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[1/3] Packaged food for sale is seen on shelves at a Dollar Tree in Islandia, New York, U.S., May 12, 2023. Razor manufacturer Edgewell Personal Care Co (EPC.N) and Kraft Heinz Co (KHC.O) have overhauled or built new teams dedicated to working with the biggest U.S. dollar stores like Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR.O) and Dollar General Corp (DG.N) in the last year. Makers of food and household staples are pushing deeper into dollar stores because the low-cost retailers are opening thousands of locations each year. Griffin added that dollar stores are also introducing more "premium" private label brands, like Dollar General's Nature's Menu for pets. Kraft-Heinz also created a new team of five people late last year to identify and develop products for dollar stores, a spokesman said.

☆ Consumers are wising up to 'greedflation' as food companies keep prices high
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Most consumers think food brands are using inflation "as an excuse to hike prices," a survey says. PepsiCo, Nestlé, Conagra, and other food companies say they are trying to cover their costs. While costs of raw materials, labor, and shipping have continued to be high, many food companies have reported leaps in profit at the same time. Many have noticed that food companies' profits have been increasing, too, a sign to them that some of the higher prices are about something other than covering production costs. Recent earnings from food companies suggest that many have raised prices higher than inflation.

☆ CFOs Focus on Building Resilient Supply Chains, Even as Pandemic Disruptions Fade
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jennifer Williams-Alvarez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

An uncertain economic environment means third parties in Conagra’s supply chain sometimes require extra assistance. Photo: Justen Williams for The Wall Street JournalAs if finance chiefs didn’t have enough on their plates before the pandemic, surging shipping costs, freight logjams and factory disruptions in China over the past few years have laid bare their need to adapt and step up their involvement in boosting supply-chain resilience. “Supply chain is obviously always an important part for us,” said Conagra Brands Inc. Chief Financial Officer Dave Marberger . At roughly $9 billion, it is the single biggest line item when looking at the cost of goods sold for the Chicago-based food manufacturer, which makes Hunt’s ketchup, Healthy Choice frozen meals and Slim Jim meat sticks. “But obviously with Covid and the significant impact it’s had on supply chain, it’s been even more of a priority for me.”

☆ Restaurant prices are rising faster than grocery prices for the first time since inflation ran hot
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

For the first time since inflation began accelerating in mid-2021, restaurant prices outpaced grocery prices on a 12-month basis, according to the Labor Department. For months, restaurant CEOs like Cheesecake Factory's Matthew Clark and Wendy's Todd Penegor have touted their meals as a relative bargain compared with eating at home, based on consumer price index data. March food prices rose 8.5% over the last 12 months, fueled by the jump in the cost of eating away from home, which was up 8.8% over that period. The National Restaurant Association's chief economist, Bruce Grindy, attributed the increase to the surge in food prices at schools as free lunch programs instituted during the Covid pandemic expired. The overall consumer price index has risen 5% over the last 12 months as inflation continues to cool.

☆ Software giant Oracle and five consumer names are among Wall Street’s most overbought stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Fred Imbert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A stock is considered overbought if its 14-day RSI goes above 70, meaning investors should consider easing their exposure. Meanwhile, a stock with a 14-day RSI under 30 is considered oversold, meaning it may want more to that name. CNBC Pro screened for S & P 500 stocks in overbought territory, based on their relative strength index. Oracle topped the list with a 14-day RSI of 95.6. FRC 1M mountain FRC this past month Other stocks approaching oversold territory are Charles Schwab , Digital Realty , Applied Materials , AMD , C.H.

☆ Orville Redenbacher Maker’s Margins Pop in Good Sign for Food Companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Aaron Back | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Conagra, which makes Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, said organic sales in its fiscal third quarter rose 6.1% from a year earlier. Conagra Brands posted lukewarm results on Wednesday that should nonetheless be reassuring to investors in it and other packaged food companies. The maker of Marie Callender’s pies and Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn said Wednesday that organic sales in its fiscal third quarter rose 6.1% from a year earlier. That was a significant slowdown from 8.6% in the second quarter, and a tad less than the 6.3% growth that analysts had penciled in, according to consensus estimates from Visible Alpha.

☆ Conagra Earnings, Sales Climb as Food Prices Rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Dia Gill | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Conagra , which makes Hunt’s tomato products, attributed its most recent quarterly results to inflation-driven price increases. Conagra Brands Inc. raised its guidance for the second consecutive quarter as the food manufacturer posted a nearly 60% profit increase. For the quarter ended Feb. 26, the Chicago-based maker of Slim Jim meat sticks, Reddi-wip and Marie Callender frozen meals reported a net income of $341.7 million, up from $218.4 million in the same quarter a year prior. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected net income of $303 million.

