Dole (DOLE) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $1.52B
• Dividend Yield: 2.23%
• Average Volume (3M): 638.50K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 51.8
• Beta (1Y): 0.37
• Revenue Growth: 7.09%
• EPS Growth: -83.75%
• Country: US
• Employees: 35,371
• Sector: Consumer Defensive
• Sector Strength: 42
• Industry: Agricultural Farm Products
• EPS (TTM): 0.14
• Shares Outstanding: 95,162,660
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 540,718
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 638,498
• PEG Ratio: 4.27
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.10
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.17
• P/FCF Ratio: 47.69
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.67
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.28
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 3.55
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 7.19
• 1Y Price Target: N/A
• Price Target Upside: N/A
• Rating Consensus: N/A
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0
• EPS Forecast (FY): N/A
• Revenue Forecast (FY): N/A

• Rating: 59 Neutral
• Price Target: $16.50 ▲(25.09% Upside)
• Action: Reiterated Date: 02/25/26
• Date: Action: Reiterated 02/25/26

The score is held back primarily by mixed fundamentals—thin profitability and notably weak 2025 free cash flow—despite improving revenue and leverage trends. Technicals are moderately supportive with the stock trading above key moving averages, but valuation is a meaningful constraint due to the high P/E. Earnings call guidance and strategic actions are modest positives, tempered by cost and cash conversion risks.

Positive Factors

Revenue Momentum

Consistent top-line improvement (full‑year +8.2% to £9.2bn) provides durable scale across Dole's integrated sourcing, packing and distribution. Stronger revenue supports fixed‑cost absorption, bargaining power with retailers and the capacity to fund strategic investments over the next 2–6 months.

Portfolio & Capital Actions

Portfolio simplification and capital moves (asset sales, credit renewal, buyback) structurally improve liquidity and strategic focus. Proceeds and a refreshed facility reduce funding risk and free capital to prioritize higher‑return fresh produce segments over the medium term.

Improving Leverage & Interest Outlook

Measured deleveraging to ~1.5x and lower expected interest expense enhance financial flexibility. A structurally lower leverage profile supports credit access, reduces interest sensitivity, and allows management to invest in operations or return capital while withstanding agricultural cyclicality.

Negative Factors

Weak 2025 Free Cash Flow

A near‑zero FCF outcome in 2025 signals fragile cash conversion despite prior years of healthy OCF. Persistent or recurrent weak FCF reduces ability to fund routine CapEx, unexpected crop rehabilitation, or share returns without raising external financing, elevating medium‑term execution risk.

Fresh Fruit Margin Pressure

Structural sourcing‑cost pressures in core Fresh Fruit compress margins in Dole's highest‑volume categories. Given the commodity nature of bananas and pineapples, sustained input cost inflation or unfavorable supplier dynamics can erode margins and require time‑consuming pricing or efficiency offsets.

Weather & Production Disruption

Climate and weather disruptions that require farm rehabilitation create lasting supply volatility and higher unit costs until recovery. Delayed Honduran production weakens volume competitiveness and risks recurring seasonal shortfalls that can depress margins and complicate meeting multi‑month guidance.

Dole Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Dole plc engages in sourcing, processing, marketing, and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Fresh Fruit; Diversified Fresh Produce - EMEA; Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas and ROW; and Fresh Vegetables. It offers bananas, pineapples grapes, berries, avocados, deciduous fruit, and organic produce; value added salads, which includes packaged salad and meal kits; and fresh packed vegetables, such as iceberg, romaine, leaf lettuces, and celery, as well as health foods and consumer goods. The company serves retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice customers. Dole plc is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

How the Company Makes Money

Dole generates revenue primarily through the sale of fresh produce, including bananas, pineapples, and packaged salads. The company operates in both the fresh and processed food segments, with significant revenue streams coming from its extensive distribution networks that serve supermarkets, wholesalers, and food service operations. Dole's revenue model is based on direct sales to retailers and food service providers, as well as distribution agreements that enhance market reach. Additionally, the company benefits from long-term supply contracts and partnerships with growers and suppliers, which help stabilize costs and ensure a steady supply of high-quality products. Economic factors, such as consumer demand for healthy food options and sustainability initiatives, also play a crucial role in driving Dole's earnings.

Dole Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Revenue momentum improved (notably strong growth cited for 2025), and leverage trends improved into 2024 with solid ROE for a low-margin business. Offsetting this, profitability remains thin and 2025 cash flow/FCF weakened sharply (near break-even FCF), reducing confidence in earnings quality and consistency.

Income Statement

Revenue has been growing at a low-single-digit pace in 2023–2024 (~2.8% each year) and accelerated to ~22.1% in 2025, showing improving top-line momentum. Profitability has generally improved versus 2021 (loss) and is positive in recent years, with 2024 showing modest margins (gross margin ~8.5%, net margin ~1.5%). However, profitability remains thin for the industry profile, and operating profit was lower in 2025 versus 2024 (EBIT down), suggesting some cost/price pressure despite the stronger revenue year.

