UTZ Brands (NYSE:UTZ) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 12, 2026 06:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsBK Kelley - EVP and CFOHoward Friedman - CEOTrevor Martin - SVP of Investor RelationsTrevor MartinGood morning, and thank you for joining us today for our prerecorded discussion of our fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings results. Joining me on the call today are Howard Friedman, CEO, and BK Kelley, EVP and CFO. In addition, this morning at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time, we will host a live question and answer sessi ...

UTZ Brands (NYSE:UTZ) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 12, 2026 06:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsBK Kelley - EVP and CFOHoward Friedman - CEOTrevor Martin - SVP of Investor RelationsTrevor MartinGood morning, and thank you for joining us today for our prerecorded discussion of our fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings results. Joining me on the call today are Howard Friedman, CEO, and BK Kelley, EVP and CFO. In addition, this morning at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time, we will host a live question and answer sessi ...

UTZ Brands (NYSE:UTZ) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 12, 2026 06:30 AM ET Speaker2Good morning, and thank you for joining us today for our prerecorded discussion of our fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings results. Joining me on the call today are Howard Friedman, CEO, and BK Kelley, EVP and CFO. In addition, this morning at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time, we will host a live question and answer session, which you can access via webcast on our investor relations website. Please note that some of our comments ...

"Company†), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded Salty Snacks and a small-cap value Staples equity, today reported financial results for the Company's fiscal fourth quarter and full year ended December 28, 2025. 4Q'25 Summary(1) Net Sales increased 0.4% to $342.2 million Organic Net Sales increased 0.4%; Branded Salty Snacks Organic Net Sales increased 2.5% Gross Profit Margin increase of 50bps Adjusted Gross Profit Mar. HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) ("Utz†or the ...

Core Viewpoint - Recent insider buying at major snack food companies indicates confidence in the U.S. snack food market despite concerns over appetite-suppressing GLP-1 drugs [2][3] Group 1: Insider Buying Activity - Insiders purchased nearly $5 million worth of shares across Utz Brands, Coca-Cola, Hershey, and Molson Coors, suggesting strong belief in the sector's resilience [3] - At Utz Brands, insiders bought $2.6 million worth of stock between $9.86 and $10.58 per share from early November to the end of December [3] - A director at Coca-Cola bought $998,000 worth of stock at $69.87 to $70.31 per share, marking the first insider purchase since June 2022 [4] - Two directors at Molson Coors collectively bought $450,000 worth of shares between $44.70 to $46.79 in early November [4] - At Hershey, the CEO and two directors bought $445,000 worth of stock at around $186, with the CEO contributing $371,000, marking the first insider buys since 2019 [5] Group 2: Market Trends and Consumer Behavior - Research from Circana indicates that 48.8% of consumers snacked three or more times a day last year, an increase of 2.7 percentage points from 2024 [6] - While some snack food companies are experiencing soft sales, the overall market remains appealing to insiders [6] - Snack food companies are responding to market challenges by introducing "healthier" products, such as Utz Brands' Boulder Canyon line made with avocado or olive oil [6]

Financial Projections - For Q4 2025, the Company expects Net Sales to be in the range of $342 million to $343 million, representing an Organic Net Sales increase of between 0.3% and 0.6% versus Q4 2024[4] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2025 is expected to be in the range of $62 million to $64 million, reflecting an increase of between 17% and 21% compared to Q4 2024[4] - For the full year 2025, Net Sales are projected to be between $1,439 million and $1,440 million, indicating an Organic Net Sales increase of between 2.4% and 2.5% versus full year 2024[4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the full year 2025 is expected to be in the range of $216 million to $218 million, representing an increase of between 8% and 9% compared to full year 2024[4] Sales Performance - The Company's Branded Salty Snacks Retail Sales increased by 3.5% in Q4 2025, outperforming the Salty Snack Category which grew by 1.1%[5] - Total Branded Salty Snacks Retail Sales for the full year 2025 surpassed $1.8 billion, with a 2.9% increase compared to the prior year, while the Salty Snack Category declined by 0.5%[6] - The Company's Power Four Brands saw Retail Sales increase by 5.3% in Q4 2025 and 5.0% for the full year 2025[5][6] Operational Focus - The Company is focused on productivity and operational efficiency programs, with a Net Leverage Ratio of approximately 3.4x at fiscal year-end 2025[4][5] - Management plans to expand into California in early 2026 as part of its growth initiatives[3] Future Guidance - The Company will provide detailed results and 2026 guidance on February 12, 2026[2]

