Wells Fargo Downgrades General Mills Amid Profit Risks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 12 2026
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Should l Buy GIS?
General Mills Inc's stock fell 3.00% as it hit a 52-week low, reflecting broader market weakness with the Nasdaq-100 down 1.61% and the S&P 500 down 1.35%.
The decline follows Wells Fargo's downgrade of General Mills from Equalweight to Underweight, citing increased profit risks for 2026. Analyst Chris Carey pointed out concerns over EPS risk, high leverage, and tight dividend payouts, which could lead to underperformance amid sluggish consumption trends and rising expenses. This downgrade adds to the uncertainty surrounding the stock's future performance, especially in a challenging economic environment.
Investors may need to reassess their positions in General Mills as the downgrade highlights potential vulnerabilities in the company's financial outlook. The market's reaction indicates a cautious sentiment towards food stocks, particularly those facing elevated risks.
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Analyst Views on GIS
Wall Street analysts forecast GIS stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
9 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 36.450
Low
47.00
Averages
52.38
High
63.00
Current: 36.450
Low
47.00
Averages
52.38
High
63.00
About GIS
General Mills, Inc. is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods. Its segments include North America Retail; International; North America Pet, and North America Foodservice. The North America Retail segment reflects business with a variety of grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains, convenience stores, and e-commerce grocery providers. The International segment consists of retail and foodservice businesses outside the United States and Canada. Its product categories include super-premium ice cream and frozen desserts, meal kits, salty snacks, snack bars, dessert and baking mixes, and shelf-stable vegetables. The North America Pet segment includes pet food products sold in the United States and Canada in national pet superstore chains, e-commerce retailers, and grocery stores. The North America Foodservice segment product categories include ready-to-eat cereals, snacks, and baking mixes.
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.
General Mills Seeks Path to Recovery Amid Challenges
- Asset Sales and Efficiency Gains: General Mills is selling its Brazilian business to enhance pricing power and improve its balance sheet, even as it forecasts a 1.5% to 2% decline in organic net sales, focusing on more profitable brands.
- Rising Dividend Yield: The stock's decline has pushed General Mills' dividend yield to 6.6%, raising concerns about sustainability despite 127 years of uninterrupted payments, particularly in light of declining earnings.
- Cash Flow and Valuation: Despite lower sales and earnings, General Mills generates ample free cash flow to support its dividend, with a forward P/E ratio of just 10.7, indicating attractiveness, but growth recovery remains critical.
- Brand and Market Positioning: General Mills' diverse brand portfolio and market positioning provide a foundation for recovery, with management noting improvements in core products that may surpass pre-pandemic levels, suggesting significant long-term earnings and dividend growth potential if inflation pressures ease.
See More
GENERAL MILLS: JEFFERIES LOWERS TARGET PRICE FROM $37 TO $36
- General Mills Price Adjustment: General Mills has reduced the price of its stock from $37 to $36.
- Market Impact: This price cut may reflect broader market trends or company-specific challenges.
See More
General Mills Faces Sales Decline Amid Inflationary Pressures
- Rising Dividend Yield: General Mills' dividend yield has surged to 6.6%, the highest in decades, attracting investors seeking passive income despite the stock's decline leading to negative total returns.
- Improving Financials: The company's cash and cash equivalents increased from $521.3 million in February 2025 to $785.5 million in February 2026, while long-term debt decreased from $11.84 billion to $10.99 billion, indicating a strengthening financial position driven by cost-cutting and a focus on high-margin segments.
- Business Restructuring Strategy: On March 17, General Mills announced the sale of its Brazilian business to bolster its balance sheet and focus on high-margin opportunities, having divested nearly one-third of its portfolio through acquisitions and divestitures since fiscal 2018 to optimize its brand and product categories.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite General Mills' strong brand portfolio, ongoing shifts in consumer preferences towards healthier and non-processed foods have led to declining sales and profits, compounded by industry-wide slowdowns making it difficult for the company to pass rising costs onto consumers.
See More
General Mills Dividend Appeal Analysis
- Dividend Stability: General Mills (GIS) has maintained its dividend for 127 years without cuts, although it hasn't raised payouts in recent years, demonstrating reliability in providing steady passive income despite a negative total return of 12.4% over the past decade.
- Industry Challenges: Facing a slowdown in the packaged food sector, General Mills is experiencing declining sales and profits, as shifting consumer preferences towards healthier, non-processed foods hinder the company's ability to pass rising costs onto consumers, impacting its market performance.
- Financial Stability Improvement: By selling its Brazilian business, General Mills aims to strengthen its balance sheet, having divested nearly one-third of its portfolio since fiscal 2018, focusing on high-margin brands, which is expected to further enhance cash flow.
- Investment Appeal: Despite ongoing challenges, General Mills' dividend remains affordable with a yield of 6.6%, and its stock price is trading below 11 times expected earnings, providing a compelling incentive for investors to hold the stock during this period.
See More
General Mills Hits 15-Year Low Amid Market Sell-Off
- Stock Decline: General Mills hit a 52-week low on March 24, with a current price of $36.45, reflecting a significant drop from its peak 15 years ago, indicating long-term challenges that may affect investor confidence.
- Rising Dividend Yield: The stock's decline has pushed General Mills' dividend yield up to 6.6%, and while the company has paid dividends for 127 years, this high yield raises concerns about sustainability, potentially impacting investor decisions.
- Sales and Earnings Downgrade: The company forecasts a 1.5% to 2% decline in organic net sales and a 16% to 20% drop in adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026, primarily due to the sale of non-contributing brands, highlighting market pressures.
- Transformation and Growth Potential: Despite challenges, General Mills' multi-year transformation plan is boosting productivity, with management focusing on high-margin brands, indicating potential for recovery in profitability and growth in the future.
