Core Insights - Conagra Brands reported a net sales decrease of 5.8% to $2.6 billion for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, with organic net sales down 0.6% driven by a 1.2% decrease in volume despite a 0.6% positive impact from price/mix [2][10][39] - The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, expecting organic net sales growth between -1% to 1%, adjusted operating margin of approximately 11.0% to 11.5%, and adjusted EPS between $1.70 and $1.85 [10][27][18] Financial Performance - Gross profit decreased 13.4% to $641 million, with adjusted gross profit down 11.3% to $644 million, primarily due to lower net sales and inflationary pressures on cost of goods sold [3][10] - Selling, general, and administrative expenses (SG&A) increased 0.1% to $336 million, with adjusted SG&A rising 1.5% to $333 million, driven by higher incentive compensation [4][10] - Net income attributable to Conagra Brands fell 64.8% to $165 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $467 million, or $0.97 per diluted share in the prior year [6][10][39] Segment Performance - Grocery & Snacks segment net sales decreased 8.7% to $1.1 billion, with organic net sales impacted by a 1.6% volume decrease [7][10] - Refrigerated & Frozen segment net sales decreased 0.9% to $1.1 billion, with a volume increase of 0.5% offset by a 0.3% price/mix decrease [8][10] - International segment net sales decreased 18.0% to $212 million, driven by a 5.2% volume decrease despite a 1.7% price/mix increase [9][10] Cash Flow and Debt - The company generated $121 million in net cash flows from operating activities, down from $269 million in the prior year, primarily due to lower operating profit and increased inventory levels [17][10] - Conagra ended the quarter with net debt of $7.6 billion, a 12.3% reduction from the prior year, resulting in a net leverage ratio of 3.55x [18][10] Outlook and Guidance - The company anticipates continued elevated cost of goods sold inflation, projecting core inflation slightly above 4% and total cost of goods sold inflation in the low 7% range for fiscal 2026 [19][10] - Guidance includes an expected interest expense of approximately $390 million and an adjusted effective tax rate of around 24% for the fiscal year [18][10]

Market Overview - U.S. stock futures declined on Wednesday following gains on Tuesday, with major indices experiencing drops due to the federal government entering a shutdown after Congress failed to agree on a spending plan [1][2] - Historical data indicates that government shutdowns typically have a short-lived and limited long-term impact on equities [1] Economic Indicators - The 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.15%, while the two-year bond was at 3.60%, with a 94.6% likelihood of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in the upcoming October meeting [2] - U.S. job openings increased by 19,000 to 7.227 million in August, while the Chicago Business Barometer fell to 40.6 in September, below market expectations [5] Recent Performance - The S&P 500 gained over 3% in September, with the Dow increasing nearly 2% and the Nasdaq rising 5.6% [4] - Most sectors on the S&P 500 closed positively on Tuesday, with information technology, health care, and industrials showing the largest gains, while energy and consumer discretionary sectors closed lower [3] Analyst Insights - Historical trends suggest that October is often a positive month for the S&P 500, with nearly 60% of Octobers since 1950 showing positive returns and an average gain of 0.89% [8] - The fourth quarter (October to December) is historically the strongest three-month period for equities, with an average return of almost 2% since 1950, and over 6% in the past five years [12][17] - The current momentum of the S&P 500, which is on a five-month winning streak, indicates a historically bullish setup for equities as the year ends [14][17] Company Performance - Nike Inc. reported better-than-expected first-quarter results, with earnings of 49 cents per share surpassing the consensus estimate of 27 cents, and sales of $11.720 billion exceeding the estimate of $11.000 billion [17] - Ryvyl Inc. surged 94.66% following a $75 million merger agreement, while AST SpaceMobile Inc. jumped 6.38% due to news about its upcoming satellite launch [17]

