Vital Farms Misses Profit Expectations, Guides Lower for 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy VITL?
Source: seekingalpha
- Profit Miss: Vital Farms (VITL) reported Q4 earnings of $0.35 per share, which, despite a more than 50% year-over-year increase, fell short of expectations by 4 cents, indicating pressure on profitability.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company achieved a total revenue increase of 29%, reaching $213.7 million, surpassing the $212.8 million estimate, showcasing robust sales performance despite profit challenges.
- Cautious Future Outlook: For 2026, Vital Farms projects revenue between $900 million and $920 million, below the $938.6 million consensus estimate, reflecting challenges in market expansion.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company plans to allocate $140 million to $150 million in capital expenditures for 2026, demonstrating a commitment to future investments and shareholder value despite current profitability pressures.
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Analyst Views on VITL
Wall Street analysts forecast VITL stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
0 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 24.790
Low
44.00
Averages
48.90
High
60.00
Current: 24.790
Low
44.00
Averages
48.90
High
60.00
About VITL
Vital Farms, Inc. offers a range of ethically produced foods nationwide. The Company is a national consumer brand that works with more than 575 family farms and is the United States brand of pasture-raised eggs. The Company focuses on the humane treatment of farm animals and sustainable farming practices. The Company packages, markets and distributes shell eggs, butter, and other products. Its products, including shell eggs, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and liquid whole eggs, are sold in approximately 23,500 stores nationwide. The retail varieties of its shell eggs are based on supplemental feed type, egg size, and pack size. Its egg packaging consists primarily of corrugated boxes and egg cartons. The Company offers unsalted and sea-salted varieties of its butter, which are sold in two-stick and four-stick packs. The Company’s products are principally sold under the name Vital Farms in addition to other trade names, primarily to retail and foodservice channels in the United States.
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.
Vital Farms Misses Profit Expectations, Guides Lower for 2026
- Profit Miss: Vital Farms (VITL) reported Q4 earnings of $0.35 per share, which, despite a more than 50% year-over-year increase, fell short of expectations by 4 cents, indicating pressure on profitability.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company achieved a total revenue increase of 29%, reaching $213.7 million, surpassing the $212.8 million estimate, showcasing robust sales performance despite profit challenges.
- Cautious Future Outlook: For 2026, Vital Farms projects revenue between $900 million and $920 million, below the $938.6 million consensus estimate, reflecting challenges in market expansion.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company plans to allocate $140 million to $150 million in capital expenditures for 2026, demonstrating a commitment to future investments and shareholder value despite current profitability pressures.
See More
VITAL FARMS STOCK DROPS 19.2% FOLLOWING Q4 RESULTS AND $100 MILLION SHARE BUYBACK ANNOUNCEMENT
- Vital Farms Share Performance: Vital Farms shares fell by 19.2% following the release of their Q4 results.
- Share Buyback Plan: The company announced a $100 million share buyback plan to support its stock value.
See More
Midday Market Movers: Significant Gains and Losses for Multiple Companies
- Penn Entertainment Growth: Penn Entertainment reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.81 billion, exceeding FactSet's estimate of $1.76 billion, leading to a 13% stock price increase, indicating strong performance in the casino and gaming sector that may attract more investor interest.
- Paramount Skydance Optimistic Guidance: The media company anticipates adjusted EBITDA of $900 million for Q1 2026, surpassing analyst expectations of $744.1 million, resulting in a nearly 10% stock price increase, reflecting market confidence in its future performance.
- Walker & Dunlop Poor Guidance: The real estate finance company projected adjusted core earnings of $4.50 to $5 per share, below the FactSet consensus of $5.43, causing a nearly 20% stock price drop, highlighting market concerns about its future profitability.
- Vital Farms Revenue Downgrade: Vital Farms revised its 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $900 million to $920 million, down from $930 million to $950 million, leading to a 19% stock price decline, reflecting market disappointment in its performance outlook.
