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Investing.com - BofA Securities has maintained its Underperform rating and $29.00 price target on Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC), currently trading at $27.14, following reports that the food giant may split into two separate businesses. According to InvestingPro data, the company trades at a P/E ratio of 12.23 and offers a substantial 5.9% dividend yield.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Kraft Heinz is considering separating its operations by spinning off its grocery business while retaining its sauces and spreads division. This development follows the company’s May announcement regarding board changes and plans to enhance shareholder value. InvestingPro analysis shows the company maintains strong financial health with liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations.
Based on BofA’s analysis, the potential split would create two entities: a "remain-co" consisting of the Taste Elevation platform (approximately 45% of trailing twelve-month sales or over $11 billion) and a spun-off "Grocery-co" (about 55% of sales or $14 billion).
The Taste Elevation segment would include major brands like Heinz (approximately $5 billion in sales) and Philadelphia (around $1.75 billion), while Grocery-co would contain brands such as Kraft (over $3 billion), Oscar Mayer (over $2 billion), Lunchables, Velveeta, Ore-Ida, and Capri Sun (each approximately $1 billion in sales).
BofA maintained its Underperform rating and $29 price target based on 11x 2026 price-to-earnings ratio, citing "soft" fundamentals at Kraft Heinz, which was formed through a merger in 2015. However, InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report, which covers over 1,400 US stocks.
In other recent news, Kraft Heinz is reportedly considering a significant restructuring of its business by potentially spinning off a large portion of its grocery segment. This move could create a separate entity valued at up to $20 billion, while the remaining company would focus on faster-growing categories like sauces and condiments. Barclays (LON:BARC) has maintained an Equalweight rating on the stock, while Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reiterated its Underweight rating, expressing concerns about market share performance without substantial investment. Stifel also maintained a Hold rating, noting that Kraft Heinz’s board has not finalized decisions on the spin-off. Jefferies lowered its price target to $26, citing increased promotional activity that has not yet resulted in a positive market shift. Additionally, Kraft Heinz announced an agreement to sell its Italian infant and specialty food business to NewPrinces S.p.A., with the transaction expected to close by the end of 2025. This sale includes brands like Plasmon and production facilities in Italy, aligning with the company’s strategy to concentrate on its core "Accelerate platforms." The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and includes a mandatory consultation period with local unions in Italy.
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