Cranswick: Robust Trading Momentum, Quality Earnings and Cash Flow Support Drive Buy Recommendation

Cranswick, the Consumer Defensive sector company, was revisited by a Wall Street analyst today. Analyst Andrew Wade from Jefferies maintained a Buy rating on the stock and has a £62.00 price target.

Andrew Wade has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors that highlight Cranswick’s attractive fundamentals and positive trading momentum. He notes that third-quarter performance extended the strong first-half trajectory, with like-for-like revenue growth remaining robust across all categories and record Christmas trading in key segments such as Pork, Convenience, and Gourmet ranges. Premium added-value products and strong poultry performance, supported by pricing, underpin confidence in earnings quality and resilience. Reflecting this, management now expects FY26 profit before tax to come in toward the top end of market expectations, modestly above current consensus.

In addition, Wade points out that capital expenditure guidance has been trimmed as some investment is deferred into FY27, which supports near-term cash flow without compromising longer-term growth initiatives. He also highlights that recent acquisitions are outperforming initial expectations, reinforcing the company’s ability to integrate and enhance acquired businesses. Although the share price has recovered from early-year levels, it still trades below its highs from last summer, leaving room for further upside in what he views as a high-quality, compounding growth story. Collectively, these factors support his positive stance and underpin the Buy recommendation on Cranswick.