See More
Trump's State of the Union: Food Price Dynamics
- Beef Price Surge: In his State of the Union address, Trump claimed beef prices are 'significantly coming down,' yet data shows the average price in January was $6.75 per pound, a 22% increase from January 2025, indicating ongoing supply-demand imbalances despite government efforts to alleviate the situation.
- Egg Price Decline: Trump stated that egg prices have dropped by 60%, aligning with Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing the price for a dozen eggs fell from $6.23 to $2.58, primarily due to a recovery in supply post-avian flu outbreak, although decreased demand also contributed to the price drop.
- Chicken Price Increase: Trump asserted that chicken prices are much lower than when he took office, but data reveals that the average price for boneless chicken breast in January was $4.17 per pound, up 1% from the previous year, reflecting subtle market dynamics.
- Tight Beef Supply: The U.S. cattle inventory has fallen to its lowest level in decades, with only 27.6 million beef cows as of January, leading to persistently high beef prices; economists cite drought and increased demand as key factors, suggesting prices may not significantly decline in the near future.
See More
Vital Farms Q4 Earnings Preview and Performance Outlook
- Earnings Announcement Date: Vital Farms (VITL) is set to release its Q4 earnings on February 26 before market open, with consensus EPS estimated at $0.39 and revenue expected to reach $212.83 million, reflecting a robust 28.2% year-over-year growth potential in the market.
- Performance Beat Record: VITL has consistently exceeded EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time over the past year, indicating the company's sustained stability in profitability and market performance, which could bolster investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: Over the last three months, EPS estimates have seen three upward revisions and four downward adjustments, while revenue estimates have faced nine downward revisions without any upward changes, suggesting a cautious market outlook on the company's short-term performance that may affect investor sentiment.
- Long-Term Potential and Challenges: Vital Farms has recently lowered its FY25 revenue guidance due to ERP disruptions, highlighting short-term challenges; however, the company is still viewed as a long-term growth investment, prompting investors to monitor its strategic adjustments moving forward.
See More
Vital Farms Executive Sells 20,000 Shares Amid Market Decline
- Executive Stock Sale: Matthew Ohayer, Executive Chairperson of Vital Farms, sold 20,000 shares on February 2, 2026, for approximately $558,136, indicating executive selling behavior amid market fluctuations.
- Ownership Impact Analysis: The sale affected only 0.31% of Ohayer's direct holdings, leaving him with 6,341,190 shares directly owned, while his indirect holdings remained unchanged, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Market Performance Review: Vital Farms' stock has declined approximately 23.21% over the past year, with drops of 15% in both 2025 and early 2026, indicating market concerns regarding product quality and transparency that may affect investor confidence.
- Earnings Report Outlook: The company is set to release its Q4 earnings report for fiscal year 2025 on February 26, 2026, prompting investors to remain cautious and evaluate the company's future financial performance and market response before making significant investment decisions.
See More
Vital Farms Misses Profit Expectations, Guides Lower for 2026
- Profit Miss: Vital Farms (VITL) reported Q4 earnings of $0.35 per share, which, despite a more than 50% year-over-year increase, fell short of expectations by 4 cents, indicating pressure on profitability.
- Strong Revenue Growth: The company achieved a total revenue increase of 29%, reaching $213.7 million, surpassing the $212.8 million estimate, showcasing robust sales performance despite profit challenges.
- Cautious Future Outlook: For 2026, Vital Farms projects revenue between $900 million and $920 million, below the $938.6 million consensus estimate, reflecting challenges in market expansion.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company plans to allocate $140 million to $150 million in capital expenditures for 2026, demonstrating a commitment to future investments and shareholder value despite current profitability pressures.
See More
VITAL FARMS STOCK DROPS 19.2% FOLLOWING Q4 RESULTS AND $100 MILLION SHARE BUYBACK ANNOUNCEMENT
- Vital Farms Share Performance: Vital Farms shares fell by 19.2% following the release of their Q4 results.
- Share Buyback Plan: The company announced a $100 million share buyback plan to support its stock value.
