Flowers Foods Reports Q4 Loss and Declines FY26 Profit Forecast
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy FLO?
Source: moomoo
Flowers Foods Inc. saw its stock drop 8.30% as it hit a 52-week low amid disappointing financial results.
The company reported a net loss of $67.1 million for Q4 2026, a stark contrast to a net income of $43.1 million in the same quarter last year. Additionally, the FY26 profit forecast fell below expectations, indicating a decline of approximately 180 basis points and a projected 4% drop in the traditional loaf category. This combination of poor earnings and cautious outlook has significantly impacted investor confidence.
The implications of these results suggest that Flowers Foods may need to reassess its operational strategies and financial commitments to stabilize its performance in a challenging market environment.
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Analyst Views on FLO
Wall Street analysts forecast FLO stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 9.890
Low
12.00
Averages
12.00
High
12.00
Current: 9.890
Low
12.00
Averages
12.00
High
12.00
About FLO
Flowers Foods, Inc. is a producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The Company operates bakeries across the country that produce a wide range of bakery products. Its principal products include breads, buns, rolls, snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas and are sold under a variety of brand names, including Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread (DKB), Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Tastykake, and Mrs. Freshley’s. Its brands and products are sold through various channels throughout the United States. These channels include supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchandisers, discount stores, club stores, convenience stores, thrift outlet stores, and foodservice, among others. It also supplies national and regional restaurants, institutions and foodservice distributors, and retail in-store bakeries with breads and rolls; sells packaged bakery products to wholesale distributors for ultimate sale to a wide variety of food outlets; and sells packaged snack cakes.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Business Transformation Progress: CEO Ryals McMullian highlighted that strong performance from leading brands and disciplined execution led to results at the high end of the 2025 guidance range, despite challenges in the traditional loaf category and inflationary pressures.
- Operational Review Initiated: The company is conducting a comprehensive review of operations, including brand portfolio, supply chain, and financial strategy, aimed at enhancing execution and reigniting revenue growth, with this process expected to span multiple years.
- Cautious Financial Outlook: The 2026 guidance indicates a decline of approximately 180 basis points, with expectations of a 4% drop in the traditional loaf category, compounded by pressures from an extra week, reflecting a challenging market environment.
- Dividend Policy Commitment: Despite high payout ratios and leverage risks, CFO Diego Scaglione reiterated the company's commitment to dividends, indicating that the dividend policy will continue to be evaluated to ensure financial stability.
See More
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See More
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- Negative Earnings Per Share: The company posted a loss per share of $0.32 compared to earnings of $0.20 per share a year earlier, reflecting challenges in cost control and market competition, which could lead to further stock price volatility.
- Sales Growth: Net sales increased to $1.23 billion from $1.11 billion year-over-year, yet the decline in net income suggests a struggle to balance revenue growth with profitability, potentially affecting future investment decisions.
- Annual Performance Review: For the full year, net income fell to $83.8 million from $248.1 million, with earnings per share dropping from $1.17 to $0.40, highlighting the company's vulnerability in changing market conditions and the need to reassess its strategic direction.
See More
