Stifel has maintained its Hold rating on ConAgra Brands Inc (NYSE: CAG) with a steady price target of $30.00. The decision follows ConAgra's first-quarter results, which fell short of expectations.
The company's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 20% to $0.53, missing estimates by $0.06. ConAgra experienced a 3.5% decline in organic sales, including a 1.6% volume decrease.
Despite these figures, the company has reaffirmed its fiscal year 2025 guidance, noting that the year is unfolding as anticipated with the exception of a manufacturing hiccup in the first quarter and heightened inflation projections.
ConAgra's recent quarter showed some positive signs, as the company continued to invest in marketing, promotion, and merchandising efforts, leading to sequential improvement. However, the reported sales and margin performance, along with lower equity earnings, indicated a weaker-than-expected start to the fiscal year. The company's reaffirmation of its FY25 guidance suggests a level of confidence in its long-term strategy, even as it faces short-term challenges.
Following the first-quarter performance, Stifel has adjusted its forecast for ConAgra, predicting over a 1% decline in organic sales for the year. This revision primarily accounts for anticipated pressures on price and mix, with a slightly negative volume outlook. As a result, the firm has slightly decreased its EPS estimate for ConAgra to $2.60, a $0.01 reduction from the previous projection.
Despite the lower-than-expected quarter, Stifel's analysis indicates a steady outlook for ConAgra, with no change to the $30 price target. The company's commitment to its marketing strategies and the reiteration of its FY25 goals suggest a focus on long-term growth, despite the immediate hurdles presented by the manufacturing disruption and inflation concerns.
In other recent news, ConAgra Brands Inc. reported a larger-than-expected decrease in their first-quarter sales, dropping 3.8% to $2.79 billion. This performance, which fell short of analysts' expectations, influenced Citi to adjust its price target for ConAgra from $33.00 to $31.00, maintaining a neutral stance.
Similarly, Stifel maintained its hold rating on ConAgra, setting a steady price target of $30.00. Despite these developments, Goldman Sachs has reaffirmed its Conviction Buy rating on ConAgra, maintaining a $36.00 price target.
The company's fiscal year 2025 guidance remains unchanged, projecting an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.60 to $2.65. In terms of strategic moves, ConAgra has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Sweetwood Smoke & Co., introducing FATTY Smoked Meat Sticks to its product offerings.
InvestingPro Insights
To provide additional context to ConAgra Brands Inc's (NYSE:CAG) current situation, let's examine some key financial metrics and insights from InvestingPro. Despite the recent earnings miss and challenges highlighted in the article, ConAgra maintains a strong dividend profile. According to InvestingPro Tips, the company has maintained dividend payments for 49 consecutive years and has raised its dividend for 5 consecutive years. This commitment to shareholder returns is further emphasized by the current dividend yield of 4.65%, which may be attractive to income-focused investors.
InvestingPro Data shows that ConAgra's P/E Ratio (Adjusted) for the last twelve months as of Q1 2025 stands at 11.23, significantly lower than the current P/E Ratio of 32.06. This discrepancy suggests that the market may be pricing in future growth expectations or that the stock could be overvalued based on recent earnings.
Another InvestingPro Tip indicates that net income is expected to grow this year, which aligns with the company's reaffirmed guidance for fiscal year 2025. This positive outlook is supported by the fact that analysts predict the company will be profitable this year, as noted in another tip.
For investors seeking more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 8 additional tips for ConAgra Brands, providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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