On Wednesday, Jefferies adjusted its outlook on Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC) shares, reducing the price target to $34 from the previous $35 while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock.
The revision comes as the firm anticipates the company's upcoming second-quarter results, noting a decline in retail sales within U.S. tracked channels by approximately 3%. This dip in sales has been observed across a range of brands under the Kraft Heinz umbrella, including Lunchables, Kraft, and Oscar Mayer.
The analyst from Jefferies highlighted concerns about the breadth of Kraft Heinz's portfolio, suggesting that the company's extensive range of brands may be hindering its ability to focus on reinvestment.
Additionally, the current market conditions, characterized by a well-documented softness in quick-service restaurant (QSR) and foodservice traffic, could potentially exacerbate the challenges faced by the company's North American business.
In light of these observations, Jefferies has revised its growth and earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Kraft Heinz for the year 2024. The firm believes that the company's broad portfolio may necessitate divestments to streamline operations and improve focus on reinvestment strategies.
The updated price target and hold rating reflect Jefferies' stance on Kraft Heinz as the company navigates the pressures in retail sales and the possible impact of the current foodservice industry trends. The firm's analysis precedes the release of Kraft Heinz's second-quarter financial results, which will provide further insights into the company's performance and strategic direction.
InvestingPro Insights
As Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC) approaches its second-quarter financial results, the InvestingPro data provides a broader context for investors. The company's market capitalization stands at $39.88 billion, with a P/E ratio of 14.27, reflecting its current market valuation. Notably, the adjusted P/E ratio for the last twelve months as of Q1 2024 is even lower at 11.3, indicating that the stock is trading at a low earnings multiple. Furthermore, the PEG ratio during the same period is 0.83, suggesting that the stock may be undervalued when considering its earnings growth potential.
According to InvestingPro Tips, while analysts have revised their earnings expectations downwards for the upcoming period, Kraft Heinz is still anticipated to be profitable this year and has been profitable over the past twelve months. The company's trading at a low P/E ratio relative to near-term earnings growth could be a point of interest for value investors. For those looking to delve deeper into the financials and strategic outlook of Kraft Heinz, InvestingPro offers additional insights. There are more InvestingPro Tips available that can further guide investment decisions, and users can access them with a special promotion using the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription.
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