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Barry Callebaut AG (CH:BARN)
:BARN

Barry Callebaut AG (BARN) AI Stock Analysis

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CH:BARN

Barry Callebaut AG

(BARN)

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Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
CHF1,482.00
▲(2.00% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:12/11/25
Barry Callebaut AG's overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth but is weighed down by financial pressures, including high leverage and negative cash flows. Technical indicators show mixed momentum, and the high P/E ratio raises valuation concerns. The earnings call provided some positive strategic insights, but the challenging environment remains a significant risk.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Sustained top-line growth indicates resilient demand and expanding market penetration across customer segments. Continued revenue expansion supports scale benefits and funds strategic priorities (innovation, deleveraging), improving mid-term resilience even as margins face pressure.
Diversified Customers & Long-Term Contracts
A broad mix of multinational manufacturers and artisanal customers plus long-term contracts reduces concentration risk and delivers recurring revenue. This structural diversification smooths cycle volatility, underpins predictable cash generation, and supports sustained investment in product and operations.
Product Innovation and Category Growth
Growth in cacao coatings and active innovation initiatives (reformulations, BCOS and brand efforts) demonstrate capability to deliver differentiated, higher-value solutions. Structural innovation enhances customer stickiness, provides routes to margin improvement, and supports longer-term share gains.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
An elevated debt-to-equity ratio of 2.37 signals substantial leverage that constrains financial flexibility and raises refinancing and liquidity risk. High net debt forces management to prioritize deleveraging, limiting capacity for discretionary investment and increasing exposure to interest rate changes.
Weak Cash Flow Conversion
Persistent negative operating and free cash flows undermine the firm's ability to self-fund capital expenditures, pay down debt, or return capital. Poor cash conversion heightens dependency on external financing, complicates the path to target leverage and reduces strategic optionality over the medium term.
Margin Erosion and Volume Declines
Substantial gross margin deterioration and a 6.8% volume decline point to structural cost pressures and weakening demand mix. Eroding margins reduce earnings power and cash flow potential, making recovery reliant on sustained pricing, mix shifts, or cost efficiencies that may take multiple quarters to realize.

Barry Callebaut AG (BARN) vs. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF (EWL)

Barry Callebaut AG Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBarry Callebaut AG, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells cocoa and chocolate products. The company provides chocolates, compounds, chips and chunks, cocoa, cacao fruit, fillings, coatings, nuts, decorations and inclusions, and food colorants, as well as personalization sheets. It also offers cocoa powder, chocolate drinks, cappuccions, dessert drinks, dairy and non-dairy products, tea, and coffee. The company provides products under the Cacao Barry, Callebaut, Carma, Mona Lisa, Van Houten Professional, Bensdorp, Cabosse Naturals, D'Orsogna Dolciaria, IBC, and La Morella Nuts names. In addition, it offers centralized treasury and management services; and conference and training services. The company serves food manufacturers and artisans; and professional users of chocolate, including chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakers, hotels, restaurants, or caterers. It also offers products for vending machines. The company operates primarily in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, Switzerland, rest of Europe, rest of Americas, and the Asia Pacific. Barry Callebaut AG was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland.
How the Company Makes MoneyBarry Callebaut generates revenue primarily through the sale of chocolate and cocoa products, which are categorized into two main segments: the chocolate segment and the cocoa segment. The chocolate segment includes a wide array of chocolate products tailored for different customer needs, while the cocoa segment focuses on cocoa powders and other related products. The company benefits from a diversified customer base, including large multinational food manufacturers and smaller craft chocolatiers. Key revenue streams come from long-term contracts with major clients, which provide stable cash flows, and the development of innovative products that meet changing consumer preferences. Additionally, Barry Callebaut has established significant partnerships with various companies in the food industry, allowing it to leverage synergies and expand its market reach, further contributing to its earnings.