Market Sentiment - The CNN Money Fear and Greed index improved to a reading of 52.7, remaining in the "Neutral" zone, up from 51.3 [5] - U.S. stocks showed positive performance with the Nasdaq Composite gaining approximately 0.3% and the Dow Jones reaching a new closing high [1][3] Economic Indicators - Major indices saw gains in September, with the S&P 500 increasing over 3%, the Dow rising nearly 2%, and the Nasdaq jumping 5.6% [2] - U.S. job openings rose by 19,000 to 7.227 million in August, while the Chicago Business Barometer fell to 40.6 in September, below market expectations [2] Sector Performance - Most sectors in the S&P 500 closed positively, particularly information technology, health care, and industrials, while energy and consumer discretionary sectors declined [3] - The Dow Jones closed higher by around 82 points to 46,397.89, the S&P 500 rose 0.41% to 6,688.46, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.30% to 22,660.01 [3] Upcoming Earnings - Investors are anticipating earnings results from Conagra Brands Inc., RPM International Inc., and Acuity Inc. [4]

Company Earnings Reports - Conagra Brands Inc. is expected to report quarterly earnings of 33 cents per share on revenue of $2.62 billion [2] - Nike Inc. reported quarterly earnings of 49 cents per share, exceeding the analyst consensus estimate of 27 cents per share, with sales of $11.720 billion, surpassing the estimate of $11.000 billion [2] - RPM International Inc. is anticipated to post earnings of $1.88 per share on revenue of $2.06 billion [2] - Acuity Inc. is expected to report quarterly earnings of $4.84 per share on revenue of $1.23 billion [2] Stock Performance - Conagra shares gained 0.2% to $18.35 in after-hours trading [2] - Nike shares surged 4.5% to $72.85 in after-hours trading [2] - RPM shares increased by 0.5% to $118.50 in after-hours trading [2] - Acuity shares rose 1.4% to $349.22 in after-hours trading [2] - Ryvyl Inc. shares jumped 77.8% to $0.53 following a $75 million merger agreement with RTB Digital [2]

Group 1 - Conagra Brands, Inc. is set to release its first-quarter earnings results on October 1, with analysts expecting earnings of 33 cents per share, a decrease from 53 cents per share in the same period last year [1] - The projected quarterly revenue for Conagra Brands is $2.62 billion, down from $2.79 billion in the previous year [1] - On July 10, Conagra Brands reported fourth-quarter financial results that were worse than expected and provided FY26 adjusted EPS guidance below estimates, leading to a 0.8% decline in share price to close at $18.04 [2] Group 2 - Analyst Chris Carey from Wells Fargo maintained an Equal-Weight rating and reduced the price target from $20 to $19 [4] - Evercore ISI Group's David Palmer maintained an In-Line rating and decreased the price target from $24 to $23 [4] - Morgan Stanley's Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and increased the price target from $20 to $21 [4] - UBS analyst Bryan Adams maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $20 to $19 [4] - Stifel's Matthew Smith maintained a Hold rating and reduced the price target from $26 to $21 [4]

Group 1 - The article promotes a subscription service called "The Dividend Dogcatcher" which provides insights and follow-up portfolios for investors [1] - It highlights a live video segment called "Underdog Daily Dividend Show" hosted by Fredrik Arnold, focusing on potential investment candidates [1] - The article encourages audience engagement by inviting comments on favorite or curious stock tickers for future reports [1]

