We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Kraft Heinz (KHC) Looks Buoyant on Solid Demand, Growth Efforts
Read MoreHide Full Article
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC - Free Report) is benefiting from its robust strategic growth efforts like newly-unveiled operating model. Moreover, the company is witnessing higher consumer demand, stemming from escalated at-home consumption amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Let’s delve deeper.
Coronavirus-Led Demand & Impressive Outlook
Burgeoning demand amid coronavirus pandemic bolstered the company’s third-quarter 2020 results, with the top and the bottom line advancing year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Notably, net sales increased 6%, while organic sales rose 6.3%. Further, volume/mix improved 2.6 percentage points on the back of higher demand in the retail and e-commerce businesses as well as club channels stemming from increased at-home consumption amid the pandemic.
Based on the year-to-date performance, Kraft Heinz expects organic net sales to grow by mid-single-digit during the fourth quarter. Further, the company anticipates high-single-digit constant currency adjusted EBITDA growth during the quarter. For 2020, management projects organic net sales growth in mid-single-digits. Constant currency adjusted EBITDA growth is envisioned in high-single digit range in 2020.
Other Factors Driving Kraft Heinz’s Growth
In September 2020, Kraft Heinz laid out a new operating model that incorporates five key elements —People with Purpose, Consumer Platforms, Ops Center, Partner Program and Fuel Our Growth. Notably, the Consumer Platforms represents a portfolio of six consumer-driven platforms like Taste Elevation, Easy Meals Made Better as well as Real Food Snacking among others. Ops Center element will enable Kraft Heinz to establish an efficient, fast and integrated supply chain network. In fact, management expects to achieve nearly $2 billion of gross productivity efficiencies through 2024.
Further, Partner Program element is designed to create solid customer partnerships and develop new strategic partnerships. Lastly, the Fuel Our Growth strategy is aimed at investing in growth opportunities, solidifying long-term market position and consistently boosting shareholders’ returns. Also, this strategy will help the company manage its portfolio and accelerate its strategic plan, augment geographic presence, increase focus on growth areas as well as undertake sustainable pricing actions. Keeping this in mind, Kraft Heinz recently announced an agreement to offload its Natural, Grated, Cultured and Specialty cheese businesses to a U.S. affiliate of Groupe Lactalis.
Hurdles on the way
Rising costs have been a worry for the company for a while. In the third quarter of 2020, SG&A expenses increased from $767 million reported in the year-ago quarter to $1,197 million. Further, Kraft Heinz is incurring adverse key commodity costs (particularly dairy), greater marketing investment in the United States and higher COVID-19-related costs globally. Another factor ailing the company is unfavorable currency movements. During the third quarter, currency movements had an adverse impact of 0.3 percentage points on the top line.
We believe that this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s aforementioned upsides are likely keep driving growth. Kraft Heinz’s shares have increased 11.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 6.2%.
The Hain Celestial (HAIN - Free Report) , currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.6%, on average.
Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) , also a Zacks Ranked #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 11%.
These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
Image: Bigstock
Kraft Heinz (KHC) Looks Buoyant on Solid Demand, Growth Efforts
The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC - Free Report) is benefiting from its robust strategic growth efforts like newly-unveiled operating model. Moreover, the company is witnessing higher consumer demand, stemming from escalated at-home consumption amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Let’s delve deeper.
Coronavirus-Led Demand & Impressive Outlook
Burgeoning demand amid coronavirus pandemic bolstered the company’s third-quarter 2020 results, with the top and the bottom line advancing year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Notably, net sales increased 6%, while organic sales rose 6.3%. Further, volume/mix improved 2.6 percentage points on the back of higher demand in the retail and e-commerce businesses as well as club channels stemming from increased at-home consumption amid the pandemic.
Based on the year-to-date performance, Kraft Heinz expects organic net sales to grow by mid-single-digit during the fourth quarter. Further, the company anticipates high-single-digit constant currency adjusted EBITDA growth during the quarter. For 2020, management projects organic net sales growth in mid-single-digits. Constant currency adjusted EBITDA growth is envisioned in high-single digit range in 2020.
Other Factors Driving Kraft Heinz’s Growth
In September 2020, Kraft Heinz laid out a new operating model that incorporates five key elements —People with Purpose, Consumer Platforms, Ops Center, Partner Program and Fuel Our Growth. Notably, the Consumer Platforms represents a portfolio of six consumer-driven platforms like Taste Elevation, Easy Meals Made Better as well as Real Food Snacking among others. Ops Center element will enable Kraft Heinz to establish an efficient, fast and integrated supply chain network. In fact, management expects to achieve nearly $2 billion of gross productivity efficiencies through 2024.
Further, Partner Program element is designed to create solid customer partnerships and develop new strategic partnerships. Lastly, the Fuel Our Growth strategy is aimed at investing in growth opportunities, solidifying long-term market position and consistently boosting shareholders’ returns. Also, this strategy will help the company manage its portfolio and accelerate its strategic plan, augment geographic presence, increase focus on growth areas as well as undertake sustainable pricing actions. Keeping this in mind, Kraft Heinz recently announced an agreement to offload its Natural, Grated, Cultured and Specialty cheese businesses to a U.S. affiliate of Groupe Lactalis.
Hurdles on the way
Rising costs have been a worry for the company for a while. In the third quarter of 2020, SG&A expenses increased from $767 million reported in the year-ago quarter to $1,197 million. Further, Kraft Heinz is incurring adverse key commodity costs (particularly dairy), greater marketing investment in the United States and higher COVID-19-related costs globally. Another factor ailing the company is unfavorable currency movements. During the third quarter, currency movements had an adverse impact of 0.3 percentage points on the top line.
We believe that this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s aforementioned upsides are likely keep driving growth. Kraft Heinz’s shares have increased 11.8% in the past three months compared with the industry’s growth of 6.2%.
Better-Ranked Food Stocks
B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS - Free Report) — sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present — has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.3%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Hain Celestial (HAIN - Free Report) , currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 24.6%, on average.
Sysco Corporation (SYY - Free Report) , also a Zacks Ranked #2 stock, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 11%.
These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic
The COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.
Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.
See the 5 high-tech stocks now>>