Core Insights - Numerator's "Brands to Watch for 2026" report highlights the fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) and private-label brands, with a notable emphasis on protein as a common factor among these brands [1][2] Fastest-Growing Brands - The top 10 fastest-growing brands include protein-centric products such as Built Bar and Barebells, alongside healthier alternatives like Bloom Nutrition, Drizzilicious, Goodles, and Boulder Canyon. Amos Sweets is the only candy brand featured, while Surfside and BuzzBallz represent the expanding ready-to-drink alcohol market [2][3] Official Top 10 Rankings 1. Built Bar (Built Brands LLC) 2. Bloom Nutrition (Bloom Nu LLC) 3. Drizzilicious (Drizzilicious) 4. Amos Sweets (Amos Sweets Inc.) 5. Surfside (Stateside Brands) 6. Rosina (Rosina Food Products Inc.) 7. Goodles (Gooder Foods Inc.) 8. Boulder Canyon (Utz Brands Inc.) 9. Barebells (Vitamin Well LLC) 10. BuzzBallz (Sazerac Company Inc.) [3] Established Brands - Dairy brands such as Oikos, Fairlife, and Chobani are among the top established brands, with a significant focus on protein contributing to their popularity. Other brands like Jolly Rancher, Red Bull, and Wonder have also seen growth through product diversification [3][4] Official Top 10 Established Brands 1. Oikos (Danone North America) 2. Kinder's (P.K. Kinder Co. Inc.) 3. Fairlife (The Coca-Cola Co.) 4. Chobani (Chobani LLC) 5. Jolly Rancher (The Hershey Co.) 6. NatureSweet (NatureSweet Ltd.) 7. La Banderita (Olé Mexican Foods Inc.) 8. Red Bull (Red Bull) 9. Driscoll's (Driscoll's Strawberry Associates Inc.) 10. Wonder (Flowers Foods Inc.) [4] Fastest-Growing Private-Label Brands - Aldi leads the private-label segment with four brands in the top 10, including Nature's Nectar, Earthly Grains, Happy Harvest, and Fremont Fish Market. Target follows with two brands, Gigglescape and Dealworthy [5] Official Top 10 Private-Label Rankings 1. Gigglescape (Target) 2. Well Market (CVS) 3. Bettergoods (Walmart) 4. Dealworthy (Target) 5. Nature's Nectar (Aldi) 6. Family Wellness (Family Dollar) 7. Earthly Grains (Aldi) 8. Happy Harvest (Aldi) 9. Fremont Fish Market (Aldi) 10. B Pure (Dollar Tree) [5]

Core Viewpoint - Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ) is identified as a promising mid-cap consumer staples stock, with a current Buy rating from Bank of America Securities despite a target price reduction from $15 to $14, indicating a potential upside of nearly 41% [1]. Financial Performance - The company's preliminary Q4 results revealed organic sales growth between 0.3% and 0.6%, which fell short of analyst expectations of 2.7% and consensus forecasts of 2.9%, attributed to macroeconomic headwinds affecting consumption [2]. - Organic sales growth forecasts have been revised down from 3% to approximately 2.5%, while adjusted EBITDA is estimated to be around $217 million [3]. Analyst Ratings and Outlook - Mizuho Securities analyst John Baumgartner reaffirmed a Buy rating with a target price of $16, suggesting a potential upside of 61%, following positive management meetings [4]. - Baumgartner expressed confidence in the company's ability to achieve volumetric growth and margin expansion in 2026, which is expected to enhance free cash flows and support financial deleveraging efforts [5]. Company Overview - Utz Brands specializes in selling snack foods to consumers, warehouse clubs, and merchandisers, with a diverse product range including pretzels, potato chips, tortillas, and ready-to-eat popcorn, marketed under various brands such as Utz, Golden Flake, and TGI Fridays [6].

Core Insights - Boulder Canyon®, recognized as America's fastest growing salty snack brand, has launched its first national brand campaign titled "Be for Real" [1] - The campaign aims to encourage consumers to disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with real moments and simple pleasures [1] - The campaign will be promoted across various platforms where consumers engage, including social media, online videos, and retail locations [1] - It highlights Boulder Canyon's popular products, such as Avocado snacks [1]

Core Insights - Palm Valley Capital Fund's performance in Q4 2025 was a 0.66% appreciation, underperforming the S&P SmallCap 600's 1.70% gain and the Morningstar Small Cap Total Return Index's 3.12% rise [1] - The Fund increased its allocation to Treasury bills from 74.1% to 76.3% during the quarter, while equity holdings rose by 1.12% [1] - Precious metals, particularly silver, significantly influenced the Fund's equity performance, which has been a major allocation for several years [1] Company Focus: Utz Brands, Inc. - Utz Brands, Inc. is a U.S.-based manufacturer of salty snacks, with a one-month return of 0.51% and a 52-week loss of 30.53% [2] - As of January 5, 2026, Utz's stock closed at $9.83 per share, with a market capitalization of $860.221 million [2] - The Fund initiated a position in Utz Brands during Q4 2025, alongside Domino's Pizza Group and Ingredion, with initial weightings being modest due to reaching minimum required discounts [3] - Utz has invested heavily in productivity and geographic expansion, averaging $100 million in capital expenditures annually over the past two years, with expectations to normalize to $60-$70 million in 2026 [3] - The company enjoys attractive margins, consistent demand, and strong free cash flow potential, with brands like Boulder Canyon chips performing well due to consumer demand for healthier snacks [3] - At the time of purchase, Utz shares traded at approximately 12 times the 2026 free cash flow estimate and offered a 2.6% dividend yield [3]