McCormick's stock fell 3.09% and hit a 20-day low amid broader market gains, with the Nasdaq-100 up 0.99% and the S&P 500 up 0.65%.
The company lowered its adjusted EPS guidance for 2026 to between $3.05 and $3.13, below the consensus estimate of $3.23, indicating significant pressure on profitability and reduced market confidence. This news comes as McCormick anticipates sales growth of 13% to 17% for 2026, which is below market expectations, reflecting challenges from global trade dynamics.
This downward revision in profit guidance has raised concerns among investors, leading to a notable decline in share price. The market's reaction underscores the importance of maintaining investor confidence, especially in light of the company's recent performance and future projections.
Wall Street analysts forecast MKC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MKC is 83.67 USD with a low forecast of 75.00 USD and a high forecast of 89.00 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.
3 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast MKC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MKC is 83.67 USD with a low forecast of 75.00 USD and a high forecast of 89.00 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.
3 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 61.320
Low
75.00
Averages
83.67
High
89.00
Current: 61.320
Low
75.00
Averages
83.67
High
89.00
Barclays
Andrew Lazar
Equal Weight
downgrade
$72 -> $67
2026-01-26
New
Reason
Barclays
Andrew Lazar
Price Target
$72 -> $67
AI Analysis
2026-01-26
New
downgrade
Equal Weight
Reason
Barclays analyst Andrew Lazar lowered the firm's price target on McCormick to $67 from $72 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares following the Q4 earnings report. While McCormick indicated on its fiscal Q3 that it may protect volume momentum over shorter term profit growth in fiscal 2026, new headwinds related to the acceleration of its enterprise resource planning implementation and a tax headwind were previously unknown, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
UBS
Bryan Adams
Neutral
downgrade
$70 -> $67
2026-01-23
Reason
UBS
Bryan Adams
Price Target
$70 -> $67
2026-01-23
downgrade
Neutral
Reason
UBS analyst Bryan Adams lowered the firm's price target on McCormick to $67 from $70 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. McCormick's Q4 EPS fell short of estimates with initial guidance for fiscal 2026 also coming in below estimates, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
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Deutsche Bank
Steve Powers
Buy
downgrade
$75 -> $73
2026-01-23
Reason
Deutsche Bank
Steve Powers
Price Target
$75 -> $73
2026-01-23
downgrade
Buy
Reason
Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers lowered the firm's price target on McCormick to $73 from $75 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares.
BofA
Buy
downgrade
$89 -> $80
2026-01-23
Reason
BofA
Price Target
$89 -> $80
2026-01-23
downgrade
Buy
Reason
BofA lowered the firm's price target on McCormick to $80 from $89 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. Shares reacted negatively to earnings due to a Q4 organic sales miss driven by Americas Flavor Solutions, a gross margin miss of about 150 basis points compared to consensus and below consensus EPS growth for FY26, the analyst tells investors. On net, the firm's FY26 EPS estimate moves to $3.09 from $3.21 as gross margins move lower given the Q4 miss flow through, the analyst noted.
About MKC
McCormick & Company, Incorporated manufactures, markets, and distributes herbs, spices, seasonings, condiments and flavors to the entire food and beverage industry, including retailers, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. It operates through two segments: consumer and flavor solutions. The consumer segment sells to retail channels, including grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount and drug stores, and e-commerce under the McCormick brand and a variety of brands around the world, including French's, Frank's RedHot, Lawry’s, Zatarain’s, Simply Asia, Thai Kitchen, Ducros, Vahine, Cholula, Schwartz, Club House, Kamis, DaQiao, La Drogheria, Stubb's, OLD BAY, Gourmet Garden, and others. In its flavor solutions segment, it provides a range of products to multinational food manufacturers and foodservice customers. The foodservice customers are supplied with branded, packaged products both directly by the Company and indirectly through 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.
