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On Thursday, Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities adjusted its outlook on General Mills (NYSE:GIS) stock, lowering the price target to $60 from the previous $62 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The firm’s analyst pointed to a series of challenges faced by the company, including weaker sales in the snacks category and inventory reductions at multiple retailers, which have impacted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the second half of the fiscal year 2025. According to InvestingPro data, 12 analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates downward, while the stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 13.3x.
The analyst noted that the fiscal third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) details aligned with the sentiment shared at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference. The company’s response to these challenges involves significant reinvestment, projected to exert considerable pressure on year-over-year EBIT for the fourth quarter, with an estimated 13% decrease. Despite these headwinds, InvestingPro data shows General Mills has maintained dividend payments for 55 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of 4.05%.
Despite these hurdles, the analyst acknowledged potential areas for optimism in fiscal year 2026, citing a strong innovation pipeline, enhanced marketing resources, and cost savings. However, due to the focus on reinvestment, challenging comparisons in the first half of the year related to trade promotion timing, and a reset in incentive compensation, expectations are set for below-target growth for the year.
In light of these factors, Mizuho has revised its EPS estimates downward for both fiscal year 2025, from $4.36 to $4.19, and fiscal year 2026, from $4.48 to $4.30. The new price target of $60 reflects a reduction and is based on approximately 13 times the firm’s estimated calendar year 2025 EBITDA for General Mills.
In other recent news, General Mills reported its third-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings, where the company exceeded expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.00, surpassing analyst forecasts of $0.98. However, revenue fell short, coming in at $4.8 billion against a projected $4.99 billion. The company is focusing on strategic reinvestments and innovation, aiming to address consumer behavior trends and market conditions that have impacted sales. Barclays (LON:BARC) adjusted its financial outlook for General Mills, reducing the price target from $65.00 to $60.00, citing increased spending on trade and media to enhance consumer value. Meanwhile, Stifel maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a steady price target of $65.00, highlighting confidence in General Mills’ strategic investments despite the softer sales in the third quarter. Analysts at Stifel predict sequential improvement in volume trends throughout fiscal year 2026. General Mills plans to reinvest cost savings into growth initiatives and marketing, with expectations for category growth to return to 2-3%. Investors and market watchers will be closely observing the company’s performance to see if the increased spending will translate into the desired sales growth.
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