Kraft Heinz faces industry pressure amid divestiture trend
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 02 2026
0mins
Should l Buy KHC?
Kraft Heinz Co shares rose 3.02% and reached a 20-day high amid a broader market context where the Nasdaq-100 is down 0.77% and the S&P 500 is up 0.04%.
The food industry is undergoing significant restructuring, with companies like Kraft Heinz planning to divest underperforming brands to adapt to declining consumer demand for processed goods. This trend reflects a broader movement in the sector as firms aim to regain investor confidence and improve financial performance amid increasing regulatory scrutiny. Analysts note that while divestitures may enhance shareholder value, they must address underlying issues to achieve meaningful financial improvements.
The implications of these developments suggest that Kraft Heinz's strategic decisions to optimize its brand portfolio could position the company for better performance in the long term, despite current market challenges.
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Analyst Views on KHC
Wall Street analysts forecast KHC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for KHC is 25.86 USD with a low forecast of 24.00 USD and a high forecast of 28.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
15 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
14 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 24.445
Low
24.00
Averages
25.86
High
28.00
Current: 24.445
Low
24.00
Averages
25.86
High
28.00
About KHC
The Kraft Heinz Company manufactures and markets food and beverage products around the world through its eight consumer-driven product platforms: Taste Elevation, Easy Ready Meals, Substantial Snacking, Desserts, Hydration, Cheese, Coffee, and Meats. The Company has two reportable segments defined by geographic region: North America and International Developed Markets. Its other segments, consisting of West and East Emerging Markets (WEEM) and Asia Emerging Markets (AEM), are combined and disclosed as Emerging Markets. It manufactures its products from a wide variety of raw materials. Its brands include Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Ore-Ida, Capri Sun, Maxwell Apartment, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Heinz, Golden Circle, Wattie’s, Plasmon, Heinz, ABC, Master, Quero, Kraft, and Pudliszki, among others. The Company’s products are sold through its own sales organizations and through independent brokers, agents, and distributors.
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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- Kraft Heinz Split Plan: Kraft Heinz's decision to abandon its merger and split again may not significantly improve financial performance, highlighting that merging struggling companies does not necessarily create a strong entity.
- Coca-Cola's Stability: Coca-Cola, a long-term holding for Buffett, continues to attract investors with a 2.6% dividend yield and strong market performance, reinforcing its leadership position in the consumer staples sector.
- Market Selection Advice: With the market near all-time highs, investors should prioritize quality stocks; Kraft Heinz's uncertain outlook contrasts with Coca-Cola, which is viewed as a more attractive investment option.
See More
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- Investor Sentiment: There is a prevailing uncertainty among investors regarding the market's ability to maintain upward momentum following last week's gains.
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- Buffett's Leadership Achievements: Buffett served as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway from 1965, achieving an average annual stock price increase of about 20%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 10.3%, highlighting the success and sustainability of his investment strategies.
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- Investment Opportunity in Kraft Heinz: Despite Berkshire's losses in Kraft Heinz, the current market cap of around $7.5 billion and a forward P/E of 9 attract new investors, especially as the company plans to split to unlock value, reminiscent of Kellogg's successful separation strategy.
- Cautious Stance on UnitedHealth Group: Although Berkshire purchased 5 million shares last year, the stock has fallen from $350 to around $280 due to lower-than-expected Medicare payment increases, prompting investors to think twice before buying the dip given the potential for further multiple compression.
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- Strong Earnings Performance: DaVita's latest quarterly results exceeded expectations, with projected earnings per share between $13.60 and $15 for 2026, resulting in a current price-to-earnings ratio of only 9 times, indicating potential for future growth and attracting investor interest.
- Stock Price Rebound: Since the earnings release, DaVita's stock has surged over 30%, reflecting market recognition of its performance and potentially providing room for multiple expansion, as it previously traded at 13 to 14 times forward earnings.
- Buffett's Investment Strategy: Despite Berkshire Hathaway's losses on its Kraft Heinz investment, currently valued at around $7.5 billion, the planned split into two entities may present opportunities for new investors, especially as Kraft Heinz trades at a mere 9 times forward earnings, below peers.
- Healthcare Sector Challenges: UnitedHealth Group's stock has fallen from $350 to around $280, primarily due to the U.S. government's lower-than-expected Medicare payment increases; although Buffett had previously purchased shares, the current 16 times forward earnings ratio indicates market concerns about its growth trajectory, warranting caution for investors.
See More
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- Buffett's Investment Returns: From 1965 to 2025, Berkshire Hathaway achieved an average annual return of approximately 20%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 10.3%, indicating Buffett's investment strategy has excelled over the long term, reinforcing the company's market leadership.
- Signs of DaVita's Recovery: DaVita exceeded expectations in its latest quarterly results and projected earnings per share between $13.60 and $15 for 2026, with shares surging over 30% since the earnings release, presenting an opportunity for investors to reassess its value, especially as it historically traded at 13 to 14 times forward earnings.
- Investment Opportunity in Kraft Heinz: Despite Berkshire's losses in Kraft Heinz, the stock currently trades at a mere 9 times forward earnings, below peers, and the company's plan to split into two entities could unlock significant value, attracting new investors' interest.
- Cautious Approach to UnitedHealth Group: Although Berkshire purchased 5 million shares of UnitedHealth last year, the stock has dropped from $350 to around $280 due to lower-than-expected Medicare payment increases, with a current P/E ratio of 16, which is still above peers, prompting investors to consider their buying strategy carefully.
See More
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- DuPont Earnings Expectations: DuPont is expected to report earnings of $0.43 per share and revenue of $1.69 billion for Q4 2025, with analysts noting ongoing pressure in short-cycle businesses, while slight improvements in the automotive sector may influence investor sentiment.
- Cisco's AI Focus: Cisco anticipates earnings of $1.02 per share and revenue of $15.1 billion for Q2 FY2026, with CEO highlighting a major multi-year campus networking refresh, making AI infrastructure demand a critical growth driver.
- Importance of Employment Report: The January employment report is expected to show an addition of 80,000 nonfarm payrolls and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, directly impacting private consumption and U.S. GDP, making it crucial for investors to monitor.
- Consumer Price Index Insights: The January CPI is projected to increase by 2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI rising by 2.6%, providing essential inflation details despite not being the Fed's preferred measure, particularly regarding persistent shelter cost inflation.
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