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Carrefour (FR:CA)
:CA

Carrefour (CA) AI Stock Analysis

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FR:CA

Carrefour

(CA)

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Neutral 56 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:56Neutral
Price Target:
€16.00
▲(4.51% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/21/26
The score is held back primarily by weaker 2025 profitability and higher leverage despite solid operating and free cash flow. Technicals are supportive with price above key moving averages and positive MACD, while valuation is mixed due to a high dividend yield offset by a relatively high P/E.
Positive Factors
Scale & Market Position
Carrefour’s broad store footprint and multi-format presence create durable competitive advantages in grocery retail: scale supports purchasing power, supplier access and category breadth, helping sustain margins and market share across regions even amid cyclical pressures.
Strong Cash Generation
Consistent positive operating cash flow and solid free cash flow provide financial flexibility to fund investments, service debt, and support dividends. This cash generation cushions leverage volatility and underpins medium-term strategic initiatives like digital and store upgrades.
Resilient Operating Profitability
Stable gross margins and steady operating performance indicate structural cost controls and assortment effectiveness. Even with net profit pressure, underlying operating resilience supports recovery potential and long-term earnings power as price/mix and cost initiatives take hold.
Negative Factors
Rising Leverage
A marked increase in leverage reduces financial flexibility and raises refinancing and interest-rate sensitivity. Higher debt levels constrain capacity for opportunistic investments or sustained shareholder returns and increase downside risk if cash flow weakens further.
Compressed Net Margins
Very thin net margins limit the firm’s buffer against cost shocks and intensify reliance on volume and efficiency gains to deliver returns. Persistent margin compression would impair return on equity and the ability to reduce leverage or maintain dividend policies sustainably.
Revenue Downtrend
A reversal to revenue decline undermines operating leverage and puts pressure on margins and cash flow growth. If the top-line trend persists, it will make deleveraging harder, reduce reinvestment capacity, and lengthen the timeline for restoring prior profitability levels.

Carrefour (CA) vs. iShares MSCI France ETF (EWQ)

Carrefour Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCarrefour SA operates stores in various formats and channels in France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Brazil, Argentina, and Taiwan. The company operates hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, cash and carry stores, and hypercash stores; e-commerce sites; and service stations. Its stores offer fresh produce; local products; consumer goods; and non-food products, including electronic and household appliances, textiles, and childcare products. The company is also involved in banking, insurance, property development, and franchise activities; the provision of travel agency services; and the rental of shopping malls. As of December 31. 2021, it operated 253 hypermarkets, 1,043 supermarkets, 4,330 convenience stores, 147 cash and carry outlets, and 26 soft discount stores in France; 457 hypermarkets, 1,926 supermarkets, 3,430 convenience stores, 12 cash and carry outlets, and 81 soft discount stores in rest of Europe; 184 hypermarkets, 151 supermarkets, 558 convenience stores, 259 cash and carry outlets, and one soft discount store in Argentina and Brazil; and 70 hypermarkets, four supermarkets, and 274 convenience stores in Taiwan, as well as 688 stores through local franchisee partners in Middle East, Africa, etc. Carrefour SA was founded in 1959 and is based in Massy, France.
How the Company Makes MoneyCarrefour generates revenue primarily through the sale of consumer goods across its various store formats, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores. The company's revenue model is structured around high-volume sales of groceries and non-food items, complemented by private label products that often yield higher margins. Additional revenue streams include e-commerce sales, loyalty programs, and promotional partnerships with brands. Carrefour's strategic partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers also play a significant role in securing favorable pricing and promotional opportunities, enhancing profitability. Furthermore, the company has been investing in digital transformation, expanding its online shopping platform, which has become increasingly important for revenue generation, especially in the wake of changing consumer behaviors.

Carrefour Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are pressured: 2025 revenue declined (~5% vs. 2024) and net margin compressed to ~0.4% (vs. ~0.8% in 2024), while leverage rose meaningfully (debt-to-equity ~2.31 vs. ~1.47). Offsetting this, operating cash flow stayed positive (~€3.6B) and free cash flow remained solid (~€2.0B) despite declining versus 2023.
Income Statement
46
Neutral
Revenue has been broadly stable over time but turned down in 2025 (down ~5% vs. 2024), following modest growth in 2023–2024. Profitability is thin for the sector profile: operating profitability is steady but low, and net profit fell sharply in 2025 (net margin ~0.4% vs. ~0.8% in 2024 and ~2.0% in 2023), suggesting higher costs and/or weaker pricing mix. Strengths include resilient gross profitability over multiple years and relatively consistent operating performance; weaknesses are the very small net profit buffer and the recent earnings compression.
Balance Sheet
41
Neutral
Leverage increased meaningfully in 2025, with debt rising and debt-to-equity moving up to ~2.31 from ~1.47 in 2024, reducing financial flexibility. Equity is relatively stable, but returns to shareholders weakened materially as profits dropped (return on equity ~2.9% in 2025 vs. ~6.7% in 2024 and ~14.4% in 2023). The balance sheet benefits from a sizeable asset base and historically moderate leverage, but the latest step-up in debt and lower profitability raise balance-sheet risk.
Cash Flow
52
Neutral
Cash generation remains a relative bright spot: operating cash flow stayed positive in 2025 (~€3.6B) and free cash flow remained solid (~€2.0B), though free cash flow declined (down ~14% in 2025 after being roughly flat in 2024). Cash conversion is steady versus the company’s own history, and free cash flow continues to cover reported earnings at a similar pace across years. The key weakness is the downward trend in free cash flow since 2023, which—if it persists—could limit capacity for debt reduction or shareholder returns.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue84.03B87.27B84.91B83.09B71.76B
Gross Profit13.96B16.97B15.85B14.34B13.03B
EBITDA4.22B4.18B4.23B4.69B3.95B
Net Income319.00M723.00M1.66B1.35B1.07B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets55.21B57.36B56.17B56.55B47.67B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments6.42B6.89B6.68B5.43B3.82B
Total Debt25.34B15.89B20.09B19.23B15.87B
Total Liabilities43.55B44.88B42.78B43.37B35.84B
Stockholders Equity10.98B10.82B11.54B11.14B10.25B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.03B2.43B2.80B2.34B2.08B
Operating Cash Flow3.55B4.20B4.65B4.22B3.66B
Investing Cash Flow-1.16B-2.37B-739.00M-2.13B-1.33B
Financing Cash Flow-2.59B-1.08B-2.72B-326.00M-3.06B

Carrefour Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price15.31
Price Trends
50DMA
14.36
Positive
100DMA
13.74
Positive
200DMA
13.17
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.33
Negative
RSI
61.32
Neutral
STOCH
54.75
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FR:CA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 15.31 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 14.74, above the 50-day MA of 14.36, and above the 200-day MA of 13.17, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.33 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 61.32 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 54.75 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FR:CA.

Carrefour Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (55)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
70
Outperform
€1.05B46.681.54%3.47%17.97%-81.24%
56
Neutral
€10.65B31.353.14%6.51%4.39%-59.47%
55
Neutral
$6.65B3.83-15.92%6.20%10.91%7.18%
40
Underperform
€93.31M-0.17-46.40%
* General Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FR:CA
Carrefour
15.87
3.97
33.39%
FR:CO
Casino, Guichard Perrachon
0.24
-0.48
-67.22%
FR:FNAC
Fnac Darty SA
35.35
5.76
19.48%
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: Feb 21, 2026