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On Thursday, Citi initiated coverage on Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) with a Neutral rating, accompanied by a price target of $78.00. The firm’s stance aligns with broader market sentiment, as InvestingPro data shows 15 analysts have recently revised their earnings expectations downward. While Sysco is expected to see benefits from passing easier comparative periods, current challenges may overshadow these gains in the short term. The company maintains a strong market position with an $34.9 billion market capitalization and holds a prominent position in the Consumer Staples Distribution & Retail industry.
Sysco is anticipated to face headwinds due to changes in compensation and related employee turnover, which could impact the company’s performance for the next one to two quarters. According to InvestingPro’s analysis, the company maintains a healthy financial position with a "Good" overall financial health score and liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations. Despite these challenges, Citi analysts acknowledge the potential for a positive industry environment through the summer that might offer some support to the stock.
The research note indicated that any positive movement in Sysco’s stock in response to industry trends might not be sustainable for investors to capitalize on, given the current valuation levels. Nevertheless, Citi maintains a longer-term optimistic view on Sysco’s international segment, identifying it as a significant opportunity for growth.
Sysco’s salesforce expansion, which began around the same period as the compensation changes, is seen as a positive development. Yet, the timing of these changes may result in delayed benefits as the company works through the initial challenges posed by its internal adjustments.
The price target of $78.00 reflects Citi’s assessment of Sysco’s value based on the current outlook. Sysco Corporation, a global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food products, has yet to comment on the coverage initiation by Citi. The company’s stock performance and investor sentiment in the coming quarters will likely be influenced by its ability to navigate the aforementioned headwinds and capitalize on the opportunities identified by analysts.
In other recent news, Sysco Corporation reported its Q3 2025 earnings, missing both earnings per share (EPS) and revenue expectations. The company posted an EPS of $0.96, falling short of the anticipated $1.03, and reported revenue of $19.6 billion against a forecast of $20.12 billion. UBS analyst Mark Carden subsequently adjusted the price target for Sysco shares, reducing it to $83.00 from $86.00, while maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment followed Sysco’s third-quarter results, which did not meet initial guidance expectations due to broader industry challenges.
Sysco’s third-quarter performance showed a decline in local case volumes, with a 3.5% decrease compared to a 1.9% decline in the previous quarter, excluding impacts from Edward Don. Despite the challenges, Sysco’s international segment saw a 4.5% increase in local volume. The company revised its full-year net sales growth guidance to approximately 3%, down from the previous 4-5% range, and expects full-year adjusted EPS growth of at least 1%. Sysco’s ongoing cost savings initiatives are expected to deliver $100 million in savings, contributing to future performance. The company noted that while internal factors are manageable, external elements like consumer confidence and its influence on food expenditure will likely attract significant attention.
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