Expands Presence Across Integrated Portfolio, Broadens Geographic Footprint, and Advances Disciplined Capital Allocation StrategyRIDGELAND, Miss., March 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALM), the largest egg company in the United States and a leading player in the egg-based food industry, today announced the acquisition of the shell egg, egg products, and prepared foods assets of Creighton Brothers LLC, including Crystal Lake LLC, for a total purchase price of approximately $128. ...

Core Viewpoint - Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. is recognized as a strong investment opportunity due to its transition towards higher-value specialty products and significant capacity expansion projects, which are expected to enhance its earnings power and growth visibility [2][3][4]. Group 1: Company Developments - Benchmark initiated coverage of Cal-Maine with a Buy rating and a price target of $100, indicating that the stock is undervalued given its evolving business model [2]. - The company is shifting from market-based pricing to contract-based pricing, which is anticipated to positively impact earnings [3]. - Cal-Maine announced a $15 million project for network optimization and capacity expansion at Echo Lake Foods, aiming to increase annual scrambled egg production by 17 million pounds by mid-fiscal 2027 [4]. Group 2: Production and Capacity Expansion - The consolidation of production at Echo Lake Foods is expected to enhance operational efficiency by reducing duplication and improving supply reliability [5]. - A previously announced $14.8 million investment in a high-speed pancake line is projected to add 12 million pounds of annual production by early fiscal 2027 [6]. - A joint venture with Crepini Foods plans to invest $7 million through fiscal 2028, which will increase production capacity by 18 million pounds, raising Crepini's volume significantly [7]. - Overall, these initiatives are expected to boost Cal-Maine's prepared foods production capacity by over 30% within the next 18 to 24 months [7]. Group 3: Market Position - Cal-Maine Foods is the largest egg producer in the United States, supplying protein products to millions of households daily, which underscores its significant market presence [8].