Balance Sheet

Leverage improved meaningfully over time: debt-to-equity moved down from ~1.61 (2021) to ~1.15 (2023) and ~1.01 (2024), and equity has steadily risen (from ~$1.08B in 2021 to ~$1.29B in 2024). Returns on equity in 2022–2024 are solid for a low-margin business (~7%–10%). The main caution is that leverage is still around parity in 2024 (not low), and the 2025 debt figure is reported as zero, which looks like a data discontinuity versus prior years—so the apparent step-change in leverage in 2025 should be treated cautiously.

Cash Flow

Cash generation was strong in 2022–2024, with operating cash flow in the ~$226M–$285M range and free cash flow around ~$141M–$203M, translating to roughly ~62%–72% of net income converting into free cash flow. That said, 2025 shows a sharp deterioration: operating cash flow fell to ~$123M and free cash flow nearly broke even (~$1.7M), with free cash flow down ~94.6% year over year—signaling working-capital or capital-spending pressure. The history also shows volatility (notably negative free cash flow in 2021), which reduces confidence in consistency.

Breakdown	Dec 2025	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue	9.17B	8.48B	8.25B	8.02B	5.94B
Gross Profit	714.31M	717.72M	694.17M	599.88M	344.00M
EBITDA	347.43M	342.91M	391.21M	301.87M	69.01M
Net Income	239.23M	125.51M	124.06M	86.50M	-7.22M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	4.26B	4.45B	4.56B	4.59B	4.67B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	274.27M	336.04M	281.48M	234.21M	256.68M
Total Debt	0.00	1.30B	1.43B	1.54B	1.74B
Total Liabilities	2.86B	3.01B	3.14B	3.27B	3.42B
Stockholders Equity	1.36B	1.29B	1.25B	1.16B	1.08B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	1.71M	202.88M	197.94M	140.89M	-49.06M
Operating Cash Flow	123.21M	285.31M	275.98M	226.46M	16.38M
Investing Cash Flow	-123.75M	22.49M	-3.27M	-54.07M	82.82M
Financing Cash Flow	0.00	-237.84M	-230.00M	-173.40M	-1.34M

Dole Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 13.19
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DOLE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 13.19 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 15.94, below the 50-day MA of 15.34, and below the 200-day MA of 14.14, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.20 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 58.63 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 57.31 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for DOLE.

Dole Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
FDP	70 Outperform	$2.01B	22.14	4.53%	3.34%	1.11%	414.23%
BG	64 Neutral	$23.71B	24.66	6.34%	3.14%	10.29%	17.32%
Sector *	62 Neutral	$20.33B	14.63	-3.31%	3.23%	1.93%	-12.26%
ALCO	62 Neutral	$318.44M	-2.24	-83.19%	0.55%	-5.52%	-2194.72%
DOLE	59 Neutral	$1.52B	51.79	8.75%	2.23%	7.09%	-83.75%
AGRO	52 Neutral	$1.29B	38.20	1.69%	4.40%	-7.37%	-84.53%
LMNR	49 Neutral	$256.73M	-15.27	-4.88%	1.99%	-14.97%	-278.36%

Dole Corporate Events

Dole Posts 2025 Results, Highlights Debt Cuts and Buybacks

On February 25, 2026, Dole reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, highlighting revenue growth and solid operating performance despite profit pressure from higher fruit costs and one-off items. Fourth-quarter revenue rose 9.2% to $2.4 billion with net income of $6 million, while full-year revenue increased 8.2% to $9.2 billion, net income fell to $82 million, and Adjusted EBITDA edged up to $395.4 million, slightly above guidance and market expectations.

The Group’s 2025 results were driven by strong growth in its two Diversified Fresh Produce segments, which offset weakness in Fresh Fruit, and were shaped by portfolio moves including the sale of the Fresh Vegetables business and an agreement to sell Ecuador port assets for about $75 million. Dole cut net debt to $606.5 million, secured board approval for up to $100 million of share repurchases, and, alongside its transition to U.S. Domestic Issuer filings, underscored ongoing balance-sheet strengthening and efforts to enhance index inclusion and shareholder returns.

The most recent analyst rating on (DOLE) stock is a Hold with a $17.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Dole stock, see the DOLE Stock Forecast page.

Dole Announces Sale of Ecuadorian Port Business to Terminal Investment Limited

On December 13, 2025, Dole plc announced an agreement to sell its Ecuadorian port business, including port properties in Guayaquil, to Terminal Investment Limited Holding S.A. for approximately $75 million in net cash proceeds. Despite the sale, Dole will continue using the port under a new agreement with the buyer for terminal services. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in 2026 and positions Dole to optimize its operations while maintaining access to critical logistics infrastructure.

The most recent analyst rating on (DOLE) stock is a Hold with a $14.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Dole stock, see the DOLE Stock Forecast page.