Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of ongoing inflation on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and suggests focusing on low-beta defensive stocks to navigate market volatility [2][3][10] Economic Context - Inflation has risen, with the personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index increasing by 2.8% year-over-year in November, moving further away from the Federal Reserve's 2% target [6][8] - Personal income growth has slowed, with increases of 0.1% in October and 0.3% in November, below analysts' expectations [9] Investment Recommendations - Investors are advised to consider low-beta defensive stocks, particularly in the utility and consumer staples sectors, to mitigate market fluctuations [4][5] - Featured stocks include: - **Ameren Corp. (AEE)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 8.2%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.58, dividend yield of 2.78% [12][13] - **Fortis, Inc. (FTS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 4.2%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.50, dividend yield of 3.46% [14][15] - **ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 11.8%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.81, dividend yield of 3.47% [16] - **Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 6.6%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.33, dividend yield of 4.76% [17] - **J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 4.5%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.34, dividend yield of 3.43% [18][19]

Exec Edge hosted a fireside chat at the ICR Conference 2026 with Dan Fachner, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman at J&J Snack Foods Corp. (Nasdaq: JJSF). The in-person interview was joined by Editor-at-Large Jarrett Banks, and they discussed the company’s more than 30 strategic acquisitions including the Dippin’ Dots acquisition, how J&J is positioning itself for improved margins and long-term growth, among other topics. About Dan Fachner Dan Fachner has been President and Chief Executive Off ...

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Jan. 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  J & J Snack Foods Corp. (Nasdaq: JJSF) today announced that it will release financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 27, 2025, before the stock market opens on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss the results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time that same day. Investors interested in participating in the live call can pre-register by clicking on this Registration Link to receive the dial-in ...

Core Insights - J & J Snack Foods Corp. reported a decline in net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter, with net sales at $410.2 million, down 4% year-over-year, and net earnings at $11.4 million, down 62% compared to the previous year [2][3][5]. Financial Performance - Fourth quarter operating income was $11.5 million, a significant decrease of 71% from the prior year quarter [2][9]. - Adjusted operating income for the fourth quarter was $37.7 million, down 10% year-over-year [2][9]. - Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $57.4 million, reflecting a 4% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2][3]. - Earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter were $0.58, down 62% from $1.52 in the prior year quarter [2][9]. Segment Performance - The Food Service segment saw a slight sales decrease of 1.1%, while the Retail Supermarket segment experienced an 8.1% decline in sales [7][14]. - The Frozen Beverage segment reported an 8.3% decrease in sales, primarily due to lower theater volumes following the success of the Inside Out 2 movie last year [7][14]. Cost and Expenses - Total operating expenses for the fourth quarter were $118.8 million, representing 29% of sales, compared to 22.4% in the prior year quarter [8][9]. - Marketing and selling expenses increased by 4.8% to $32.6 million, while distribution expenses decreased by 8.3% to $42.2 million [13]. Strategic Initiatives - The company is launching several major commercial programs in fiscal 2026 and has a robust innovation pipeline focused on healthier product attributes [4]. - A comprehensive business transformation program has been initiated, expected to generate at least $20 million in annualized operating income once fully implemented [4]. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - The company reported a strong balance sheet with $106 million in cash and no debt, positioning it well for sustainable growth [4]. - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period were $105.9 million, up from $73.4 million at the end of the previous year [29].

Core Insights - J & J Snack Foods Corp. will release its financial results for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year on November 17, 2025, before the market opens [1] - A conference call and webcast will be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day to discuss the results [1] Company Overview - J & J Snack Foods Corp. is a leader and innovator in the snack food and frozen beverage industry, with over fifty years of experience [3] - The company specializes in a variety of snack and beverage brands, including SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE, and Dippin' Dots [3] - The brand portfolio also features LUIGI'S Real Italian Ice, MINUTE MAID frozen ices, WHOLE FRUIT frozen fruit bars, DOGSTERS, ¡Hola! Churros, THE FUNNEL CAKE FACTORY products, and various bakery brands [3]