☆ Conagra lifts profit forecast as price hikes offset demand pressures
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

These price increases have boosted profits at Conagra, which is now also benefiting from easing inflation in commodity prices including those of meat and other proteins. However, higher grocery and food prices have forced some consumers to trade down from branded packaged food products to cheaper, private-label alternatives, denting sales volumes at Conagra. That prompted the company to trim the top end of its annual organic net sales forecast to a 7% to 7.5% rise, compared with a 7% to 8% growth estimated earlier. Credit Suisse analysts have also warned that Conagra sales could decelerate faster compared to its peers in full-year 2024, owing to the company's exposure to price-sensitive, lower-income consumers. Conagra said it expected fiscal 2023 adjusted per-share profit between $2.70 and $2.75, compared with its prior forecast of $2.60 to $2.70.

☆ Morning Bid: Markets labor under recession cloud
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike Dolan. If the tight U.S. labor market is finally unwinding, markets suspect the Federal Reserve's job may well done after all - but at the cost of a looming recession. With Wednesday's private sector jobs reading for March and Friday's national payrolls report ahead, U.S. interest rate markets were jolted again on Tuesday by surprisingly soft data on job vacancies that suggested cooling demand for staff. More decisively, the two-year Treasury yield plunged more than 20 basis points intraday to hover just above 3.8% on Wednesday. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Nvidia, Palantir, Western Alliance, Johnson & Johnson and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Western Alliance Bancorporation logo is seen in this photo illustration on 13 March, 2023 in Warsaw, Poland. This development would give U.S. government customers and industry partners access to enterprise-grade capabilities by Palantir and Microsoft. Western Alliance also said it has enough liquidity to cover the remaining uninsured deposits. Johnson & Johnson — Shares rose about 3%. Conagra Brands — The packaged goods food company rose 3% after topping Wall Street's expectations on the top and bottom lines for the recent quarter, according to FactSet.

☆ Cramer one-on-one with CAG
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Cramer one-on-one with CAGMad Money host Jim Cramer talks to Conagra CEO Sean Connolly about its earnings, consumer demand and brand recognition.

☆ Hot off an up quarter for stocks, investors turn to jobs, manufacturing data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Another busy week of macroeconomic data will kick of the new quarter, following a volatile first quarter for stocks that ultimately finished in the black. The market's second quarter kicks off Monday with the ISM manufacturing report, followed on Tuesday by data on factory orders. We're looking for a Goldilocks report: not so hot to stoke more inflation fears, but not so cold to intensify worries about a recession. Wednesday's ADP employment report is also important, given the Fed's goal of slowing the job market to bring down inflation. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: UBS, Netflix, First Republic, Carnival, Meta, Amazon & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Morgan Stanley reiterates Match as a top pick Morgan Stanley said it sees more industry growth for stocks such as Match. Deutsche Bank upgrades Kimberly-Clark and Conagra to hold from sell Deutsche upgraded several staples manufacturers mainly on valuation. Deutsche Bank upgrades Dow to buy from hold Deutsche said the "worst is behind us." Morgan Stanley reiterates First Republic as underweight Morgan Stanley said it sees too many negative outcomes for First Republic. Bank of America reiterates Nvidia as buy Bank of America said it's bullish heading into Nvidia's flagship AI and tech conference this week.

☆ Top 10 things to watch in the stock market Monday: Banks, Nvidia, Starbucks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Jeff Marks | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The market puts about 60% odds on a quarter-point rate hike and 40% odds on no hike as policymakers watch of the unfolding banking struggles. Sign up for my Top 10 morning thoughts on the market email newsletter for free 2. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade.

☆ Food is getting cheaper. But not for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Danielle Wiener-Bronner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

When food producers started raising prices a few years ago, they blamed their own costs, including higher ingredient prices. Many food companies are forecasting that they might slow down or pause price increases — but not lower them. But ingredients typically make up a small portion of overall food costs. Companies are maintaining elevated prices, or continuing to increase them, at a time when many Americans are already struggling to pay for food, especially as pandemic-era food stamp benefits expire. So people keep buying food at the grocery store, despite higher prices — giving producers an opportunity to convince retailers that those higher prices won’t drive customers away.

☆ Bath & Body Works adds director, Third Point backs off proxy fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Shoppers wait in line outside a Bath and Body Works retail store in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., December 8, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoNEW YORK, March 6 (Reuters) - Bath & Body Works Inc (BBWI.N) on Monday named veteran financial executive and board member Thomas Kuhn as a new director, ending a potential challenge from billionaire investor Daniel Loeb's hedge fund Third Point. "Tom’s 35 year history as a respected financial and legal advisor, including working with consumer companies, will bring an important perspective to Bath & Body Works as it focuses on its key strategic initiatives to maximize shareholder value," Bath & Body Works board chair Sarah Nash said in a statement. Bath & Body Works, which is valued at roughly $10 billion, has been operating as a standalone company since 2021. At Bath & Body Works the company was advised by law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, financial services company J.P. Morgan Chase & Co, proxy solicitor Innisfree M&A Inc and public relations firm Joele Frank.

