UBS lowers McCormick stock price target to $71 on tariff concerns

Published 01/10/2025, 13:44
UBS lowers McCormick stock price target to $71 on tariff concerns

Investing.com - UBS lowered its price target on McCormick & Company (NYSE:MKC) to $71.00 from $79.00 while maintaining a Neutral rating ahead of the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings report.

McCormick is scheduled to report its fiscal third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, October 7, before market open. UBS expects organic sales growth to decelerate sequentially in the third quarter to approximately 1.3%, below the Street consensus of 1.8%.

The firm cited incremental tariff headwinds as a key concern, suggesting downside risk to fiscal year 2026 estimates. UBS analysts indicated they "struggle to see how F3Q earnings will present a meaningful positive catalyst" for the stock.

McCormick shares have declined by low double digits since the company’s second-quarter earnings release, compared to low-to-mid single-digit declines for the broader packaged food sector. This suggests market concerns about Flavor Solutions growth and tariff pressure are largely reflected in the current stock price.

At approximately 20 times next twelve months earnings, McCormick shares are trading in line with 2014-2016 levels, though UBS believes the company is "far better positioned today" than during that period when sales were largely flat. The current P/E ratio stands at 23.35x, which InvestingPro analysis indicates is high relative to near-term earnings growth. Discover more insights and 8 additional ProTips about McCormick in the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.

In other recent news, McCormick & Company has announced a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, marking its 101st consecutive year of dividend payments. The dividend will be paid on October 27, 2025, to shareholders of record as of October 14, 2025. In a significant development, McCormick is set to increase its ownership stake in its Mexican joint venture with Grupo Herdez from 50% to 75% for $750 million. This transaction, expected to close in early 2026, will be financed through a combination of cash and debt. TD Cowen has reiterated its Buy rating on McCormick, viewing the increased stake as a positive move for the company. Meanwhile, UBS has lowered its price target for McCormick to $79.00 from $83.00, maintaining a Neutral rating due to concerns about regional headwinds and shifting tariff dynamics. Despite these concerns, UBS acknowledged McCormick’s solid capital deployment. These recent developments highlight McCormick’s strategic maneuvers in the market.

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