Nasdaq Drops More Than 100 Points; General Mills Reports Earnings Exceeding Expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 17 2025
0mins
Source: Benzinga
U.S. Stock Market Performance: U.S. stocks showed mixed results, with the Dow rising 0.68% while the Nasdaq fell 0.52% and the S&P 500 dropped 0.12%. Consumer staples saw a 1.1% increase, contrasting with a 0.7% decline in information technology stocks.
Company Earnings Reports: General Mills reported better-than-expected fiscal Q1 results, with adjusted earnings of 86 cents per share. In contrast, Manchester United's shares fell 6% after mixed financial results, and Paramount Group's shares dropped 12% following an acquisition announcement.
Commodity Market Trends: Oil and gold prices both decreased by 0.3%, while silver and copper fell by 1.4%.
International Market Overview: European shares mostly rose, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 up 0.26%. Asian markets closed mostly higher, although Japan's Nikkei fell by 0.25%.
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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: 45.360
Low
47.00
Averages
52.38
High
63.00
Current: 45.360
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.
Comparison of Realty Income and General Mills as Dividend Investments
- Stability of Realty Income: Realty Income, as the largest net-lease REIT, owns over 15,500 properties, ensuring a low-risk portfolio with a current dividend yield of 4.9%, having increased dividends for thirty consecutive years, demonstrating its business reliability and stability.
- Challenges for General Mills: General Mills boasts a dividend yield nearing 5%, but with investment demands in fiscal 2026, financial performance is expected to be relatively weak, as evidenced by a 7% sales drop and a 1% decline in organic sales in the second quarter, indicating pressure on the company.
- Context of Sales Decline: Despite the sales decline, dispositions accounted for 6 percentage points of the drop, highlighting the company's adaptability in adjusting its business to changing consumer buying habits, with a dividend payout ratio of 55%, reflecting a reasonable risk/reward balance.
- Diversity in Investment Choices: For risk-averse investors, Realty Income is an ideal high-yield stock, while those willing to take on some uncertainty may consider General Mills, with both offering dividend yields higher than those from S&P 500 index funds.
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Investment Analysis of Realty Income and General Mills
- Realty Income Advantage: Realty Income, the largest net lease REIT, offers a high yield of 4.9%, supported by an investment-grade balance sheet and a conservative investment approach, ensuring long-term dividend reliability for income-dependent investors.
- General Mills Challenges: General Mills boasts a dividend yield of approximately 5%, near historical highs, but faced a 7% sales decline in Q2 2026; however, the impact of asset dispositions indicates the company’s ability to adapt to market changes, mitigating concerns about its performance.
- Reasonable Payout Ratio: With a dividend payout ratio around 55%, General Mills demonstrates a solid risk/reward balance over its 127-year dividend history, making it appealing for aggressive investors seeking high-yield stocks.
- Investor Choices: For risk-averse investors, Realty Income is an ideal high-yield stock, while those willing to accept some uncertainty may find General Mills a viable option, with both offering yields surpassing those of S&P 500 index funds.
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- Future Growth Targets: The company aims for organic sales growth of 3% to 4% in 2026 while planning to improve its underlying trading operating profit margin, which stood at 16.1% in 2025, reflecting a positive outlook for future performance.
- Business Restructuring Plans: Nestlé intends to sell its remaining ice cream business to Froneri and has initiated the process to divest its water business, expected to be completed by 2027, which will help streamline operations and focus on core brands.
- Management Strategy Shift: Under the leadership of new CEO Philipp Navratil and Chairman Pablo Isla, Nestlé is accelerating its strategic transformation by concentrating on four core businesses, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and market performance.
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- Earnings Season Pressure: As of February 13, 74% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with a blended growth rate of 13.2%, which, if sustained, would mark the index's tenth consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth, showcasing resilience in overall market performance.
- Mixed Competitor Performance: General Mills (GIS) experienced a 6% drop in stock price due to disappointing earnings, while online trading platform eToro (ETOR) surged over 20% following a strong quarterly performance, highlighting varied market reactions to different companies.
- Upcoming Earnings Focus: Investors will closely monitor upcoming earnings reports from Walmart (WMT) and Deere & Co. (DE), among others, as these results could significantly influence market sentiment and investment decisions.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Adjust Ratings on Key Stocks
- Analyst Rating Changes: Top Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings on several stocks, reflecting varying market perspectives on these companies' futures, which could influence investor decisions and market trends.
- Upgrades and Downgrades: Specific rating changes include both upgrades and downgrades for certain stocks, which may lead to short-term volatility in the respective stocks, prompting investors to pay close attention.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Analyst rating adjustments typically trigger immediate market reactions, as investors may reassess their portfolios based on this information, thereby impacting overall market sentiment.
- Further Information Access: For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, it is recommended to visit our analyst ratings page to stay updated on the latest market dynamics and professional insights.
See More
U.S. Stocks Close Mixed, Apple Shares Rise on Product Launch News
- Market Performance Fluctuates: On Tuesday, the S&P 500 rose by 0.10%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.07%, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.13%, indicating a mixed market recovery from early losses, with the Nasdaq 100 hitting a 2.75-month low, reflecting investor caution towards tech stocks.
- Apple Product Launch Boost: Apple shares surged over 3% after announcing a product launch on March 4, with several new devices expected in the coming weeks, which not only boosted Apple's market performance but also generated positive sentiment across the tech sector.
- Airline Stocks Rally: Airline stocks showed strong performance on Tuesday, led by a 6% increase in Southwest Airlines after UBS upgraded its rating from neutral to buy with a price target of $73, which not only enhanced the overall performance of airline stocks but also contributed to a more optimistic market outlook.