☆ Bath & Body Works calls investor Third Point's proxy contest "misguided"
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Bath & Body Works Inc (BBWI.N) said on Monday investor Third Point's potential proxy contest is misguided and is a result of the specialty retailer not willing to appoint the hedge fund's former co-chief investment officer to its board. Bath & Body Works said in the last twelve months the board has appointed four highly qualified directors, of which Lucy Brady, a senior executive at Conagra Brands (CAG.N), was proposed by Third Point. In a letter to its shareholders, the company said the potential proxy contest was due to the board's unwillingness to appoint Loeb's former partner Munib Islam to the board. Islam, who played a key role in Third Point's activist campaigns, left the firm in 2020 and is now a senior executive at LTS One, an investment partnership. While it has taken "reasonable" steps to avoid a proxy fight, Bath & Body Works said it is "disappointing and unfortunate" that it will have to spend more time on this despite efforts to engage productively with the hedge fund.

[1/3] Ben & Jerry's, a brand of Unilever, is seen on display in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 24, 2022. Nestle said cutting products saved 1 billion Swiss francs last year ($1.06 billion), while Unilever said the practice saved $2 billion. Food makers tend to cull products without much fanfare. At the consumer products conference they highlighted new offerings, many of them increasingly popular handheld foods that people can eat while scrolling on phones. "You'd be shocked by the loyalty and personal connections people have to food products," he said.

[1/3] Ben & Jerry's, a brand of Unilever, is seen on display in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 24, 2022. Eliminating less popular products is part of a "decomplexity program" underway at Kraft Heinz, its executives said at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference this week. Nestle said cutting products saved 1 billion Swiss francs last year ($1.06 billion), while Unilever said the practice saved $2 billion. At the consumer products conference they highlighted new offerings, many of them increasingly popular handheld foods that people can eat while scrolling on phones. "You'd be shocked by the loyalty and personal connections people have to food products," he said.

Big brands have seen earnings propelled by double-digit price hikes – even if it has had a negative impact on demand elasticity. Only two-thirds (67%) of the companies that have reported have beat earnings estimates, the lowest beat rate in eight years. But workforce reductions aren't the only way for companies to cut costs, or necessarily the best way in a tight labor market. We've seen notable examples across industries of just how important general cost cuts have been this earnings season. Of course, Airbnb was one of the first companies to cut costs when the pandemic hit.

☆ Bath & Body Works adds second new director amid pressure from Third Point
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Svea Herbst-Bayliss | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Last week Bath & Body Works added Lucy Brady, a senior executive at Conagra Brands (CAG.N) and consumer products veteran to the board, expanding the group to 11 from 10 members. Voskuil and Brady's appointments come weeks after Third Point, which owns a 6% stake in the company, hinted it might push for board seats. In December Third Point announced its stake in a regulatoryfiling and criticized the company's high costs, includinggenerous executive pay. Bath & Body Works, best known for selling soaps, candles andlotions, is valued at $10 billion. Third Point spent an average of $38.16 per share on thestock which is now trading at $40.76.

☆ Similac maker Abbott could face criminal penalties of up to $500,000 per offense in DOJ probe of factory conditions amid the baby formula shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Similac maker Abbott is under federal criminal investigation for its role in the baby formula shortage. The possible charges carry penalties of up to $500,000 for corporations and up to a year of prison time for individuals. "It's a layup for a misdemeanor charge against Abbott," a food-safety attorney told Crain's Chicago. "It's a layup for a misdemeanor charge against Abbott and/or particular executives who were in charge of that plant," food-safety attorney Bill Merler told Crain's Chicago Business. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control said it could not conclusively link the multiple strains of bacteria found at the Abbott plant with those that led to the deaths of two infants in Ohio.

After pushing prices to new heights last year, some companies are starting to pull back. It could be another sign that inflation is starting to turn a corner. Conagra Brands Inc., which makes Hunt’s ketchup and Slim Jim meat sticks, raised prices 17% in its latest quarter, on top of two previous quarters, when it increased prices more than 10%.

☆ Companies’ Capital Spending Forecast to Slow in 2023 Amid Recession Fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Kristin Broughton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +8 min

Companies are expected to tap the brakes on capital investments this year as they assess the risk of a downturn and contend with higher financing costs. Capital spending in 2021 rose by 9% compared with 2020, the first year of the pandemic, EY said. After two years of spending heavily, some companies want to take a pause to digest the investments they’ve made, advisers said. FedEx Corp. last month lowered its capital spending forecast for the current fiscal year by $400 million, to $5.9 billion. The remainder said they don’t finance their capital spending plans through borrowing, or their borrowing isn’t sensitive to changes in interest rates.

☆ Trader Talk: Earnings are mostly about hopes for the second half
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Bob Pisani | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Earnings: It's all about the second half of 2023. Wall Street analysts agree, but they are expecting a much rosier outcome in the second half of the year. "The big question is, are the worst of the earnings estimate cuts for 2023 behind us?," Nick Raich from Earnings Scout told me. Big cap tech earnings: laggards (Q4 year over year earnings ests.) Analysts embrace 'tough first half, better second half' scenario All the hopes for earnings growth are now pinned on the back half of the year, when the Fed is expected to have halted its rate hike frenzy.

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