Company Overview - Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) has a market cap of $8.7 billion and is a leading North American packaged foods company with a diverse portfolio including brands like Birds Eye, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, Reddi-wip, and Marie Callender's [1] - The company operates across four segments: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice, focusing on innovative food products that cater to changing consumer preferences [1] Financial Performance - Conagra Brands is set to announce its Q1 2026 results on October 1, with analysts expecting an adjusted EPS of $0.33, a decrease of 37.7% from $0.53 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2026, analysts forecast an adjusted EPS of $1.73, representing a 24.8% decrease from $2.30 in fiscal 2025, but anticipate an 8.7% year-over-year growth to $1.88 in fiscal 2027 [3] Stock Performance - Shares of Conagra Brands have declined over 44% in the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 15.4% return and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund's 5.9% decline [4] - Following the release of weak Q4 2025 results, shares fell 4.4%, with adjusted EPS of $0.56 missing consensus estimates and net sales of $2.8 billion down 4.3% year-over-year [5] Analyst Sentiment - The consensus view on CAG stock is cautious, with a "Hold" rating from 17 analysts; two recommend "Strong Buy," 12 suggest "Hold," one advises "Moderate Sell," and two "Strong Sells" [6] - The average analyst price target for Conagra Brands is $20.47, indicating a potential upside of 13.2% from current levels [6]

Core Insights - Investors are increasingly turning to dividend-yielding stocks during market turbulence, favoring companies with high free cash flows and substantial dividend payouts [1] Group 1: Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) - Conagra Brands has a dividend yield of 7.74% [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $20 to $21 on Sept. 24, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [7] - UBS analyst Bryan Adams maintained a Neutral rating and reduced the price target from $20 to $19 on Sept. 24, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 66% [7] - Conagra Brands will release its fiscal 2026 first quarter results on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 [7] Group 2: Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) - Target Corporation has a dividend yield of 5.23% [7] - Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintained an In-Line rating and cut the price target from $106 to $105 on Sept. 23, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 78% [7] - UBS analyst Michael Lasser maintained a Buy rating and reduced the price target from $135 to $130 on Aug. 21, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 79% [7] - On Sept. 22, Target received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by TRC Capital Corporation to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares at $89.00 per share [7] Group 3: The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ: CPB) - The Campbell's Company has a dividend yield of 4.84% [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $32 to $33 on Sept. 5, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [7] - TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow maintained a Hold rating and increased the price target from $29 to $31 on Sept. 4, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [7] - On Sept. 3, Campbell Soup reported fourth-quarter EPS above estimates [7]

Core Insights - During market turbulence, investors often seek dividend-yielding stocks, which typically have high free cash flows and offer substantial dividends [1] Group 1: Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) - Conagra Brands has a dividend yield of 7.74% [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $20 to $21 on Sept. 24, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [7] - UBS analyst Bryan Adams maintained a Neutral rating and reduced the price target from $20 to $19 on Sept. 24, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 66% [7] - Conagra Brands will release its fiscal 2026 first quarter results on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 [7] Group 2: Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) - Target has a dividend yield of 5.23% [7] - Evercore ISI Group analyst Greg Melich maintained an In-Line rating and cut the price target from $106 to $105 on Sept. 23, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 78% [7] - UBS analyst Michael Lasser maintained a Buy rating and reduced the price target from $135 to $130 on Aug. 21, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 79% [7] - On Sept. 22, Target received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by TRC Capital Corporation to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares at $89.00 per share [7] Group 3: The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ: CPB) - Campbell's Company has a dividend yield of 4.84% [7] - Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $32 to $33 on Sept. 5, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [7] - TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow maintained a Hold rating and increased the price target from $29 to $31 on Sept. 4, 2025, with an accuracy rate of 65% [7] - On Sept. 3, Campbell Soup reported fourth-quarter EPS above estimates [7]

Group 1 - Conagra Brands, Inc. is facing challenges due to 7% inflation and issues with tin can supply, which are negatively impacting its margins [2] - The company has a portfolio of well-known brands, including Slim Jim, Marie Callender's, and Duncan Hines, but is struggling to pass on price increases to consumers [2] - Despite these challenges, Conagra has indicated that it can maintain its dividend payments, although concerns about the sustainability of dividends are raised [2] Group 2 - Jim Cramer emphasizes the importance of growth in stocks over high dividends, suggesting that high dividends may indicate underlying problems within the company [1] - The overall sentiment is that while Conagra has potential, other sectors, particularly AI stocks, may offer better investment opportunities with less risk [2]