UNFI

United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI is likely to witness a top-line decline when it reports fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Sept. 8. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $7.6 billion, indicating a decrease of 1.6% from the year-ago reported number. The consensus mark for earnings has remained unchanged over the past 30 days at 62 cents a share, which suggests a significant jump from the loss of 11 cents recorded in the year-ago period. UNFI has a trailing four-quarter surprise of 29.9%, on average. United Natural Foods, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | United Natural Foods, Inc. Quote UNFI’s fourth-quarter top line is likely to have remained pressured by the ongoing impact of conventional product-focused network optimization. Management indicated that the larger optimization actions would not be fully lapped until the first quarter of fiscal 2027. The continued unwind of short-term project-based work in the Natural segment is also likely to have weighed on fourth-quarter sales.Nevertheless, underlying demand trends may have provided some support. On its third-quarter earnings call, management specifically identified natural-product growth as a tailwind for the fourth quarter, supported by continued shopper demand for natural, organic, fresh and specialty products. Low-single-digit food inflation anticipated through fiscal year-end may also have supported sales.UNFI’s fourth-quarter profitability is likely to have benefited from network optimization and continued productivity gains. Management cited optimization and productivity as fourth-quarter tailwinds, while technology deployments and lean practices have been improving fill rates, delivery execution and distribution-center throughput.However, management factored incremental fuel and transportation costs into its fourth-quarter expectations. UNFI also planned incremental investments in technology, supply chain and commercial capabilities, which could have partly offset benefits from natural-product growth, optimization and productivity. Our proven model doesn’t conclusively predict an earnings beat for United Natural this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here. United Natural currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 and has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Here are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. CHEF currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.02% and a Zacks Rank of 1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its upcoming quarter’s revenues is pegged at $1.13 billion, indicating a 10.4% rise from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. The consensus estimate for Chefs' Warehouse’s earnings is pegged at 61 cents per share, implying 22% growth from the year-ago quarter. CHEF delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 30.4%, on average.Mondelez International, Inc. MDLZ currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.63% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The consensus estimate for the quarterly revenues is pinned at $9.97 billion, which suggests 2.4% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mondelez’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at 72 cents, which calls for a decline of 1.4% from the year-ago period figure. MDLZ delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.8%, on average.The Hershey Company HSY currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.98% and a Zacks Rank #3. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $3.3 billion, which indicates an increase of 2.3% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey’s upcoming quarter’s earnings per share is pegged at $2.11, which calls for 62.3% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. HSY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.8%, on average. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hershey Company (The) (HSY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. (CHEF) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.06 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.05 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.03 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +20.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.03 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.05, delivering a surprise of +66.67%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Mama's Creations, Inc., which belongs to the Zacks Food - Miscellaneous industry, posted revenues of $54.58 million for the quarter ended July 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.79%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $35.2 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Mama's Creations, Inc. shares have added about 15.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12%. While Mama's Creations, Inc. has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Mama's Creations, Inc. was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.06 on $57.3 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.24 on $223.15 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Food - Miscellaneous is currently in the bottom 20% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. Another stock from the same industry, United Natural Foods (UNFI), has yet to report results for the quarter ended July 2026. The results are expected to be released on September 8. This organic and specialty foods distributor is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.62 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +663.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. United Natural Foods' revenues are expected to be $7.58 billion, down 1.6% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mama's Creations, Inc. (MAMA) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Dole plc DOLE reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share of 46 cents, down 16.4% from 55 cents in the year-ago quarter and below the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents. Revenues increased 2.9% year over year to $2.5 billion but missed the consensus estimate of $2.52 billion.The company’s diversified fresh produce portfolio helped offset pressure in Fresh Fruit, where higher sourcing, fuel and shipping costs weighed on profitability. Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW delivered strong growth, with revenues rising 13.9% to $440.1 million and adjusted EBITDA increasing 33.8% to $20.6 million.Dole’s shares have lost roughly 6% during yesterday's trading session, due to soft quarterly results. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have fallen 9.4% in the past three months, wider than the industry’s 6.4% decline. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Dole’s second-quarter revenue growth reflected positive operational performance and favorable foreign currency translation. On a like-for-like basis, revenues increased 1.7%, or $40.7 million, as the company continued to see resilient consumer demand for fresh produce.Gross profit declined 10.5% year over year to $195.3 million as cost of sales increased at a faster rate than revenues. Operating income decreased 54% to $47.5 million from $103.2 million, pressured by lower gross profit, higher selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses, a non-recurring legal settlement charge and lower gains from asset sales compared with the prior-year period. Fresh Fruit revenues were $972.8 million, broadly unchanged from the prior year. Higher banana volumes in Europe and stronger underlying banana pricing in North America were offset by lower banana volumes in North America and weaker pineapple volumes due to adverse weather conditions.Fresh Fruit adjusted EBITDA declined 30.9% to $50.3 million, primarily due to higher fruit sourcing costs, elevated shipping costs, increased pineapple growing costs and the continued appreciation of the Costa Rican Colon against the U.S. dollar. Dole PLC price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Dole PLC Quote Diversified Fresh Produce - EMEA generated revenues of $1.1 billion, up 1% year over year, driven by favorable foreign currency movements and underlying growth in Scandinavia. This was partially offset by lower revenues in Spain. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 6.2% to $45.9 million as weaker results in South Africa, the Netherlands and Spain outweighed strength in Scandinavia.Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW remained a key contributor to results. Revenues increased 13.9% year over year, supported by higher volumes in North America, particularly kiwi, avocados and cherries, along with positive season-end pricing adjustments in the Southern Hemisphere export business. Adjusted EBITDA increased 33.8% year over year to $20.6 million. Dole continued to advance its capital allocation plans during the quarter. The company completed the Ecuador port sale after quarter-end, generating expected net proceeds of about $95 million. The transaction is expected to strengthen financial flexibility.Net debt was $746.1 million at the end of the quarter, while net leverage stood at 2.0x. Capital expenditures totaled approximately $42.5 million during the six months of 2026, with investments focused on future growth, capacity expansion and operating efficiency. For 2026, Dole continues to expect routine capital expenditures of approximately $100 million.The company also repurchased 719,290 shares during the quarter for $10 million at an average price of $13.88 per share. As of June 30, 2026, $85.4 million was available for repurchase under its repurchase program.On Aug. 7, 2026, the company’s board declared a cash dividend for the second quarter of 2026 of $0.085 per share, payable Oct 7, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Sept. 16, 2026. Dole projected its 2026 adjusted EBITDA of approximately $400 million. Management expects the operating environment to remain complex due to elevated fuel and shipping costs, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.The company expects benefits from fuel surcharge recoveries, cost-saving initiatives in Fresh Fruit, dynamic pricing across diversified businesses and returns from recent investments. Management also highlighted plans to invest in automation, Artificial Intelligence and warehouse solutions in Scandinavia following the acquisition of Greenfood’s Fresh Produce division. Darling Ingredients Inc. DAR, which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.4% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.United Natural Foods UNFI, which is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 2.1% from the prior-year level. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.Medifast, Inc. MED, which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 25.9% from the year-ago number. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dole PLC (DOLE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report MEDIFAST INC (MED) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

CPG Momentum Accelerates with Purchase Commitments from More Than 100 Costco Warehouses Nationwide and New Distribution Agreements with United Natural Foods and C&S Wholesale Grocers Second Quarter Revenue Increased 1.2% Year-Over-Year to $55.7 Million CERRITOS, CA / ACCESS Newswire / August 10, 2026 / GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. ("GEN" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:GENK), a leader in Korean BBQ both in-restaurant and at home, with 54 GEN Korean BBQ locations and a rapidly growing consumer packaged goods ("CPG") business, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026. Financial Summary: Second Quarter 2026 Financial and Recent Operational Highlights Total revenue increased 1.2% to $55.7 million for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $55.0 million in the second quarter of 2025, which reflects growth in the Company's CPG division and revenue from restaurants opened in 2025 and 2026, partially offset by a decline in comparable restaurant sales and the loss of revenue from the six restaurants exited during the quarter. Comparable restaurant sales performance was (9.3)% for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to (8.8)% in the first quarter of 2026 and (7.2)% in the second quarter of 2025. Comparable restaurant sales reflect the year-over-year change in sales for restaurants in operation for at least 18 full months prior to the periods presented. Announced receipt of a non-binding letter of intent from a nationwide, multi-concept restaurant operator to acquire the Company's U.S. restaurant operations - with GEN retaining 100% of its rapidly growing consumer packaged goods ("CPG") and retail business and, if a transaction is consummated on such terms, marking a strategic shift toward a fully CPG-focused company. The Board of Directors is reviewing the proposal, and no assurance can be given that any transaction will result. Secured purchase commitments from approximately 60 to 70 Costco Warehouse locations across the Pacific Northwest following the Company's first Costco roadshow in the region - bringing GEN's total commitments to more than 100 U.S. Costco Warehouses, or over 16% of Costco's domestic footprint, with Northwest warehouses expected to begin receiving GEN products in their freezer sections starting in August 2026. Secured key distribution agreements for the Company's CPG product lines with United Natural Foods (UNFI) and C&S Wholesale Grocers, one of the largest grocery distributors and wholesale grocery supply companies in the United States, respectively. Secured retail placement at leading grocers nationally, including Save Mart Supermarkets, Smart & Final, Northgate Market and Times Supermarkets - bringing GEN's door count to nearly 2,000 supermarkets and club stores nationwide. Grew CPG division revenue 341% sequentially from the first quarter of 2026, with June representing the division's largest month to date at more than $2 million of revenue. Based on doors secured to date and the stores currently in its pipeline, GEN estimates a forward 12-month revenue run rate of $35 million to $40 million - with more than 1,000 additional doors already presented to buyers and more than 8,000 further doors in active outreach across grocery and mass retail. Cash and cash equivalents were $5.9 million as of June 30, 2026, compared to $2.8 million as of December 31, 2025, with $12.1 million outstanding under the Company's line of credit, compared to $1.0 million as of December 31, 2025. Management Commentary David Kim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GEN, commented: "The defining development of the second quarter was the strategic path it set for GEN. Earlier today, we announced receipt of a non-binding letter of intent from a nationwide, multi-concept restaurant operator to acquire our U.S. restaurant operations, with GEN retaining 100% of its rapidly growing consumer packaged goods and retail business. Our Board of Directors, together with our financial and legal advisors, is carefully reviewing and evaluating the proposal. The letter of intent is non-binding and no assurance can be given that any transaction will result, but we believe a transaction of this nature could make strategic sense - pairing our restaurants with a proven operator equipped to scale them, positioning GEN as a pure-play CPG company, and allowing us to dedicate our people and our capital fully to CPG - the fastest-growing part of the K-Food platform we are building. "Our confidence in CPG is grounded in the momentum of our retail business, where GEN products are now in nearly 2,000 retail doors nationwide. Our CPG division delivered its best quarter yet, with revenue up 341% sequentially, and June was our largest month to date, with revenue surpassing $2 million. In June alone, we secured purchase commitments from approximately 60 to 70 Costco Warehouses across the Pacific Northwest - bringing our total to more than 100 warehouses, or over 16% of Costco's domestic footprint - signed national distribution agreements with C&S Wholesale Grocers and UNFI, and added new retail banners nationwide. Each win builds on the same formula: authentic GEN Korean BBQ flavors, retail-ready packaging, and in-store demos run by our own trained staff, which continue to deliver sell-through well above typical third-party programs. More than 1,000 additional doors have been presented to buyers, and more than 8,000 further doors are in active outreach across grocery and mass retail. "On execution: we already purchase nearly $40 million of meat a year for our restaurants, so the procurement scale, supplier relationships, and buying power that CPG requires are already built. We are not standing up a supply chain from zero; we are pointing an existing one at the freezer aisle. And to stay ahead of demand, we have secured additional manufacturing capacity domestically and in South Korea. "Total revenue for the second quarter of 2026 increased 1.2% year-over-year to $55.7 million - a return to revenue growth following a 6.0% year-over-year decline in the first quarter of 2026. Within the restaurants, payroll and benefits improved approximately 200 basis points as a percentage of revenue, and we exited six underperforming locations during the quarter, four of which were transferred to our previously announced joint venture with Chubby Cattle, in which we retained a 49% interest. These exits are expected to further strengthen restaurant-level performance beginning in the third quarter. "As Korean food continues to move firmly into the American mainstream, GEN has built the brand, the products and the retail relationships to meet that demand at scale," concluded Kim. Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Total revenue increased 1.2% to $55.7 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $55.0 million in the second quarter of 2025. Growth in the Company's CPG division and revenue from restaurants opened in 2025 and 2026 were partially offset by a 9.3% decline in comparable restaurant sales and the loss of revenue from the six restaurants exited during the quarter, which contributed $2.3 million of revenue in the second quarter of 2025. Total restaurant operating expenses were 95.4% of revenue in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to 91.7% of revenue in the second quarter of 2025. The year-over-year change as a percentage of revenue was driven primarily by the growing mix of CPG revenue, which carries retail cost of goods and accounted for 81% of the $3.2 million year-over-year increase in food costs, with the balance reflecting commodity cost inflation in the Company's restaurants, partially offset by lower payroll and benefits expenses and lower pre-opening expenses ($1.3 million versus $2.1 million in the prior-year period). Loss from operations was $(5.2) million, or (9.2)% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to a loss from operations of $1.9 million, or (3.4)% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2025. Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA was $6.3 million, or 11.3% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $9.0 million, or 16.3% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2025. Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA margin improved sequentially from 7.4% in the first quarter of 2026 and 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing the Company's strongest restaurant-level margin in three quarters, reflecting labor efficiencies and the exit of underperforming locations. General and administrative expenses totaled $7.1 million, or 12.8% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $6.4 million, or 11.6% of revenue, for the second quarter of 2025. The increase was attributable to investment in the Company's CPG go-to-market, including marketing and in-store demonstrations; excluding CPG, corporate and restaurant general and administrative expenses declined year over year. The Company recognized a $0.6 million loss on lease termination in the second quarter of 2026 related to the closure of two locations in Korea, with no comparable amount in the prior-year period. Net loss was $(4.6) million, which equates to $(0.14) per basic and diluted share of Class A common stock, for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to a net loss of $1.7 million, or $(0.05) per basic and diluted share of Class A common stock, in the second quarter of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA was negative $41,000 for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $1.9 million in the prior-year period. Cash and cash equivalents were $5.9 million as of June 30, 2026, as compared to $2.8 million as of December 31, 2025. Total debt outstanding totaled $24.0 million, as compared to $14.6 million as of December 31, 2025. Conference Call GEN will host an investor conference call on Monday, August 10, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss the Company's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, provide a corporate update, and conclude with a question-and-answer session from telephone participants. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Kim and Chief Financial Officer Luke Hewko will host the call. To participate, please use the following information: Q2 2026 Earnings Conference CallDate: Monday, August 10, 2026Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 p.m. Pacific time)U.S. Dial-in: 1-800-717-1738International Dial-in: 1-646-307-1865Conference ID: 96912Webcast: GENK Q2 2026 Earnings Conference Call Please join at least five minutes before the start of the call to ensure timely participation. The conference call will be broadcast live via webcast and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company's website at investor.genkoreanbbq.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available after 9:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same day through Monday, August 24, 2026. To listen, please call 1-844-512-2921 within the United States and Canada or 1-412-317-6671 when calling internationally, using replay ID 1196912. A webcast replay will also be available using the webcast link above. About GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. GEN Korean BBQ (Nasdaq: GENK) is a leader in Korean BBQ, with 54 company-owned restaurant locations and a rapidly growing consumer packaged goods business. Founded in 2011 by two Korean immigrants in Los Angeles, GEN has grown into one of the largest Asian casual dining concepts in the United States, where an interactive "grill at your table" format, extensive menu of traditional Korean-inspired dishes, modern décor and lively atmosphere draw a broad and loyal guest base. As Korean flavors move further into the American mainstream, the Company's rapidly growing consumer packaged goods business is capturing at-home dining occasions, with distribution expanding across grocery and warehouse club retailers nationwide. For more information, please visit GenKoreanBBQ.com. Non-GAAP Measures Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA represents (loss) income from operations plus adjustments for the following items: depreciation and amortization, pre-opening costs, loss on lease termination, gain on deconsolidation of restaurants, general and administrative expenses, and non-cash lease expense. Non-cash items such as charges for asset impairments and asset disposals are not included in restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA. Restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA margin is the calculation of restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Management believes that restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA and restaurant-level adjusted EBITDA margin are useful to investors because these measures highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures and enabling investors to more effectively compare the Company's performance to prior and future periods. Adjusted EBITDA represents net (loss) income excluding interest (expense) income, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, employee retention credits, litigation accrual for a discrete claim, loss on lease termination, gain on deconsolidation of restaurants, non-cash lease expense and non-cash lease expense included in pre-opening costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are useful to investors because these measures highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures and enabling investors to more effectively compare the Company's performance to prior and future periods. Adjusted Net (Loss) Income represents net (loss) income, adjusted for pre-opening costs, non-cash stock-based compensation, legal settlements, loss on lease termination, gain on deconsolidation of restaurants, and the related tax impact of the adjustments. Adjusted net (loss) income per share is defined as adjusted net (loss) income divided by the weighted-average number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding for the applicable period. Management believes that adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted net (loss) income per share are useful to investors because these measures highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent to investors when relying solely on GAAP financial measures and enabling investors to more effectively compare the Company's performance to prior and future periods. