Tonix Pharmaceuticals stock halted ahead of FDA approval news
Investing.com - Bernstein has reiterated a Market Perform rating and $29.00 price target on Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC), currently trading at $27.80, following reports of a potential company breakup. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is undervalued, with a P/E ratio of 12.6 and an attractive dividend yield of 5.76%.
According to analyst Alexia Howard, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Kraft Heinz is planning to separate its faster-growing sauces and condiments business from its slower-growing U.S.-centric grocery business. Kraft Heinz stock rose 2.5% on Friday following this news, contributing to its 5.18% gain over the past week. The company maintains a strong financial health score of "GOOD" according to InvestingPro metrics.
The potential breakup follows a May 20 announcement that the company’s board is considering strategic options, though Kraft Heinz has not yet formally commented on the specific breakup reports.
Bernstein’s analysis indicates this move would essentially reverse the 2015 merger between Kraft Foods and The Heinz Company, noting significant growth disparities between the two legacy businesses.
The firm’s research shows the legacy Heinz business has grown retail sales at a 5.3% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, while legacy Kraft brands have grown at only 2.0%.
In other recent news, Kraft Heinz Company is reportedly considering a significant restructuring by potentially splitting its operations into two separate entities. This move would involve spinning off its grocery business, which includes major brands like Kraft and Oscar Mayer, into a new entity possibly valued at up to $20 billion. The remaining company would focus on faster-growing segments such as sauces and condiments. Analysts have weighed in on these developments, with BofA Securities maintaining an Underperform rating and a $29 price target, citing "soft" fundamentals. Barclays (LON:BARC) has kept its Equalweight rating with the same price target, while Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated its Underweight rating with a $28 target, expressing skepticism about the company’s market share performance. Stifel has maintained a Hold rating and a $30 price target, noting the potential spin-off could involve competitive or commoditized categories. Jefferies, however, lowered its price target to $26, pointing to increased promotional activity and retail price declines. These developments follow Kraft Heinz’s earlier announcement of evaluating strategic transactions to enhance shareholder value.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.