ConAgra Is Still a Value Investor’s Dream

 | Jan 02, 2024 08:02AM ET

  • ConAgra is a major manufacturer of packaged and frozen foods selling under iconic brands like Birds Eye, Slim Jim, Vlasic, Reddi-wip, and Orville Redenbacher. It produced its sixth consecutive earnings beat with its fiscal first-quarter 2024 earnings release.
  • ConAgra shares fell 26.19% in 2023 but could see a rebound in consumer consumption as disposable income improves with interest rate cuts in 2024.
  • ConAgra stock trades at 10.7X forward earnings and pays a 4.9% annual yield.

    • Packaged and frozen foods maker Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG) had a rough 2023, with shares losing 26.19% versus the S&P 500 index performance of 24.8%. The weak macroeconomic environment led to consumers pulling back on their spending, even in the consumer staples sector, often trading down for private label brands.

    The company's most popular brands include Birds Eye, Healthy Choice, Reddi-Wip, Slim Jim, Hunt's, Vlasic, and Orville Redenbacher's popcorn products. ConAgra could stage a rebound in 2024 for value investors seeking a stable investment on falling interest rates. The company’s peers include Post Holdings (NYSE:POST) and JM Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM).

    h2 Consumer Spending Habits Rebound./h2

    Rising inflation stung many consumers, causing them to trade down to lower-price generics and private-label brands. The weak macroeconomic environment has led to consumers wasting less food and even consuming less food. Consumers resisted price increases and decreased their basket sizes, as evidenced by the 6.6% volume decline in ConAgra's fiscal Q1 2024. Even among consumer staples, there are discretionary convenience products like packaged goods and frozen foods that households have cut back on and shifted away from.

    As inflation continues to fall, some of the pressure of tightened budgets should unwind. With the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) expected to cut interest rates up to 100 bps in 2024, consumers may return to their favorite popular brands as disposable income rebounds.

    h2 Earnings are Positive as Revenues Continue to Flake. /h2

    ConAgra reported fiscal Q1 2024 EPS of 66 cents, beating consensus analyst estimates for 60 cents by 6 cents. Diluted EPS was negative 16 cents in the year-ago period. This was its sixth consecutive earnings beat. Revenues were flat YoY at $2.9 billion but missed estimates for $2.95 billion, marking the 11th straight quarter of YoY volume declines. Operating margin increased 1,757 bps to 16.8%. Adjusted operating margin improved 297 bps to 16.7%.

    h2 Metrics by Segment/h2

    Its Refrigerated and Frozen segment was the weakest, with a 4.6% YoY decline in revenues to $1.2 billion and a 10.2% decline in volume. Grocery and Snacks saw a 1.2% YoY rise in revenues driven by a 5.6% price increase. Foodservice saw revenues rise 5.2% following a 10.3% increase in prices.

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    International sales rose 11.4% to $260 million on a 0.3% volume increase on top of its 7.9% price increases. The 0.3% decrease in organic net sales was largely driven by the decrease in volume amid an industry-wide slowdown in consumption.

    h2 Reaffirmed Guidance /h2

    ConAgra reaffirmed fiscal 2024 guidance reflecting 1% YoY organic net sales growth. Full-year EPS is expected to be between $2.70 and $2.75 versus $2.71, according to consensus analyst estimates. Shares of ConAgra fell to 52-week lows at $24.84 in response but staged a rally after making new lows.

    h2 CEO Comments on Consumer Behavior/h2

    ConAgra CEO Sean Connolly commented, “As you've seen for some time now, with the notable exception of summer travel, discretionary purchases have been down almost across the board. Consumers have also been actively reducing remnant household inventory from the pandemic.

    Within food, convenience-oriented items, typically a top consumer priority, have lagged as shoppers have turned to more hands-on food prep to get additional bang for their buck.”

    h2 Analyst Actions/h2

    On Dec. 11, 2023, Evercore ISI downgraded its rating on ConAgra shares from Outperform to In-line. The following day, Wells Fargo started coverage on ConAgra with an Equal Weight rating and a $31 stock price target.