Core Insights - J & J Snack Foods Corp. reported strong third-quarter results for the period ending June 28, 2025, with record performance in key financial metrics, including net sales of $454.3 million and adjusted EBITDA of $72.0 million, reflecting the resilience of the business and the strength of its diversified portfolio [3][6]. Financial Performance - Net sales increased by 3.3% year-over-year to $454.3 million, driven primarily by higher sales in the Food Service and Frozen Beverage segments [6]. - Gross profit rose to $150.0 million, up from $147.8 million in the prior year, although gross margin slightly declined from 33.6% to 33.0% due to lower margins in the Frozen Beverage segment [6][9]. - Operating income increased by 21% to $60.6 million, compared to $50.1 million in the prior year quarter, while adjusted operating income was $53.4 million, a slight increase from $53.1 million [9][36]. - Net earnings reached $44.2 million, a 22% increase from $36.3 million in the prior year, with earnings per diluted share at $2.26, up from $1.87 [9][27]. Segment Performance - Food Service segment sales increased by 4.8% to $277.2 million, with pretzel sales growing by 12.8% [7][15]. - Retail Supermarket segment sales decreased by 7.1% to $63.9 million, impacted by reduced promotional activity and capacity constraints due to a facility fire [4][15]. - Frozen Beverage segment sales rose by 6.1% to $113.3 million, with machine sales increasing significantly by 73.4% [7][15]. Cost Management - Total operating expenses were $89.4 million, representing 19.7% of sales, down from 22.2% in the prior year quarter, aided by a $10.6 million gain on insurance proceeds [8][9]. - Marketing and selling expenses increased slightly to $33.8 million, while distribution expenses decreased to $44.7 million due to cost optimization initiatives [14]. Future Outlook - The company remains cautious about the consumer environment and potential tariff-related risks, while focusing on execution and innovation with several key product launches planned for fiscal 2026 [5][6]. - The company is also making progress on healthier product innovations, including high-protein pretzels and clean-label novelties [5].

Company Announcement - J & J Snack Foods Corp. has scheduled a conference call and webcast to discuss its fiscal 2025 third quarter financial results on August 5, 2025, at 10:00 am Eastern time [1] - The company expects to release its fiscal third quarter results for the period ended June 28, 2025, in the morning on the same day [2] Conference Call Details - Participants must pre-register to receive the dial-in number and personal PIN required for accessing the conference call [2] - A live webcast of the call will be available on the company's investor relations website, with a recommendation to allow 15 minutes for registration and software installation [3] Company Overview - J & J Snack Foods Corp. is a leader and innovator in the snack food and frozen beverage industry, with over fifty years of experience [4] - The company specializes in various snack and beverage brands, including SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, SLUSH PUPPIE, and Dippin' Dots, among others [4] - The brand portfolio also features LUIGI'S Real Italian Ice, MINUTE MAID frozen ices, WHOLE FRUIT frozen fruit bars, and several bakery brands [4]

Core Insights - J & J Snack Foods Corp. reported a 1% decline in net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, totaling $356.1 million, primarily due to lower sales in the Frozen Beverage and Food Service segments, partially offset by growth in the Retail business [3][6][7]. Financial Performance - Net sales decreased by $3.6 million compared to the prior year, with gross profit falling by 12% to $95.7 million and operating income down 66% to $6.0 million [2][9]. - Net earnings were $4.8 million, a 64% decrease from the previous year, resulting in earnings per diluted share of $0.25, down from $0.69 [2][9]. - Adjusted operating income was $8.9 million, a 59% decline, while adjusted EBITDA decreased by 33% to $26.2 million [2][9]. Segment Performance - The Food Service segment saw a 1.7% decline in sales to $226.1 million, with churro sales down 18.7% due to the loss of limited-time offer volumes from the previous year [7][10]. - Retail Supermarket segment sales increased by 1.8% to $53.8 million, driven by a 14.7% increase in frozen novelties sales [7][11]. - Frozen Beverage segment sales decreased by 0.9% to $76.2 million, attributed to weakness in the theater channel and foreign exchange headwinds [7][12]. Cost and Expenses - Total operating expenses were $89.7 million, representing 25.2% of sales, slightly up from 25.1% in the prior year [8][9]. - Marketing expenses increased to $28.5 million, or 8.0% of sales, reflecting higher brand amortization costs [8][14]. - Distribution costs decreased to $41.8 million, or 11.7% of sales, down from 12.3% in the prior year [8][14]. Future Outlook - The company anticipates earnings improvement in the second half of fiscal 2025, driven by a rebound in theater traffic and selective price increases [5][6]. - North American box office sales are projected to rebound by 30% or more in the fiscal third quarter, following a 10% decline in the second quarter [5][6]. Shareholder Actions - The company repurchased approximately 39,000 shares for about $5.0 million, demonstrating confidence in long-term business value and commitment to enhancing shareholder value [6][9].