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "intend," "expect," "will," "may," "could," "potential," and other similar words or expressions that predict or indicate future events. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding the non-binding letter of intent and the proposed transaction described in this press release, including the Board of Directors' review and evaluation of the proposal, whether definitive agreements will be negotiated or executed, whether any transaction will be consummated, and the potential value, terms, structure, timing or benefits of any such transaction, any statements regarding our strategy, future operations, and growth prospects, including expectations relating to the Company's CPG division and the number of locations in which such products will be carried, any statements regarding the amount or timing of future revenue or revenue growth, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, any statements of belief or expectation, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing or other future events. Forward-looking statements are based on current information available at the time the statements are made and on management's reasonable belief or expectations with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from the belief or expectations expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, the risk that the parties do not negotiate or execute definitive agreements with respect to the proposed transaction, that any transaction is not consummated on the terms contemplated, on the anticipated timeline, or at all, or that the anticipated benefits of any transaction are not realized. Additional factors or events that could cause actual results to differ may also emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect future events, developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law. Investors are referred to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, for additional information regarding the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Investor Relations Contact Lucas A. ZimmermanManaging DirectorMZ Group - MZ North America(949) [email protected] GEN RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss(in thousands, except per share amounts; unaudited) GEN RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.Selected Balance Sheet Data and Selected Operating Data(in thousands, except restaurants and percentages; unaudited) GEN RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA(in thousands, except percentages; unaudited) Reconciliation of Loss from Operations to Restaurant-Level Adjusted EBITDA(in thousands, except percentages; unaudited) GEN RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.Reconciliation of Net Loss to Adjusted Net (Loss) Income and Adjusted Net (Loss) Income Per Share(in thousands, except per share amounts; unaudited) (1) Stock-based compensation expense: During all periods presented, we incurred expenses related to the granting of restricted stock units to employees. This was recorded in General and administrative expenses.(2) Litigation accrual: This is an accrual related to a specific, discrete, litigation claim.(3) Employee retention credits: These are refundable credits recognized under the CARES Act.(4) Non-cash lease expense: This reflects the extent to which lease expense is greater than or less than contractual rent paid.(5) Non-cash lease expense included in pre-opening costs: Costs for restaurants in development in which the lease expense is greater than the contractual rent. SOURCE: GEN Restaurant Group, Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

Interested in Sprout Social, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Q2 performance improved: Revenue rose 10.8% year over year to $123.8 million, while the non-GAAP operating margin expanded to 12.9% and free cash flow increased about 60% to $8.3 million. Sprout is prioritizing larger customers and AI: Subscription revenue from customers contributing at least $30,000 in ARR grew 20%, while Trellis AI gained usage and began generating early upgrades to its paid tier. Restructuring is expected to lower costs: The planned 20% workforce reduction will generate $18 million–$20 million in charges but is expected to reduce annualized non-GAAP costs by at least $50 million; Sprout raised its full-year operating-income outlook and plans to resume share repurchases. United Natural Foods’ Risk-Reward Tradeoff Looks Appetizing Sprout Social (NASDAQ:SPT) reported second-quarter revenue of $123.8 million, up 10.8% from a year earlier, as the social media management software provider continued to shift its business toward larger customers and expanded its artificial intelligence offerings. Chief Executive Officer Ryan Barretto said the company posted a 12.9% non-GAAP operating margin, an increase of 370 basis points year over year, while non-GAAP free cash flow rose about 60% to $8.3 million. On a trailing 12-month basis, Sprout generated approximately $54 million in non-GAAP free cash flow, he said. → Meta’s Earnings Drop Shows Wall Street Wants More Than Ad Growth Sprinklr Gets Targets Raised By Analysts, Here's Why Sprout also reported growth in remaining performance obligations, or RPO, as customers signed longer commitments. Current RPO increased 12.4% year over year to $202.7 million, while total RPO rose 15.5% to $400.8 million. The company said multi-year agreements accounted for nearly half of its contract mix, compared with about one-third two years earlier. The company’s strategy remains centered on customers contributing at least $30,000 in annual recurring revenue. Approximated trailing 12-month subscription revenue from that group grew 20% year over year and represented more than 61% of total subscription revenue, according to Barretto. → 4 Oil and Gas ETF Plays as Prices Stay Sky-High How to Invest in Grocery Stores Sprout ended the quarter with 3,926 customers contributing $30,000 or more in ARR, up 11% from a year earlier, and 2,127 customers contributing more than $50,000 in ARR, up 16%. The company added 51 net new customers in the $30,000-and-above segment during the quarter and 388 over the trailing 12 months. More than 10 net new customers in the quarter contributed at least $150,000 in ARR. Barretto said the larger-customer cohort has stronger unit economics, retention and expansion characteristics than smaller customers, while also showing higher adoption of products including influencer marketing and NewsWhip. → Sandisk Just Delivered a Blowout Quarter—Here's Why the Stock Is Falling Among the enterprise customer examples discussed on the call, Sprout cited a seven-figure new-business deal with a multinational manufacturer and distributor using products including Premium Analytics, Social Listening, Employee Advocacy, Influencer Marketing and NewsWhip. The company also said a Fortune 50 financial services client expanded a prior $1.65 million deal by $893,000, adding Sprout’s Service Cloud integration and Guardian compliance product. Meanwhile, Sprout said customers below the $30,000 ARR threshold represented 39% of approximated subscription revenue in the trailing 12 months ended June 30, down from 59% four years earlier. The company expects continued pressure in that lower-end segment this year, with Barretto saying it expects the segment to decelerate to slightly negative growth before stabilizing in 2027. Sprout expanded its Trellis AI offering during the quarter. Trellis enables users to query social data in natural language and receive insights without building reports or dashboards, according to the company. Sprout also introduced Trellis Studio, a no-code interface through which customers can create customized skills designed to surface relevant insights on a recurring basis. All customers receive a base allotment of Trellis usage, while the paid Trellis Plus tier, which offers higher usage limits, launched in July. Barretto said the company has seen healthy growth in monthly active Trellis users and that customers with active Trellis usage retained at a higher rate during the second quarter than those without active users across all customer segments. During the question-and-answer session, Barretto said the company has begun seeing customers upgrade to the paid Trellis Plus tier, though he emphasized that the offering remains early in its commercialization. He said Sprout views AI as a potential driver of new-business win rates, paid upsells and retention as customers use the technology across social