Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: Pilgrim's Pride, Primo Brands and Premier Foods
Market Insights: Fed Chair Jerome Powell reassured markets about monetary policy stability despite tariff concerns, leading investors to consider defensive positions in consumer staples, particularly food and beverage stocks that are performing well amid market volatility.
Stock Highlights: Pilgrim’s Pride, Primo Brands Corp., and Premier Foods are noted as strong investment options, with significant stock price increases over the past two years and favorable earnings projections, making them attractive during economic downturns.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on PPC
About PPC
About the author
Pilgrim's Pride to Release Q4 and FY 2025 Financial Results on February 11
- Earnings Release Schedule: Pilgrim's Pride Corporation will announce its Q4 and FY 2025 financial results after U.S. market close on February 11, 2026, which is expected to significantly impact investors and analysts.
- Management Conference Call: The company's executives will review the financial and operational results during a conference call on February 12, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. MT, followed by a Q&A session to enhance investor engagement.
- Webcast Registration: Investors and analysts can pre-register for the webcast via the company's investor website to receive a unique PIN for direct access, improving the overall participation experience.
- Replay Availability: The webcast will be available for replay on Pilgrim's website two hours after the call concludes and will remain accessible until April 29, 2026, ensuring that those unable to attend live can still access key information.
Australian Market Mixed as Dividend Stocks Attract Investors Amid Rate Speculation
- Market Dynamics: The Australian market shows mixed performance with the Aussie dollar nearing 67 cents against the USD, indicating investor focus on how potential cash rate changes may impact economic conditions, reflecting a demand for stable returns.
- Dividend Stock Appeal: Amid fluctuating market conditions, dividend stocks have become a popular choice for investors seeking reliable returns, particularly high-yield options like Vita Life Sciences and Treasury Wine Estates, offering yields of 3.55% and 7.29%, respectively.
- Cedar Woods Outlook: Cedar Woods Properties, with a market cap of A$703.58 million, presents a mixed picture with a 3.51% dividend yield below top-tier levels, yet a 49.7% payout ratio indicates potential for future dividend growth, especially with record profit guidance for FY2026.
- Lindsay Australia Performance: Lindsay Australia, valued at A$255.20 million, offers a 5.43% dividend yield supported by a 68.8% earnings coverage ratio, but its historical volatility may impact future dividend reliability, despite projected earnings growth of 18.65%.
US December Core CPI Rises 2.6% YoY, Significant Food Price Increases
- Core CPI Data: The US December core Consumer Price Index rose 2.6% year-over-year, slightly below economists' expectations, indicating persistent inflationary pressures that could influence future monetary policy decisions.
- Food Price Increases: Food prices rose 3.1% year-over-year in December, with dining out prices up 4.1% and at-home food prices up 2.4%, directly impacting consumer spending and corporate profits.
- Beef Price Surge: Beef prices soared, with uncooked ground beef up 15.5%, roasts up 17.5%, and steaks up 17.8%, reflecting a combination of supply shortages and strong demand, with this trend expected to last for several years.
- Coffee Price Rise: Coffee prices increased by 19.8% year-over-year in December, and despite tariff relief in November, it remains unclear when retail prices will decline, potentially affecting the profitability of several coffee chain companies.
ProAmpac's Anna Byrne Nominated for CIPD 2026 HR Award as Inspirational Leader
- Leadership Recognition: ProAmpac's Anna Byrne has been nominated as a finalist for the CIPD 2026 HR Award in the “Most Inspirational and Impactful Leader” category, highlighting her exceptional contributions to people-first practices and organizational culture.
- Industry Influence: The CIPD HR Awards aim to recognize the crucial role of the HR profession in driving strategy, leading transformation, and enabling organizational success, with Anna's nomination underscoring her innovation and impact in modern HR practices.
- New Category Introduction: This year's awards introduce the “Most Inspirational and Impactful Leader” category, reflecting the evolving priorities in today's HR landscape, aimed at honoring individuals who demonstrate clear, measurable impacts on culture, capability, and performance.
- Cultural Advancement: Anna's inspiring leadership style and commitment to developing others have fostered a culture of collaboration, growth, and accountability at ProAmpac, further enhancing the company's competitive edge in the industry.
UNFI Establishes New Long-Term Goals and Details Multi-Year Expansion Strategy
United Natural Foods, Inc. Update: UNFI presented its long-term value creation framework at its 2025 Investor Day, focusing on profitable growth, operational execution, and cash flow improvements through fiscal 2028, with projected revenues of approximately $33 billion and adjusted EBITDA of around $800 million by that year.
Operational Enhancements: The company is modernizing its supply chain with data-driven systems and Lean Daily Management practices, while also investing in technology to streamline processes and enhance support for retail and supplier partners.
Stock Performance: UNFI shares have declined by 20.6% over the past month, underperforming both the Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500 index, with a current forward P/E ratio of 16.9, higher than industry and sector averages.
AI Investment Opportunities: The article highlights the potential for significant wealth creation in the next phase of AI, suggesting that early investors in emerging companies may benefit, while established AI stocks may see growth level off.
Goldman Sachs is betting on these consumers in 2026: Check out the stock recommendations.