- Mixed Economic Data: The U.S. February NAHB housing market index unexpectedly fell to a 5-month low of 36, below the expected 38, while the February Empire manufacturing survey slightly declined to 7.1, indicating uncertainty in economic recovery, as the market remains focused on upcoming corporate earnings and economic news.
See More
Comparison of Realty Income and General Mills as Dividend Investments
- Stability of Realty Income: Realty Income, as the largest net-lease REIT, owns over 15,500 properties, ensuring a low-risk portfolio with a current dividend yield of 4.9%, having increased dividends for thirty consecutive years, demonstrating its business reliability and stability.
- Challenges for General Mills: General Mills boasts a dividend yield nearing 5%, but with investment demands in fiscal 2026, financial performance is expected to be relatively weak, as evidenced by a 7% sales drop and a 1% decline in organic sales in the second quarter, indicating pressure on the company.
- Context of Sales Decline: Despite the sales decline, dispositions accounted for 6 percentage points of the drop, highlighting the company's adaptability in adjusting its business to changing consumer buying habits, with a dividend payout ratio of 55%, reflecting a reasonable risk/reward balance.
- Diversity in Investment Choices: For risk-averse investors, Realty Income is an ideal high-yield stock, while those willing to take on some uncertainty may consider General Mills, with both offering dividend yields higher than those from S&P 500 index funds.
See More
Investment Analysis of Realty Income and General Mills
- Realty Income Advantage: Realty Income, the largest net lease REIT, offers a high yield of 4.9%, supported by an investment-grade balance sheet and a conservative investment approach, ensuring long-term dividend reliability for income-dependent investors.
- General Mills Challenges: General Mills boasts a dividend yield of approximately 5%, near historical highs, but faced a 7% sales decline in Q2 2026; however, the impact of asset dispositions indicates the company’s ability to adapt to market changes, mitigating concerns about its performance.
- Reasonable Payout Ratio: With a dividend payout ratio around 55%, General Mills demonstrates a solid risk/reward balance over its 127-year dividend history, making it appealing for aggressive investors seeking high-yield stocks.
- Investor Choices: For risk-averse investors, Realty Income is an ideal high-yield stock, while those willing to accept some uncertainty may find General Mills a viable option, with both offering yields surpassing those of S&P 500 index funds.
See More
Nestlé Reports Strong Q4 Sales Growth, Plans Divestitures
- Sales Growth Exceeds Expectations: Nestlé's organic sales growth rate for Q4 reached 4%, surpassing analyst expectations of 3.55%, indicating strong market performance that boosts investor confidence.
- Future Growth Targets: The company aims for organic sales growth of 3% to 4% in 2026 while planning to improve its underlying trading operating profit margin, which stood at 16.1% in 2025, reflecting a positive outlook for future performance.
- Business Restructuring Plans: Nestlé intends to sell its remaining ice cream business to Froneri and has initiated the process to divest its water business, expected to be completed by 2027, which will help streamline operations and focus on core brands.
- Management Strategy Shift: Under the leadership of new CEO Philipp Navratil and Chairman Pablo Isla, Nestlé is accelerating its strategic transformation by concentrating on four core businesses, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and market performance.
See More
Cybersecurity Giant Palo Alto Networks Lowers Full-Year Outlook
- Outlook Cut Affects Stock: Cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks (PANW) saw its shares drop by 6% after lowering its full-year earnings outlook, indicating market concerns over its future profitability and potentially diminishing investor confidence.
- Earnings Season Pressure: As of February 13, 74% of S&P 500 companies have reported earnings, with a blended growth rate of 13.2%, which, if sustained, would mark the index's tenth consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth, showcasing resilience in overall market performance.
- Mixed Competitor Performance: General Mills (GIS) experienced a 6% drop in stock price due to disappointing earnings, while online trading platform eToro (ETOR) surged over 20% following a strong quarterly performance, highlighting varied market reactions to different companies.
- Upcoming Earnings Focus: Investors will closely monitor upcoming earnings reports from Walmart (WMT) and Deere & Co. (DE), among others, as these results could significantly influence market sentiment and investment decisions.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Adjust Ratings on Key Stocks
- Analyst Rating Changes: Top Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings on several stocks, reflecting varying market perspectives on these companies' futures, which could influence investor decisions and market trends.
- Upgrades and Downgrades: Specific rating changes include both upgrades and downgrades for certain stocks, which may lead to short-term volatility in the respective stocks, prompting investors to pay close attention.
- Market Reaction Expectations: Analyst rating adjustments typically trigger immediate market reactions, as investors may reassess their portfolios based on this information, thereby impacting overall market sentiment.
- Further Information Access: For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, it is recommended to visit our analyst ratings page to stay updated on the latest market dynamics and professional insights.
See More
U.S. Stocks Close Mixed, Apple Shares Rise on Product Launch News
- Market Performance Fluctuates: On Tuesday, the S&P 500 rose by 0.10%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.07%, while the Nasdaq 100 fell by 0.13%, indicating a mixed market recovery from early losses, with the Nasdaq 100 hitting a 2.75-month low, reflecting investor caution towards tech stocks.
- Apple Product Launch Boost: Apple shares surged over 3% after announcing a product launch on March 4, with several new devices expected in the coming weeks, which not only boosted Apple's market performance but also generated positive sentiment across the tech sector.
- Airline Stocks Rally: Airline stocks showed strong performance on Tuesday, led by a 6% increase in Southwest Airlines after UBS upgraded its rating from neutral to buy with a price target of $73, which not only enhanced the overall performance of airline stocks but also contributed to a more optimistic market outlook.
- Mixed Economic Data: The U.S. February NAHB housing market index unexpectedly fell to a 5-month low of 36, below the expected 38, while the February Empire manufacturing survey slightly declined to 7.1, indicating uncertainty in economic recovery, as the market remains focused on upcoming corporate earnings and economic news.
See More