listening, publishing and customer-care workflows. The company also added predictive scoring for community platforms such as Reddit through NewsWhip, launched an AI dashboard builder, expanded Canva integration, added Snapchat scheduling and publishing, and introduced direct creator payments through PayPal and Lumanu. On July 15, Sprout announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 20%. Barretto said the restructuring is intended to remove organizational layers, accelerate decision-making and focus spending on higher-return areas. The company expects to incur $18 million to $20 million in pretax restructuring charges, substantially all of which are expected in the third quarter. Sprout expects the move to reduce its annualized non-GAAP cost structure by at least $50 million, although it does not expect to realize the full annualized savings until 2027. Barretto said the company believes it has adequate go-to-market capacity following the reductions and will evaluate future investments as it progresses through the organizational changes. For the third quarter, Sprout forecast revenue of $123.3 million to $124.1 million, non-GAAP operating income of $17.5 million to $18.3 million, and non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.29 to $0.30. For full-year 2026, the company projected revenue of $493 million to $495.6 million and non-GAAP operating income of $68.3 million to $70.3 million. The operating-income outlook represents a 20% increase at the midpoint from its prior forecast. Sprout forecast non-GAAP EPS of $1.11 to $1.15 for the year and said it expects to exit the fourth quarter with a non-GAAP operating margin near 17%. The company reiterated its goal of reaching a Rule of 40 metric above 30% by the fourth quarter of 2027. It also said it plans to begin opportunistically repurchasing shares during the current quarter under its previously announced $50 million authorization, after restructuring and blackout periods limited repurchases in the second quarter. Barretto said Sprout is not assuming an improvement in the demand environment and expects the acquisition anniversary of NewsWhip to create headwinds for revenue and RPO growth beginning in the third quarter. Sprout Social (NASDAQ: SPT) is a Chicago-based software company specializing in social media management solutions for businesses of all sizes. The company provides a cloud-based platform designed to help organizations improve their social media presence through a suite of tools for content scheduling, community engagement, social listening and analytics. Sprout Social's platform is built to streamline the workflows of marketing, customer care and public relations teams by providing a centralized hub for managing multiple social channels. The company's product offerings include publishing and scheduling capabilities that allow users to plan and automate social content across networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. The article "Sprout Social Q2 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat. 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Primo Brands Corporation PRMB reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 37 cents per share, up 2.8% compared with a year ago and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 32 cents.Net sales rose 3.8% year over year to $1.80 billion and topped the consensus estimate of $1.76 billion. Management said top-line results exceeded expectations. Robust Retail channel growth led by regional spring water and premium brands, along with an earlier-than-expected return to growth in Direct Delivery, supported growth. This was partly offset by lower sales from the exited U.S. Office Coffee Services business.Following the earnings release, Primo Brands’ shares jumped more than 8% during the trading session. Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock have risen 19.3% in the past six months, outperforming the industry’s 2.4% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Gross profit increased 1.4% year over year to $548.7 million, but the gross margin contracted 80 basis points to 30.5%. Higher transportation costs and depreciation and amortization weighed on profitability, while revenue growth and lower non-recurring integration costs provided a partial offset.Selling, general and administrative expenses dipped 8.7% year over year to $345.5 million. Lower marketing costs and reduced amortization tied mainly to definite-lived intangible assets helped operating income climb 59.8% year over year to $180.3 million.Adjusted EBITDA increased 5% to $385 million, with the margin rising 20 basis points year over year to 21.4%. Primo Brands Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Primo Brands Corporation Quote Regional spring water sales rose 4.1% year over year to $911 million, making it the largest water category. Purified water sales increased 1.9% to $556.1 million, while premium water advanced 30.5% to $114.2 million.Other water sales fell 9.7% to $31.8 million, and the broader Other category slipped 1.9% to $183.1 million. The category mix shows that regional spring and premium offerings were the primary engines of quarterly revenue growth. As of June 30, 2026, the company generated net cash from continuing operations of $331.7 million, up from $193.8 million seen a year ago. After $190 million in capital expenditures and $32.7 million of additions to intangible assets, free cash flow reached $109 million, up from $52.7 million registered a year ago. Adjusted free cash flow was $328.7 million as of June 30.As of June 30, 2026, total debt excluding unamortized debt costs and discounts was $5.3 billion. Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents totaled $366.5 million, resulting in net debt of $4.9 billion.During the quarter, PRMB paid $43.5 million in cash dividends and spent $15.5 million on share repurchases, including brokerage commissions. Primo Brands raised its 2026 net sales growth forecast to 2-4% from the prior range of 1-3%. The company reaffirmed adjusted EBITDA guidance of $1.465-$1.515 billion.Management also maintained base capital expenditures at 4% of net sales and adjusted free cash flow guidance of $790-$810 million. Darling Ingredients Inc. DAR, which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.4% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average.United Natural Foods UNFI, which is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 2.1% from the prior-year level. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.Medifast, Inc. MED, which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 25.9% from the year-ago number. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Primo Brands Corporation (PRMB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report MEDIFAST INC (MED) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Archer Daniels Midland Company ADM posted second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.84 per share, up 98% year over year. The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.42 by 29.6%. On a reported basis, earnings were $1.87 per share, substantially up from 45 cents in the year-ago quarter.Revenues increased 7.1% to $22.68 billion and beat the consensus estimate of $22.38 billion. Results benefited from margin expansion in Ag Services and North American crushing and robust ethanol economics.  