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Kraft Heinz (KHC)
NASDAQ:KHC

Kraft Heinz (KHC) AI Stock Analysis

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KHC

Kraft Heinz

(NASDAQ:KHC)

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Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$25.00
▲(2.46% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by severe 2025 financial deterioration (losses and revenue breakdown), partially offset by strong cash generation and a still-reasonable balance-sheet backdrop. Technicals are modestly constructive short-term, valuation benefits from a high dividend yield but is impaired by a negative P/E, and the earnings call adds cautious support due to a defined reinvestment plan tempered by execution and SNAP headwinds.
Positive Factors
Iconic brand portfolio
A long-standing, diversified portfolio of household food brands provides durable consumer recognition, shelf presence and distribution scale. These assets support pricing power, retailer shelf space and cross-category promotions, making revenue recovery and margin stabilization more achievable over time.
Strong free cash flow generation
Consistent free cash flow, including material improvement in 2024–2025, underpins Kraft Heinz’s ability to self-fund reinvestment, shrink net leverage and maintain capital allocation flexibility. Robust cash generation cushions balance-sheet stress and supports long-term execution of turnaround plans.
Targeted $600M reinvestment and market-share gains
A defined $600M spending plan focused on price, product and packaging, plus commercial hires and clear phasing, creates a credible pathway to restore competitiveness. Early share gains in core 'Taste Elevation' SKUs and double-digit emerging-market growth suggest the reinvestment could sustainably reaccelerate organic growth if executed well.
Negative Factors
Severe 2025 profitability shock
A sharp swing to a large net loss and negative EBITDA in 2025 signals deep operational and top-line stress, eroding earnings durability. If structural demand or margin pressures persist, it can impair reinvestment effectiveness, strain credit metrics and slow recovery to sustainable profitability over the medium term.
Strategic and execution uncertainty
Pausing the separation creates open-ended strategic uncertainty and prolongs organizational focus questions. Combined with admitted commercial capability gaps and planned hiring, this increases execution risk and timeline variability for the turnaround, potentially delaying durable improvements in growth and margins.
SNAP exposure drives structural revenue headwind
Above-industry SNAP dependence creates a persistent downside risk as benefit reductions reduce low-income purchasing power. A ~100bp expected headwind is structural for categories serving SNAP households, pressuring volumes and making top-line recovery more challenging without sustained pricing, promotion, or product mix shifts.

Kraft Heinz (KHC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Kraft Heinz Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionThe Kraft Heinz Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets food and beverage products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy products, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products. The company also offers dressings, healthy snacks, and other categories; and spices and other seasonings. It sells its products through its own sales organizations, as well as through independent brokers, agents, and distributors to chain, wholesale, cooperative and independent grocery accounts, convenience stores, drug stores, value stores, bakeries, pharmacies, mass merchants, club stores, and foodservice distributors and institutions, including hotels, restaurants, hospitals, health care facilities, and government agencies; and online through various e-commerce platforms and retailers. The company was formerly known as H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation and changed its name to The Kraft Heinz Company in July 2015. The Kraft Heinz Company was founded in 1869 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
How the Company Makes MoneyKraft Heinz generates revenue primarily through the sale of its food and beverage products across retail, food service, and e-commerce channels. The company operates on a revenue model that consists of multiple key streams, including direct sales to grocery stores, supermarkets, club stores, and wholesalers, as well as partnerships with restaurant chains and food distributors. Additionally, Kraft Heinz capitalizes on brand licensing and co-branding agreements to expand its market reach. The company's significant investments in marketing and product innovation, along with its growing focus on health-conscious and sustainable offerings, contribute to its earnings. The company also benefits from economies of scale due to its large size and global distribution network, allowing it to maintain competitive pricing and enhance profitability.

Kraft Heinz Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Type
Revenue by Type
Shows the breakdown of revenue by different types, such as organic versus acquired, highlighting the company's growth strategy and reliance on various revenue streams.
Chart InsightsAccelerate remains the largest bucket but has drifted lower since 2023, Balance shows a clearer, persistent decline, and Protect has stabilized and begun recovering in 2025. Management’s $600M reinvestment—ramping in Q2 with commercial hires in Q3–Q4 and heavy spend on price/product/packaging—should help arrest Balance’s slide and boost Accelerate in H2, but prior mixed pricing results, the ~100bp SNAP headwind, and hiring lag create near-term execution risk even as strong emerging-market growth provides partial offset.
Data provided by:The Fly