See More
General Mills Stock Plummets Amidst Future Outlook
- Stock Price Decline: General Mills' stock has plummeted 36.7% over the past year and 40% over the last decade, starkly contrasting with the S&P 500's 222% gain, indicating significant market challenges facing the company.
- Earnings Forecast Downgrade: The company anticipates a 16% to 20% decline in adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026, following a 7% drop in fiscal 2025, exacerbating investor concerns as inflationary pressures erode margins.
- Brand Adaptability: While brands like Totino's are struggling, General Mills is actively pivoting its product lines to include healthier options, launching Cheerios Protein and the Ghost brand to cater to consumer demand for nutritious foods.
- High Dividend Appeal: With a dividend yield now at 6.6%, General Mills stands out among peers, and its low valuation combined with improved financial health positions it as a compelling choice for high-yield investors.
See More
General Mills Seeks Path to Recovery Amid Challenges
- Asset Sales and Efficiency Gains: General Mills is selling its Brazilian business to enhance pricing power and improve its balance sheet, even as it forecasts a 1.5% to 2% decline in organic net sales, focusing on more profitable brands.
- Rising Dividend Yield: The stock's decline has pushed General Mills' dividend yield to 6.6%, raising concerns about sustainability despite 127 years of uninterrupted payments, particularly in light of declining earnings.
- Cash Flow and Valuation: Despite lower sales and earnings, General Mills generates ample free cash flow to support its dividend, with a forward P/E ratio of just 10.7, indicating attractiveness, but growth recovery remains critical.
- Brand and Market Positioning: General Mills' diverse brand portfolio and market positioning provide a foundation for recovery, with management noting improvements in core products that may surpass pre-pandemic levels, suggesting significant long-term earnings and dividend growth potential if inflation pressures ease.
See More
GENERAL MILLS: JEFFERIES LOWERS TARGET PRICE FROM $37 TO $36
- General Mills Price Adjustment: General Mills has reduced the price of its stock from $37 to $36.
- Market Impact: This price cut may reflect broader market trends or company-specific challenges.
See More
General Mills Faces Sales Decline Amid Inflationary Pressures
- Rising Dividend Yield: General Mills' dividend yield has surged to 6.6%, the highest in decades, attracting investors seeking passive income despite the stock's decline leading to negative total returns.
- Improving Financials: The company's cash and cash equivalents increased from $521.3 million in February 2025 to $785.5 million in February 2026, while long-term debt decreased from $11.84 billion to $10.99 billion, indicating a strengthening financial position driven by cost-cutting and a focus on high-margin segments.
- Business Restructuring Strategy: On March 17, General Mills announced the sale of its Brazilian business to bolster its balance sheet and focus on high-margin opportunities, having divested nearly one-third of its portfolio through acquisitions and divestitures since fiscal 2018 to optimize its brand and product categories.
- Market Competition Pressure: Despite General Mills' strong brand portfolio, ongoing shifts in consumer preferences towards healthier and non-processed foods have led to declining sales and profits, compounded by industry-wide slowdowns making it difficult for the company to pass rising costs onto consumers.
See More
General Mills Dividend Appeal Analysis
- Dividend Stability: General Mills (GIS) has maintained its dividend for 127 years without cuts, although it hasn't raised payouts in recent years, demonstrating reliability in providing steady passive income despite a negative total return of 12.4% over the past decade.
- Industry Challenges: Facing a slowdown in the packaged food sector, General Mills is experiencing declining sales and profits, as shifting consumer preferences towards healthier, non-processed foods hinder the company's ability to pass rising costs onto consumers, impacting its market performance.
- Financial Stability Improvement: By selling its Brazilian business, General Mills aims to strengthen its balance sheet, having divested nearly one-third of its portfolio since fiscal 2018, focusing on high-margin brands, which is expected to further enhance cash flow.
- Investment Appeal: Despite ongoing challenges, General Mills' dividend remains affordable with a yield of 6.6%, and its stock price is trading below 11 times expected earnings, providing a compelling incentive for investors to hold the stock during this period.
See More
General Mills Hits 15-Year Low Amid Market Sell-Off
- Stock Decline: General Mills hit a 52-week low on March 24, with a current price of $36.45, reflecting a significant drop from its peak 15 years ago, indicating long-term challenges that may affect investor confidence.
- Rising Dividend Yield: The stock's decline has pushed General Mills' dividend yield up to 6.6%, and while the company has paid dividends for 127 years, this high yield raises concerns about sustainability, potentially impacting investor decisions.
- Sales and Earnings Downgrade: The company forecasts a 1.5% to 2% decline in organic net sales and a 16% to 20% drop in adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026, primarily due to the sale of non-contributing brands, highlighting market pressures.
- Transformation and Growth Potential: Despite challenges, General Mills' multi-year transformation plan is boosting productivity, with management focusing on high-margin brands, indicating potential for recovery in profitability and growth in the future.
See More
General Mills Stock Plummets Amidst Future Outlook
- Stock Price Decline: General Mills' stock has plummeted 36.7% over the past year and 40% over the last decade, starkly contrasting with the S&P 500's 222% gain, indicating significant market challenges facing the company.
- Earnings Forecast Downgrade: The company anticipates a 16% to 20% decline in adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026, following a 7% drop in fiscal 2025, exacerbating investor concerns as inflationary pressures erode margins.
- Brand Adaptability: While brands like Totino's are struggling, General Mills is actively pivoting its product lines to include healthier options, launching Cheerios Protein and the Ghost brand to cater to consumer demand for nutritious foods.
- High Dividend Appeal: With a dividend yield now at 6.6%, General Mills stands out among peers, and its low valuation combined with improved financial health positions it as a compelling choice for high-yield investors.
See More