Global oilseed volumes increased roughly 5% compared with the prior-year quarter.Total segment operating profit increased 75% year over year to $1.5 billion, reflecting broad-based growth across all three operating segments.We note that shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have gained 22.8% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 6.6% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Ag Services and Oilseeds revenues increased 10.1% year over year to $17.9 billion. Carbohydrate Solutions revenues declined 1.3% to $2.8 billion, while Nutrition revenues fell 4.6% to $1.9 billion. Other Business revenues decreased 5.4% to $106 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $17.5 billion for Ag Services and Oilseeds, $2.9 billion for Carbohydrate Solutions and $2 billion for Nutrition.The company processed 9.5 million metric tons of oilseeds, up 4.7% from the prior-year quarter and surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 9.3 million metric tons. Corn processing volumes rose 2.6% to 4.7 million metric tons. Higher asset utilization supported the improvement in global oilseed volumes. Archer Daniels Midland Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Archer Daniels Midland Company Quote Ag Services and Oilseeds operating profit surged 129% to $867 million. Results included roughly $100 million of net positive mark-to-market and timing impacts, mainly within Crushing. Margin expansion in Ag Services and North American crushing provided the primary lift.Ag Services operating profit climbed 159% to $293 million as ADM leveraged its global asset network and benefited from increased soybean exports and the return of its Barcarena, Brazil, terminal to full operations. Crushing profit substantially jumped to $363 million from $33 million, supported by stronger biofuel margins, elevated energy prices and record meal exports from Brazil and the United States. Carbohydrate Solutions operating profit increased 22% year over year to $411 million. Robust North American ethanol margins, policy incentives, elevated energy prices and lower U.S. corn prices improved ethanol’s economics relative to competing blendstocks. These conditions supported higher domestic blend rates and favorable industry exports.Starches and Sweeteners operating profit rose 7% year over year to $326 million as stronger wet-milling ethanol margins offset lower liquid sweetener volumes and margins. Vantage Corn Processors’ profit increased 158% year over year to $85 million, aided by strengthening dry-milling ethanol margins and effective risk management. Nutrition operating profit advanced 51% year over year to $172 million, with improvement across Human Nutrition and Animal Nutrition. Human Nutrition operating profit increased 51% to $139 million, driven by Flavors growth, seasonal momentum and continued progress at the Decatur East plant.Animal Nutrition operating profit grew 50% to $33 million. The increase reflected operational improvements and benefits from portfolio actions completed during 2025. The segment’s performance extended ADM’s recovery beyond its commodity-processing businesses. The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.1 billion, long-term debt, including current maturities, of $7.6 billion, and shareholders’ equity of $23.6 billion. As of June 30, 2026, ADM generated $1.3 billion in cash from operating activities. It paid dividends of $510 million in the reported quarter. ADM raised its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to approximately $5.15-$5.60 per share from the previous range of $4.15-$4.70. The revised outlook assumes year-over-year improvement in crushing and ethanol, supported by disciplined execution and a constructive margin environment.Management tied the stronger outlook primarily to finalized renewable volume obligations under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, global trade dynamics and higher energy prices. The company continues to project 2026 capital expenditures of $1.3-$1.5 billion while monitoring macroeconomic, geopolitical, policy and trade conditions. Darling Ingredients Inc. DAR, which is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Darling Ingredients' current financial-year sales indicates growth of 12.4% from the prior-year level. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 38.9%, on average. United Natural Foods UNFI, which is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 2.1% from the prior-year level. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.Medifast, Inc. MED, which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 25.9% from the year-ago number. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report MEDIFAST INC (MED) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. CHD delivered a solid second quarter of 2026, supported by broad-based organic growth, higher volumes and continued momentum across its key consumer brands. The company also raised its full-year sales, earnings and cash flow outlook.Adjusted earnings were 89 cents per share, down 5.3% year over year, and in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Net sales increased 1.6% to $1,530 million, beating the consensus mark of $1,503 million. Organic sales rose 5.8%, driven by 4.3% volume growth and a 1.5% contribution from pricing and product mix. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Quote Organic sales growth exceeded management’s 3% expectation for the quarter. Performance was supported by THERABREATH mouthwash and toothpaste, HERO, ARM & HAMMER cat litter and ZICAM.Global e-commerce sales advanced 22.7% and represented 25.5% of total consumer sales. Management also cited encouraging initial sales from MISS MOUTH’S MESSY EATER following the brand’s acquisition in June. Adjusted gross margin increased 40 basis points year over year to 45.4%. The improvement reflected higher volumes, productivity and favorable mix from acquisitions and portfolio actions.These benefits were partly offset by inflation and higher transportation costs. Marketing expenses rose $8.2 million to $165.3 million and represented 10.8% of net sales, up 40 basis points from the prior-year quarter. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were $241.4 million, or 15.8% of net sales. The expense ratio increased 220 basis points year over year, reflecting TOUCHLAND-related amortization and operating costs.Adjusted income from operations declined $28.7 million to $287.2 million. Adjusted operating margin contracted 220 basis points to 18.8%, as gross margin expansion and organic growth were more than offset by higher marketing and administrative spending. Consumer Domestic net sales increased 0.1% to $1,155.8 million. Organic sales rose 5.1%, supported by 3.6% volume growth and a 1.5% contribution from pricing and product mix.Consumer International net sales increased 7.2% to $297.5 million. Organic sales climbed 9.1%, driven by a 7.3% jump in volume and a 1.8% benefit from price and mix. THERABREATH, HERO and BATISTE were the main growth contributors.Specialty Products net sales advanced 2.8% to $76.7 million. Organic sales also increased 2.8%, reflecting a 1.3% rise in volume and a 1.5% contribution from pricing and product mix. Cash from operations totaled $461.6 million in the first six months of 2026, up 10.8% year over year. Capital expenditures increased $22.8 million to $61.8 million as the company continued to invest in capacity and sales growth initiatives.Church & Dwight ended June with $254.8 million in cash and approximately $2,300 million in total debt. Full-year capital expenditures are still expected to be approximately $130 million, or about 2% of sales. Management now expects organic sales growth of 4% to 5% in 2026, up from its prior forecast of 3% to 4%. Reported sales are projected to range from flat to growth of 1% compared with the earlier expectation for a decline of 1.5% to 0.5%.Adjusted earnings are now expected to increase 6% to 8% compared with the previous forecast of 5% to 8% growth. Adjusted gross margin is projected to expand 100 to 120 basis points, while cash from operations is expected to reach approximately $1,175 million. For the third quarter of 2026, the company expects organic sales growth of approximately 3%. Reported sales are projected to decline about 1%, reflecting strategic portfolio actions completed in 2025.Adjusted earnings are expected to be approximately 89 cents per share, up 10% year over year. The outlook also assumes continued gross margin expansion, marketing expenses of roughly 12% of sales, higher SG&A expenses and an adjusted tax rate of approximately 21.5%.This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has risen 1.7% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 2.6% growth. United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks hereThe consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings per share (EPS) stands at $2.52, which implies substantial growth from the year-ago period earnings of 71 cents. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.US Foods Holding Corp. USFD engages in the marketing, sale and distribution of fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. USFD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). US Foods Holding delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods Holding’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.1% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.The Vita Coco Company, Inc. COCO, a leading beverage company that develops, markets and distributes coconut water and other plant-based beverages, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. COCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.9%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Vita Coco Company’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings calls for growth of 31.6% and 64.