuracy [2][8] - Kellanova India, a subsidiary of Kellanova, holds a substantial market share in the Indian breakfast cereal sector, reportedly up to 75%, and is known for its popular brands [3] Company Overview - Algorhythm Holdings, Inc. operates primarily in AI technology and consumer electronics, with SemiCab being a key business unit focused on logistics and distribution [7] - SemiCab has been addressing supply chain challenges globally since 2020, leveraging AI and real-time data to optimize transportation logistics [8] - Kellanova is a leading player in the global snacking and food industry, with net sales of approximately $13 billion in 2024, and a diverse portfolio of well-known brands [6]

Core Viewpoint - The market anticipates Kellanova (K) will report a year-over-year decline in earnings due to lower revenues for the quarter ended June 2025, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Kellanova is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.99 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 2% [3]. - Revenues are projected to be $3.18 billion, down 0.4% from the same quarter last year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 1.33% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by analysts [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for Kellanova is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -5.19% [12]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 [10]. - Kellanova currently holds a Zacks Rank of 4, making it challenging to predict an earnings beat [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Kellanova was expected to earn $0.98 per share but only achieved $0.90, resulting in a surprise of -8.16% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, Kellanova has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times [14]. Conclusion - Kellanova does not appear to be a compelling candidate for an earnings beat, and investors should consider other factors when making decisions regarding the stock ahead of its earnings release [17].