Kraft Heinz Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 11, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Management unveiled a decisive action plan—a $600M reinvestment and a shift of focus to organic growth—with clear near-term timing (ramp in Q2, results in back half) and highlighted tangible market-share improvements in key portfolios and strong emerging-market performance. However, the pause of the separation creates strategic uncertainty, SNAP reductions impose a ~100bp headwind, prior price steps had mixed success, and a minority of the portfolio remains challenged. The call balances tangible operational steps and positive initial traction against meaningful execution and macro headwinds.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Incremental $600M Investment to Restore Brand Competitiveness
Company announced a $600 million incremental investment (~5.5% of top line) to rebuild brand, commercial and product capabilities; roughly half of the investment targeted at price, product and packaging to improve shelf presence and opening price points.
Market Share Momentum in Key Portfolios
In the last 13 weeks the company flipped to market share growth in its base elevation business (sauces and cream cheese); 70% of revenue in the data elevation portfolio is now gaining market share and the total U.S. portfolio market share has returned to levels seen three years ago.
Clear Phasing and Timing for Investment Impact
Spend expected to ramp in Q2 with meaningful results anticipated in the back half of the year; hiring to bolster commercial capabilities (sales & marketing) planned primarily in Q3/Q4 to support execution and ecommerce/store presence improvements.
Emerging Markets and Canada Driving Growth
Emerging markets (excluding Indonesia) grew close to double digits in 2025 with volume growth; Canadian business continues multi-year growth, representing bright spots to accelerate with the new investment.
Product and Innovation Opportunities Identified
Management highlighted brands that respond to investment (Heinz, Philadelphia cream cheese, mac & cheese) and called out an upcoming mac & cheese innovation (17g protein 'super mac') as examples of prioritized, investable growth drivers.
Capital Allocation Discipline Maintained
Priorities reaffirmed: deploy excess cash into the business first and maintain target net leverage of ~3x; company plans to use excess cash to pay down debt under the current guidance rather than prioritize buybacks.
Negative Updates
Pause of Planned Separation (Spin) and Uncertain Timeline
Management paused the previously planned separation to prioritize turning the business around; pause is open-ended with no definitive re-evaluation date, creating longer-term strategic uncertainty for investors.
SNAP Funding Reduction Headwind
Company over-indexes to SNAP exposure (≈13% of U.S. retail vs industry ≈11%) and expects roughly a 100 basis point headwind to results from recent SNAP funding reductions; this impact is incorporated in guidance.
Prior Price Investments Had Mixed Results
Management acknowledged that the step-up in price investments in 2025 did not entirely work as anticipated and produced lessons learned, implying execution and pricing strategy risk as they redeploy capital.
Portion of Portfolio Remains Challenged
Management conceded that not all brands will grow and suggested roughly a sizable minority of the portfolio (~up to ~20%) is more challenged/antiquated and will require portfolio management and optimization.
Operational Capability Gaps and Hiring Need
Company described itself as 'very lean' in commercial organization and plans to hire sales and marketing personnel; rebuilding capabilities will take time and may delay the full impact of investments.
Geographic Underperformance: Indonesia
Emerging markets were strong overall in 2025, but Indonesia was called out as an exception, indicating pockets of regional underperformance that management will need to address.
Company Guidance
Management guided to a $600 million incremental reinvestment (about 5.5% of sales) that will begin ramping in Q2 with meaningful results targeted in H2; roughly half (~$300 million) is earmarked for price, product and packaging (targeting ~40% of categories for opening-price strategies), with commercial hires and capability spend concentrated in Q3–Q4. They assumed a ~100 basis-point SNAP headwind in the outlook (Kraft Heinz’s SNAP exposure ≈13% of U.S. retail vs. 11% industry), noted that 70% of revenue in their “taste elevation” portfolio is now gaining share and that the last 13-week and recent 4-week reads show market‑share improvement for brands like Heinz and Philadelphia, said emerging markets (ex‑Indonesia) grew close to double digits in 2025, and reaffirmed capital priorities to deploy excess cash to the business and pay down debt toward a ~3x net leverage target while aiming to exit 2026 with improved trends and return to organic growth by 2027.