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (CHD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Darling Ingredients Inc. DAR delivered a strong second quarter as improved finished-product markets, disciplined margin management and robust renewable-fuel economics lifted profitability. The company also generated substantial cash, supporting debt reduction and share repurchases.DAR’s earnings were $2.41 per share, up sharply from 8 cents a year ago, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45. Darling Ingredients Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Darling Ingredients Inc. Quote Net sales increased 16.4% year over year to around $1,724 million but missed the consensus mark of $1,804 million. Diamond Green Diesel, or DGD, sold 348.8 million gallons at EBITDA of $2.23 per gallon. Gross profit increased 45.5% year over year to $503.4 million. The gross margin expanded 590 basis points to 29.2%, reflecting stronger fat and protein markets, favorable renewable-fuel economics and improved operational execution.Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 9.3% to $151 million. Results also included $13.2 million of acquisition and integration costs and $3.9 million of restructuring and asset-impairment charges. Combined adjusted EBITDA surged to $741.7 million from $249.5 million in the year-ago quarter.Operating income advanced to $555.2 million from $75.9 million. The increase included $350 million of equity income from DGD. Feed Ingredients net sales increased 22.7% to $1,149.5 million. Fat prices strengthened on robust biofuel-sector demand, while protein values benefited from increased U.S. poultry production and tight global fish-meal supplies. Segment adjusted EBITDA jumped 77% to $240.5 million, while raw material processed remained steady at 3.1 million metric tons.Food Ingredients net sales rose 5.8% to $408.5 million. Growing collagen demand in the United States, Europe and Asia supported sales, along with broader uses across food, nutrition and health products. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased 55.1% to $108.5 million. The result included about $18 million of net IEEPA tariff recovery.Fuel Ingredients net sales increased 4.6% to $166.1 million. Combined segment adjusted EBITDA climbed to $415.2 million from $61.3 million, primarily reflecting DGD’s performance. Darling’s share of DGD adjusted EBITDA was $389.2 million, up from $42.6 million. DGD produced 355.9 million gallons during the quarter. DAR ended the quarter with $160.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, total debt of roughly $3.95 billion and net debt of $3.79 billion. During the second quarter of 2026, the company reduced net debt by $223 million and repurchased $73 million of common stock.Revolver availability was $1.31 billion as of July 4, 2026. The preliminary leverage ratio under the company’s bank covenant improved to 2.3 times from 2.9 times at the beginning of 2026. During the quarter, Darling completed the acquisition of three rendering facilities from the Patense Group in Brazil for approximately $122 million. Management expects the assets to support its rendering network and contribute immediately to earnings.Following the quarter, the company sold a majority of its non-core grease-trap environmental services business for approximately $90 million. Darling also signed an agreement to divest its CTH casings business, with the transaction expected to close by the end of 2026.These actions reflect management’s focus on simplifying the portfolio, improving returns from existing infrastructure and allocating capital toward higher-value operations. For the third quarter of 2026, management expects core ingredients adjusted EBITDA of $325-$340 million. Excluding the second-quarter Food segment tariff recovery, the forecast indicates underlying performance generally consistent with the strong second-quarter level.DGD is expected to produce approximately 335 million gallons in the third quarter. DAR expects to end 2026 with net debt at or below $3 billion and a bank leverage ratio below 2 times.This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has rallied 28.8% over the past six months compared with the industry’s 0.1% growth. United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. At present, United Natural sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks hereThe consensus estimate for United Natural’s current fiscal-year earnings per share (EPS) stands at $2.52, which implies substantial growth from the year-ago period earnings of 71 cents. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.US Foods Holding Corp. USFD engages in the marketing, sale and distribution of fresh, frozen and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. USFD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. US Foods Holding delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods Holding’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.1% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.The Vita Coco Company, Inc. COCO, a leading beverage company that develops, markets and distributes coconut water and other plant-based beverages, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. COCO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.9%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The Vita Coco Company’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings calls for growth of 31.6% and 64.7%, respectively, from the year-ago figures. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Corteva, Inc. CTVA reported second-quarter 2026 results, wherein the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while the bottom line beat the same. Earnings increased year over year, while net sales declined. The company benefited from strong Seed pricing, productivity initiatives and margin expansion despite ongoing pricing pressure in Crop Protection. Corteva, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Corteva, Inc. Quote The agricultural company reported operating earnings of $2.30 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.24 by 2.7% and increased from $2.20 reported in the year-ago quarter. However, revenues of $6.38 billion declined 1% year over year and missed the consensus estimate of $6.62 billion by 3.7%. In the second quarter of 2026, organic sales decreased 2%. Volumes fell 3%, reflecting a 2% decline in Crop Protection due to purchase-timing shifts in North America and a 3% decrease in Seed. Seed volumes were affected by timing shifts in North America and Latin America, along with lower corn acreage in North America and EMEA, partly offset by increased soybean acreage in North America and higher sunflower acreage in EMEA. Price and product mix improved 1%, as stronger Seed pricing more than offset competitive pricing pressure in Crop Protection, particularly in Latin America.Seed: Net sales were essentially flat year over year at $4.53 billion as a 3% improvement in price/mix offset a 3% decline in volume. Higher pricing reflected robust demand for advanced seed technologies and increased out-licensing income, while volumes were affected by timing shifts in North America and Brazil, along with lower corn acreage. Seed operating EBITDA increased 6% to $1.97 billion, with margin expanding more than 230 basis points on favorable pricing, lower royalty expense and productivity gains.Crop Protection: Net sales declined 4% to $1.85 billion due to a 4% decline in pricing and a 2% drop in volume, partly offset by favorable currency. Competitive pricing in Latin America and channel purchase timing in North America weighed on results. Nevertheless, operating EBITDA increased 2% to $342 million, supported by cost savings, productivity actions and currency benefits, while operating margin improved by more than 110 basis points. GAAP income from continuing operations after taxes decreased to $1.22 billion from $1.38 billion in the prior-year quarter. However, operating EBITDA increased 4% to $2.26 billion, resulting in a margin expansion of more than 190 basis points.Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased to $1.16 billion from $1.15 billion in the year-ago quarter. The increase primarily reflected higher selling and administrative costs, while research and development expenses also rose to $388 million from $375 million, as the company continued to invest in innovation and growth initiatives. Despite the increase in operating expenses, productivity gains and lower input costs supported overall margin expansion. Corteva ended the second quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $2.37 billion, short-term borrowings of $3.19 billion, long-term debt of $1.68 billion and total shareholders' equity of $25.40 billion. During the first six months of 2026, the company used $3.36 billion in operating cash flows, reflecting seasonal working capital requirements and incurred capital expenditures of $203 million. Corteva raised its full-year 2026 outlook, supported by strong first-half execution and resilient demand across key agricultural markets. Farmers continue to prioritize investments that enhance productivity and returns, supporting the adoption of advanced seed genetics and differentiated Crop Protection products. Seed demand is expected to benefit from strong uptake of the company’s technologies, while normalized channel inventories and improving industry fundamentals should aid the Crop Protection business.Corteva now expects operating EBITDA of $4.1-$4.3 billion, representing growth of about 9% at the midpoint. Operating earnings are projected in the range of $3.60-$3.80 per share, implying growth of approximately 11% at the midpoint. Trade conditions, currency movements and weather remain key factors influencing the outlook. We note that shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have gained 10.5% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 7.6% growth. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Some other top-ranked stocks have been discussed below:United Natural Foods Inc. UNFI distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UNFI’s 2026 sales indicates a decline of 2.1%, and the same for earnings indicates growth of 254.9% from the prior-year reported levels. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 30%, on average.US Foods Holding Corporation USFD, together with its subsidiaries, markets, sells and distributes fresh, frozen, and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. USFD currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for US Foods’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 5.1% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. USFD delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%, on average.Darling Ingredients Inc. DAR develops, produces, and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients in North America, Europe, China, South America and internationally. DAR currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DAR’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 13.2% and 685.3%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. DAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 16.1%, on average. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Corteva, Inc. (CTVA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Colgate-Palmolive Company CL posted second-quarter 2026 results, wherein earnings and sales beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and grew year over year. Results benefited from higher organic sales and gains from strategic efforts. On a Base Business basis (non-GAAP basis), earnings were 99 cents per share, up 8% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 95 cents by 4.2%.Net sales rose 4.9% to $5.36 billion and came above the consensus mark of $5.35 billion. Organic sales grew 2.4%, supported by a 0.8% increase in organic volume and 1.6% pricing growth. A 2.4% favorable foreign-exchange impact also aided sales. Our model had anticipated organic sales growth of 2.7% for the reported quarter.The company maintained a 41.3% year-to-date share of the global toothpaste market. It also held a 32.7% share of the worldwide manual toothbrush market. These leadership positions support management's strategy of investing in innovation and brand-building initiatives. Colgate expects strong investment levels to continue through the remainder of 2026.Hill's Pet Nutrition net sales rose 3.4%, while organic sales increased 2.1%. Pricing improved 3.9%, but organic volume declined 1.8%, partly reflecting the company's exit from private-label pet food.This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have gained 4.9% in the past three months compared with the industry’s 2.1% growth. Colgate-Palmolive Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Colgate-Palmolive Company Quote GAAP and Base Business gross profit margin expanded 140 basis points year over year to 61.5%. The improvement strengthened profitability despite a difficult operating environment and continued spending behind brands.Base Business operating profit increased 5% to $1.1 billion. The adjusted operating margin edged up 10 basis points to 21.4%, showing that stronger gross margin performance and productivity actions helped absorb higher investments.Base Business selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.1 billion, while the adjusted expense rate increased 120 basis points to 39.6% of sales. We had expected selling, general and administrative expenses to increase 30 basis points to 38.7% of sales.Advertising spending climbed 15% to $777 million from $678 million a year ago. Management said elevated investment will continue in the back half as the company focuses on premium, science-led innovation and omnichannel demand generation. North America net sales fell 3% and organic sales also declined 3%, reflecting a 3.9% drop in volume that more than offset 0.9% pricing growth. The region accounted for 17% of total company sales.Latin America remained the strongest growth contributor, with net sales up 13.7% and organic sales rising 5.3%. Volume grew 2.6%, pricing increased 2.8% and foreign exchange contributed 8.4%.Europe, Middle East & Africa net sales increased 3.5%, while organic sales rose 2%. A 3.2% volume gain more than offset a 1.2% pricing decline, and currency added 1.6%.Asia Pacific net sales advanced 4.9% and organic sales grew 5.2%, driven by 4.1% volume growth and 1.1% pricing. Foreign exchange reduced the region's reported sales growth by 0.3%.Our model had expected sales to decline 0.9% year over year in North America, rise 7% in Latin America, jump 6.1% in Europe, Middle East & Africa and rise 7% in Asia Pacific. Net cash provided by operations reached $1.7 billion in the first six months of 2026, up from $1.5 billion a year ago. Free cash flow before dividends increased to $1.5 billion from $1.3 billion.CL ended June with $1.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents and total debt of $7.9 billion. During the first half, the company paid $879 million in dividends and purchased $597 million of treasury shares. Colgate maintained its 2026 net sales growth outlook of 2-6% and organic sales growth guidance of 1-4%. Foreign exchange is still expected to provide a low-single-digit positive impact at current spot rates.Management now expects both GAAP and Base Business gross profit margin to be roughly flat year over year, improving from its prior expectation of a decline. It also raised its Base Business earnings growth forecast to mid-single digits from low- to mid-single-digit growth, while retaining its view for double-digit GAAP earnings growth. United Natural Foods UNFI, which is the leading distributor of natural, organic and specialty food and non-food products, currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current financial-year sales indicates a drop of 2.1% from the prior-year level. UNFI delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 29.9%, on average.Medifast, Inc. MED, which is a leading manufacturer and distributor of clinically-proven healthy living products and programs, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). MED missed the average earnings surprise by a sharp margin in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Medifast’s current financial-year sales indicates a decline of 25.9% from the year-ago number. Freshpet, Inc. FRPT, which manufactures and markets natural fresh foods, refrigerated meals, and treats for dogs and cats, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current financial-year sales indicates growth of 9.5% from the prior-year level. FRPT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 49.4%, on average. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) : Free Stock Analysis Report MEDIFAST INC (MED) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research