Barry Callebaut AG Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 05, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 16, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a company making progress in cash generation and strategic initiatives but facing significant challenges in volume declines, market volatility, and cost pressures. While there are positive developments in specific segments, the overall environment remains challenging.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Return to Cash Generation
The company returned to cash generation in H2 and made strong progress on its deleverage agenda, supported by actions from the BC Next Level journey.
Recurring EBIT Growth
Recurring EBIT increased by 6.4% in constant currency, aided by pricing through increased cost of financing and mix.
Working Capital Actions
The company made significant progress in working capital actions, including diversifying sourcing, optimizing purchase timing, and introducing a letter of credit facility.
Cacao Coatings Growth
Cacao coatings saw positive growth, particularly in Western Europe and Latin America, driven by innovation and reformulation efforts.
Innovation and Strategic Initiatives
The company launched several initiatives, including BCOS and a new brand purpose with Callebaut, to enhance operations and customer experience.
Negative Updates
Volume Decline
The company experienced a volume decline of 6.8%, with notable declines in Global Cocoa (12.8%) and Global Chocolate (5.3%).
Impact of Cocoa Market Volatility
The cocoa market turbulence created a challenging B2B environment, impacting volume development and net profit, which decreased by 36% in local currencies.
Higher Net Debt
Net debt remained high at CHF 4.3 billion, although it is fully backed by high-quality inventory.
Challenges in North America
Intervention in the Toluca, Mexico factory and other operational issues led to residual impacts on customer requalification.
Cost Pressures
The company faced significant cost pressures due to unprecedented market disruption costs, inflation, and structural investments.
Company Guidance
During the Barry Callebaut Full Year Results Presentation for 2024-2025, key guidance metrics were discussed, indicating a strategic focus on deleveraging and growth. The company aims to reduce its net debt to EBITDA ratio to below 3.5x by the end of fiscal 2026, with a current leverage of 4.5x, down from a peak of 6.5x. This reduction is supported by strong cash generation and a balanced debt maturity profile, with CHF 700 million due annually over the next five years. Barry Callebaut also plans to enhance customer experience and competitiveness, innovate solutions, and target optimization opportunities. Despite a challenging environment with a 6.8% decline in group volume, the company projects low to mid-single-digit EBIT growth and double-digit growth in profit before tax for the upcoming fiscal year. Free cash flow showed a decline of CHF 312 million for the year, but a strong cash inflow of CHF 1.8 billion in the second half was achieved, mainly due to operational improvements and strategic actions.

Barry Callebaut AG Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Barry Callebaut AG shows strong revenue growth but faces significant challenges in profitability and cash flow management. The increasing leverage and declining margins suggest financial pressures, while negative cash flows highlight liquidity challenges.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Barry Callebaut AG has demonstrated a strong revenue growth rate of 13.49% in the most recent year, indicating robust sales performance. However, the gross profit margin has decreased over the years, from 15.92% in 2021 to 9.60% in 2025, suggesting increased cost pressures. The net profit margin has also declined, reflecting challenges in maintaining profitability. Despite these pressures, the company maintains a positive EBIT margin, though it has slightly decreased from previous years.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The company's debt-to-equity ratio has increased significantly to 2.37 in 2025, indicating higher leverage and potential financial risk. This is a concern as it suggests increased reliance on debt financing. The equity ratio has decreased, reflecting a lower proportion of equity financing. Return on equity has also declined, indicating reduced efficiency in generating profits from shareholders' equity.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Barry Callebaut AG faces challenges in cash flow management, with negative operating and free cash flows in recent years. The free cash flow growth rate is significantly negative, and the operating cash flow to net income ratio is also negative, indicating difficulties in converting income into cash. The free cash flow to net income ratio is positive, but the overall cash flow position remains weak.
BreakdownAug 2025Aug 2024Aug 2023Aug 2022Aug 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue14.79B10.39B8.47B8.09B7.21B
Gross Profit1.42B1.38B1.35B1.22B1.15B
EBITDA890.48M710.41M901.65M778.83M791.98M
Net Income185.87M189.78M444.36M360.70M383.94M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets12.64B15.27B8.52B7.93B7.35B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.94B978.35M488.33M880.02M1.10B
Total Debt6.21B4.80B1.80B2.08B2.38B
Total Liabilities10.02B12.43B5.63B5.03B4.67B
Stockholders Equity2.62B2.84B2.90B2.90B2.68B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-337.48M-2.35B-456.69M189.07M428.66M
Operating Cash Flow-42.52M-2.06B-215.10M464.96M704.08M
Investing Cash Flow-269.50M-280.93M-230.99M-301.68M-265.01M
Financing Cash Flow1.19B2.77B-555.00M-381.50M-618.98M

Barry Callebaut AG Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price1453.00
Price Trends
50DMA
1299.85
Positive
100DMA
1225.63
Positive
200DMA
1073.22
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
42.11
Negative
RSI
68.05
Neutral
STOCH
79.24
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CH:BARN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 1453 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1386.80, above the 50-day MA of 1299.85, and above the 200-day MA of 1073.22, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 42.11 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 68.05 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.24 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for CH:BARN.

Barry Callebaut AG Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
CHF28.72B44.611.29%7.37%-5.49%
70
Outperform
CHF27.69B25.312.24%5.93%6.00%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
54
Neutral
CHF7.85B42.242.31%42.39%-2.13%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CH:BARN
Barry Callebaut AG
1,453.00
369.91
34.15%
CH:GIVN
Givaudan SA
3,030.00
-903.35
-22.97%
CH:LISN
Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG
128,200.00
21,589.36
20.25%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 11, 2025