See More
Midday Market Movers: Significant Gains and Losses for Multiple Companies
- Penn Entertainment Growth: Penn Entertainment reported fourth-quarter revenue of $1.81 billion, exceeding FactSet's estimate of $1.76 billion, leading to a 13% stock price increase, indicating strong performance in the casino and gaming sector that may attract more investor interest.
- Paramount Skydance Optimistic Guidance: The media company anticipates adjusted EBITDA of $900 million for Q1 2026, surpassing analyst expectations of $744.1 million, resulting in a nearly 10% stock price increase, reflecting market confidence in its future performance.
- Walker & Dunlop Poor Guidance: The real estate finance company projected adjusted core earnings of $4.50 to $5 per share, below the FactSet consensus of $5.43, causing a nearly 20% stock price drop, highlighting market concerns about its future profitability.
- Vital Farms Revenue Downgrade: Vital Farms revised its 2026 revenue guidance to a range of $900 million to $920 million, down from $930 million to $950 million, leading to a 19% stock price decline, reflecting market disappointment in its performance outlook.
See More
Trump's State of the Union: Food Price Dynamics
- Beef Price Surge: In his State of the Union address, Trump claimed beef prices are 'significantly coming down,' yet data shows the average price in January was $6.75 per pound, a 22% increase from January 2025, indicating ongoing supply-demand imbalances despite government efforts to alleviate the situation.
- Egg Price Decline: Trump stated that egg prices have dropped by 60%, aligning with Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing the price for a dozen eggs fell from $6.23 to $2.58, primarily due to a recovery in supply post-avian flu outbreak, although decreased demand also contributed to the price drop.
- Chicken Price Increase: Trump asserted that chicken prices are much lower than when he took office, but data reveals that the average price for boneless chicken breast in January was $4.17 per pound, up 1% from the previous year, reflecting subtle market dynamics.
- Tight Beef Supply: The U.S. cattle inventory has fallen to its lowest level in decades, with only 27.6 million beef cows as of January, leading to persistently high beef prices; economists cite drought and increased demand as key factors, suggesting prices may not significantly decline in the near future.
See More
Vital Farms Q4 Earnings Preview and Performance Outlook
- Earnings Announcement Date: Vital Farms (VITL) is set to release its Q4 earnings on February 26 before market open, with consensus EPS estimated at $0.39 and revenue expected to reach $212.83 million, reflecting a robust 28.2% year-over-year growth potential in the market.
- Performance Beat Record: VITL has consistently exceeded EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time over the past year, indicating the company's sustained stability in profitability and market performance, which could bolster investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: Over the last three months, EPS estimates have seen three upward revisions and four downward adjustments, while revenue estimates have faced nine downward revisions without any upward changes, suggesting a cautious market outlook on the company's short-term performance that may affect investor sentiment.
- Long-Term Potential and Challenges: Vital Farms has recently lowered its FY25 revenue guidance due to ERP disruptions, highlighting short-term challenges; however, the company is still viewed as a long-term growth investment, prompting investors to monitor its strategic adjustments moving forward.
See More
Vital Farms Executive Sells 20,000 Shares Amid Market Decline
- Executive Stock Sale: Matthew Ohayer, Executive Chairperson of Vital Farms, sold 20,000 shares on February 2, 2026, for approximately $558,136, indicating executive selling behavior amid market fluctuations.
- Ownership Impact Analysis: The sale affected only 0.31% of Ohayer's direct holdings, leaving him with 6,341,190 shares directly owned, while his indirect holdings remained unchanged, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Market Performance Review: Vital Farms' stock has declined approximately 23.21% over the past year, with drops of 15% in both 2025 and early 2026, indicating market concerns regarding product quality and transparency that may affect investor confidence.
- Earnings Report Outlook: The company is set to release its Q4 earnings report for fiscal year 2025 on February 26, 2026, prompting investors to remain cautious and evaluate the company's future financial performance and market response before making significant investment decisions.
See More
