DA Davidson maintains Utz Brands buy rating, $16 target

Published 02/05/2025, 17:52
DA Davidson maintains Utz Brands buy rating, $16 target

On Friday, DA Davidson reaffirmed its Buy rating and $16.00 price target for Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ) shares, which currently trade at $11.82. According to InvestingPro data, analysts’ targets range from $15 to $20, suggesting significant upside potential. The research firm’s analyst, Brian Holland, maintained the positive stance on the snack company following an assessment of its recent performance.

Holland noted that the first quarter of 2025 saw Utz Brands surpassing top-line expectations, though he suggested the nature of this beat might not be sustainable. The company, which generates annual revenue of $1.41 billion, has maintained a dividend yield of 2.01% and has raised its dividend for five consecutive years. Despite this, the analyst emphasized that his valuation model did not rely on these results being repeated.

The company’s sales of salty snacks have been soft, and there has been underperformance in its core markets, with revenue declining 2.01% over the last twelve months. Nonetheless, Utz Brands is seeing better-than-expected results in its expansion territories. Additionally, the Boulder Canyon brand has become a significant contributor to the company’s success. InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with 12 additional exclusive insights available to subscribers.

Another positive highlight from the company’s recent performance is its supply chain transformation. According to Holland, Utz Brands is excelling in this area, which has enabled it to maintain its EBITDA levels. This efficiency allows the company to continue investing in initiatives to support sales without compromising profitability.

DA Davidson’s stance on Utz Brands remains unchanged as the company navigates the challenges and opportunities within the snack food industry. The $16.00 price target suggests that the firm sees potential for the stock to grow from its current levels.

In other recent news, Utz Brands Inc. reported its first-quarter earnings for 2025, meeting analyst expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.16. The company’s revenue slightly exceeded forecasts, reaching $352.1 million compared to the anticipated $345.61 million. Despite these positive financial results, the stock experienced a decline of 6.85%, which may be attributed to broader market conditions and specific company factors. The Boulder Canyon and On the Border brands contributed to growth with new product launches and expanded distribution, highlighting the company’s ongoing strategy to increase market share.

In terms of company strategy, Utz Brands is focusing on winding down its bonus pack program while planning to invest approximately 1% in pricing strategies and distribution gains. Analyst firms have not issued recent upgrades or downgrades, but the company’s future projections suggest steady growth with an emphasis on expanding market presence. The company has also seen household penetration reach an all-time high of 49%, showcasing its ability to capture consumer interest. These developments indicate Utz Brands’ commitment to innovation and maintaining brand strength in the competitive snack food industry.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.