Kraft Heinz Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Results are dominated by a sharp 2025 deterioration: the income statement shows a swing to a large net loss and EBITDA turning negative alongside a major revenue drop. Offsetting factors are a reasonably supported balance sheet (manageable leverage historically) and resilient/free-cash-flow generation, but the earnings collapse elevates near-term risk.
Income Statement
34
Negative
Profitability deteriorated sharply in the latest annual period, swinging from positive earnings in 2024 to a large net loss in 2025, with EBITDA also turning negative. Revenue has been drifting down for several years and then collapsed in 2025, indicating meaningful top-line pressure and/or significant disruption. A positive is that gross margin has been relatively stable around the low-to-mid 30% range historically, but the recent earnings collapse overwhelms that stability and raises near-term execution risk.
Balance Sheet
56
Neutral
Leverage looks manageable on an annual basis with debt-to-equity around ~0.40 in 2022–2024, supported by a sizable equity base. Total debt has been relatively stable to slightly down over the period, which is constructive. The key weakness is the 2025 profitability shock, which can pressure equity and future credit metrics if it persists, even if the current balance sheet snapshot still appears reasonably supported by assets and equity.
Cash Flow
63
Positive
Cash generation remains a relative bright spot: operating cash flow and free cash flow are solid and free cash flow improved in 2024 and again materially in 2025. Free cash flow has also been strong relative to net income in profitable years, suggesting earnings have generally been backed by cash. The main concern is the mismatch in 2025—strong cash flow alongside a very large reported loss—implying elevated non-cash charges and/or working-capital volatility, which can make cash flow less predictable if conditions worsen.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue24.94B25.85B26.64B26.48B26.04B
Gross Profit8.31B8.97B8.93B8.12B8.68B
EBITDA-3.53B2.72B5.51B4.82B4.67B
Net Income-5.85B2.74B2.85B2.36B1.01B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets81.79B88.29B90.34B90.51B93.39B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.67B1.33B1.40B1.04B3.44B
Total Debt19.31B19.87B20.03B20.07B21.82B
Total Liabilities40.00B38.96B40.62B41.64B43.94B
Stockholders Equity41.66B49.19B49.53B48.68B49.30B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.66B3.16B2.96B1.55B4.46B
Operating Cash Flow4.46B4.18B3.98B2.47B5.36B
Investing Cash Flow-1.83B-1.02B-916.00M-1.09B4.04B
Financing Cash Flow-1.25B-3.01B-2.68B-3.71B-9.34B

Kraft Heinz Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price24.40
Price Trends
50DMA
24.00
Positive
100DMA
24.38
Positive
200DMA
25.31
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.12
Positive
RSI
53.32
Neutral
STOCH
38.26
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For KHC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 24.4 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.06, above the 50-day MA of 24.00, and below the 200-day MA of 25.31, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.12 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 53.32 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.26 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for KHC.

Kraft Heinz Risk Analysis

Kraft Heinz disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Kraft Heinz reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Kraft Heinz Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$24.20B9.8027.29%5.19%-5.65%0.41%
68
Neutral
$13.47B28.186.02%4.82%1.55%-40.81%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
60
Neutral
$8.21B14.2414.82%5.64%2.71%4.90%
58
Neutral
$8.99B-90.82-1.16%7.87%-5.82%-119.70%
58
Neutral
$11.49B-17.44%4.45%-0.66%-326.55%
54
Neutral
$28.35B-4.86-12.87%6.75%-3.70%-431.05%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
KHC
Kraft Heinz
24.40
-5.19
-17.54%
CPB
Campbell Soup
26.83
-12.51
-31.79%
CAG
Conagra Brands
18.47
-5.54
-23.08%
GIS
General Mills
44.62
-13.80
-23.62%
HRL
Hormel Foods
24.99
-2.98
-10.64%
SJM
JM Smucker
110.38
3.72
3.49%

Kraft Heinz Corporate Events

Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Kraft Heinz Registers Potential Berkshire Hathaway Share Resale
Neutral
Jan 20, 2026

On January 20, 2026, Kraft Heinz filed a resale prospectus supplement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to register the potential resale by major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc. of up to 325,442,152 existing shares of Kraft Heinz common stock under an existing registration rights agreement. The move is an administrative step that does not involve Kraft Heinz issuing new securities or receiving any proceeds, nor does it indicate that Berkshire Hathaway will in fact sell any shares, and the company concurrently provided a legal opinion on the validity of the registered shares, underscoring that any future transactions would be shareholder-driven rather than capital-raising for the company.

The most recent analyst rating on (KHC) stock is a Hold with a $23.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kraft Heinz stock, see the KHC Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Kraft Heinz Appoints Steve Cahillane as New CEO
Neutral
Dec 16, 2025

On December 16, 2025, Kraft Heinz announced the appointment of Steve Cahillane as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026, following the planned separation of the company into two independent entities. Cahillane, with a robust background in leading major companies like Kellanova and The Nature’s Bounty Co., will guide Kraft Heinz through this transition, aiming to enhance its competitive edge and operational focus. Concurrently, Carlos Abrams-Rivera will step down as CEO but remain as an advisor until March 6, 2026, while John T. Cahill will succeed Miguel Patricio as Board Chair. The separation is expected to maximize the company’s capabilities and is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (KHC) stock is a Hold with a $27.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Kraft Heinz stock, see the KHC Stock Forecast page.

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 12, 2026