Consumer Confidence: Goldman Sachs reports that the middle-income consumer is performing well and is expected to drive growth in the upcoming year.
Stock Market Outlook: Analysts predict that stocks associated with the middle-income demographic will continue to outperform in the near future.
Pilgrim's Pride to Release Q4 and FY 2025 Financial Results on February 11
- Earnings Release Schedule: Pilgrim's Pride Corporation will announce its Q4 and FY 2025 financial results after U.S. market close on February 11, 2026, which is expected to significantly impact investors and analysts.
- Management Conference Call: The company's executives will review the financial and operational results during a conference call on February 12, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. MT, followed by a Q&A session to enhance investor engagement.
- Webcast Registration: Investors and analysts can pre-register for the webcast via the company's investor website to receive a unique PIN for direct access, improving the overall participation experience.
- Replay Availability: The webcast will be available for replay on Pilgrim's website two hours after the call concludes and will remain accessible until April 29, 2026, ensuring that those unable to attend live can still access key information.
Australian Market Mixed as Dividend Stocks Attract Investors Amid Rate Speculation
- Market Dynamics: The Australian market shows mixed performance with the Aussie dollar nearing 67 cents against the USD, indicating investor focus on how potential cash rate changes may impact economic conditions, reflecting a demand for stable returns.
- Dividend Stock Appeal: Amid fluctuating market conditions, dividend stocks have become a popular choice for investors seeking reliable returns, particularly high-yield options like Vita Life Sciences and Treasury Wine Estates, offering yields of 3.55% and 7.29%, respectively.
- Cedar Woods Outlook: Cedar Woods Properties, with a market cap of A$703.58 million, presents a mixed picture with a 3.51% dividend yield below top-tier levels, yet a 49.7% payout ratio indicates potential for future dividend growth, especially with record profit guidance for FY2026.
- Lindsay Australia Performance: Lindsay Australia, valued at A$255.20 million, offers a 5.43% dividend yield supported by a 68.8% earnings coverage ratio, but its historical volatility may impact future dividend reliability, despite projected earnings growth of 18.65%.
US December Core CPI Rises 2.6% YoY, Significant Food Price Increases
- Core CPI Data: The US December core Consumer Price Index rose 2.6% year-over-year, slightly below economists' expectations, indicating persistent inflationary pressures that could influence future monetary policy decisions.
- Food Price Increases: Food prices rose 3.1% year-over-year in December, with dining out prices up 4.1% and at-home food prices up 2.4%, directly impacting consumer spending and corporate profits.
- Beef Price Surge: Beef prices soared, with uncooked ground beef up 15.5%, roasts up 17.5%, and steaks up 17.8%, reflecting a combination of supply shortages and strong demand, with this trend expected to last for several years.
- Coffee Price Rise: Coffee prices increased by 19.8% year-over-year in December, and despite tariff relief in November, it remains unclear when retail prices will decline, potentially affecting the profitability of several coffee chain companies.
ProAmpac's Anna Byrne Nominated for CIPD 2026 HR Award as Inspirational Leader
- Leadership Recognition: ProAmpac's Anna Byrne has been nominated as a finalist for the CIPD 2026 HR Award in the “Most Inspirational and Impactful Leader” category, highlighting her exceptional contributions to people-first practices and organizational culture.
- Industry Influence: The CIPD HR Awards aim to recognize the crucial role of the HR profession in driving strategy, leading transformation, and enabling organizational success, with Anna's nomination underscoring her innovation and impact in modern HR practices.
- New Category Introduction: This year's awards introduce the “Most Inspirational and Impactful Leader” category, reflecting the evolving priorities in today's HR landscape, aimed at honoring individuals who demonstrate clear, measurable impacts on culture, capability, and performance.
- Cultural Advancement: Anna's inspiring leadership style and commitment to developing others have fostered a culture of collaboration, growth, and accountability at ProAmpac, further enhancing the company's competitive edge in the industry.
UNFI Establishes New Long-Term Goals and Details Multi-Year Expansion Strategy
United Natural Foods, Inc. Update: UNFI presented its long-term value creation framework at its 2025 Investor Day, focusing on profitable growth, operational execution, and cash flow improvements through fiscal 2028, with projected revenues of approximately $33 billion and adjusted EBITDA of around $800 million by that year.
Operational Enhancements: The company is modernizing its supply chain with data-driven systems and Lean Daily Management practices, while also investing in technology to streamline processes and enhance support for retail and supplier partners.
Stock Performance: UNFI shares have declined by 20.6% over the past month, underperforming both the Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500 index, with a current forward P/E ratio of 16.9, higher than industry and sector averages.
AI Investment Opportunities: The article highlights the potential for significant wealth creation in the next phase of AI, suggesting that early investors in emerging companies may benefit, while established AI stocks may see growth level off.
Goldman Sachs is betting on these consumers in 2026: Check out the stock recommendations.
Consumer Confidence: Goldman Sachs reports that the middle-income consumer is performing well and is expected to drive growth in the upcoming year.
Stock Market Outlook: Analysts predict that stocks associated with the middle-income demographic will continue to outperform in the near future.
