United Natural Foods Inc (UNFI) experienced a price drop of 5.84%, crossing down its 5-day simple moving average (SMA). This decline comes as the company prepares to announce its first-quarter earnings on December 2, with analysts estimating earnings of $0.40 per share and revenue of $7.91 billion.
The company has a history of exceeding earnings expectations, having beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time over the last two years. However, there have been mixed revisions in revenue estimates, with one upward and five downward revisions in the past three months, which may contribute to investor caution.
As the earnings announcement approaches, market sentiment remains cautious, reflecting broader trends in the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500, which are both down today. Investors are closely monitoring UNFI's performance, particularly in light of its target for $300 million in free cash flow for fiscal 2026.
Wall Street analysts forecast UNFI stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UNFI is 39.50 USD with a low forecast of 35.00 USD and a high forecast of 48.00 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.
8 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast UNFI stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UNFI is 39.50 USD with a low forecast of 35.00 USD and a high forecast of 48.00 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.
1 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 37.410
Low
35.00
Averages
39.50
High
48.00
Current: 37.410
Low
35.00
Averages
39.50
High
48.00
Deutsche Bank
resume
$40
2026-01-08
Reason
Deutsche Bank
Price Target
$40
AI Analysis
2026-01-08
resume
Reason
Deutsche Bank resumed coverage of United Natural Foods with a Hold rating and $40 price target. The firm resumed coverage of the broadlines and food retailers. Deutsche expects 2026 to be another "mixed year," characterized by food disinflation, reduced government benefits, and consumers' value focus extending into the new year. The analyst says that while defensive sectors such as food retail could face a challenging setup, "there are tailwinds on the horizon," including a sizable stimulus in the first half of 2026.
Wells Fargo
Edward Kelly
Equal Weight
downgrade
$37 -> $35
2025-12-19
Reason
Wells Fargo
Edward Kelly
Price Target
$37 -> $35
2025-12-19
downgrade
Equal Weight
Reason
Wells Fargo analyst Edward Kelly lowered the firm's price target on United Natural Foods to $35 from $37 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm sees a mixed overall 2026 outlook for the group, but with opportunity. Wells is bullish broadlines/food service, notes fiscal/tariff trade is underway, and believes momentum is sustainable through the first half of EPS revisions. With that said, the firm sees a tougher food retail outlook; idiosyncratic drivers are key.
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Wells Fargo
Edward Kelly
Equal Weight
maintain
$36 -> $37
2025-12-03
Reason
Wells Fargo
Edward Kelly
Price Target
$36 -> $37
2025-12-03
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Wells Fargo analyst Edward Kelly raised the firm's price target on United Natural Foods to $37 from $36 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm says Q1 came in better with Natural strength and stronger gross margins, partially offset by softer Conventional trends. Wells sees timely investor day next week as an opportunity to convey the durability of recent progress vs. a choppy backdrop. The firm views risk/reward as balanced.
BMO Capital
Outperform
maintain
$36 -> $48
2025-10-01
Reason
BMO Capital
Price Target
$36 -> $48
2025-10-01
maintain
Outperform
Reason
BMO Capital raised the firm's price target on United Natural Foods to $48 from $36 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares after its Q4 earnings beat and above-consensus FY26 guidance. Despite a meaningful move higher for shares after the results, the firm continues to see upside for the stock and notes that its new price target still contemplates conservative valuation of 6.5-times enterprise value to expected EBITDA but on higher EBITDA estimates, the analyst tells investors in a research note. BMO further cites United Natural's strong momentum and updated algorithm that now targets low double digit EBITDA growth and low single digit sales growth - both well ahead of expectations.
About UNFI
United Natural Foods, Inc. is a distributor of grocery and non-food products and support service provider to retailers in the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: Natural, Conventional and Retail. The natural segment reflects the wholesale distribution of natural, organic and specialty grocery and non-food products and services and includes the Company’s portfolio of natural owned brands and natural and organic snack food manufacturing business. The conventional segment reflects the wholesale distribution of conventional grocery and non-food products and services and includes the Company’s portfolio of conventional owned brands. Retail segment includes about 75 Cub Foods and Shoppers retail grocery stores. It offers approximately 230,000 products consisting of national, regional and private label brands grouped into various main product categories: grocery and general merchandise, perishables, frozen foods, wellness and personal care items and others.
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.
