McCormick & Company Inc (MKC)
NYSE:MKC
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McCormick & Company
(NYSE:MKC)
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Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:
$53.00
â–¼(-2.45% Downside)
Action:Upgraded
Date:05/27/26
MKC’s score is driven by solid underlying profitability and improved leverage, plus very attractive valuation metrics (low P/E and strong dividend yield). Offsetting these positives are weaker technicals (downtrend vs key moving averages with negative MACD) and near-term fundamental risks around earnings quality/cash conversion, alongside integration and leverage execution risk tied to the Unilever Foods combination.
Positive Factors
High operating profitability
Sustained gross and EBIT margins near 38% and 12% reflect durable pricing power, strong brand mix and manufacturing scale across consumer and B2B channels. These margins provide structural cash flow potential to fund innovation and integration, underpinning long‑term earnings resilience.
Negative Factors
Weak cash conversion
Reported operating cash flow trails net income materially, indicating earnings are not fully converting to cash this period. Persistent weak conversion limits internal funding for capex, acquisitions, or rapid debt paydown and raises scrutiny on the quality and sustainability of recent net income.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
High operating profitability
Sustained gross and EBIT margins near 38% and 12% reflect durable pricing power, strong brand mix and manufacturing scale across consumer and B2B channels. These margins provide structural cash flow potential to fund innovation and integration, underpinning long‑term earnings resilience.
Read all positive factors
McCormick & Company Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Any
Net Sales by Geography
Reveals revenue distribution across various regions, indicating where the company is thriving and where it might face challenges or opportunities due to regional market dynamics.
Reveals revenue distribution across various regions, indicating where the company is thriving and where it might face challenges or opportunities due to regional market dynamics.
Data provided by:
The Fly
The FlyMcCormick & Company (MKC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$13.15B
Dividend Yield2.61%
Average Volume (3M)3.76M
Price to Earnings (P/E)8.0
Beta (1Y)0.26
Revenue Growth5.68%
EPS Growth109.20%
CountryUS
Employees14,100
SectorConsumer Defensive
Sector Strength42
IndustryPackaged Foods
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)6.11
Shares Outstanding253,943,130
10 Day Avg. Volume4,136,996
30 Day Avg. Volume3,757,266
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.00
Price to Book (P/B)3.11
Price to Sales (P/S)2.61
P/FCF Ratio24.09
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.33
Enterprise Value/Revenue2.46
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit6.48
Enterprise Value/Ebitda13.61
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$61.44Price Target Upside13.09% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering10
EPS Forecast (FY)3.09
Revenue Forecast (FY)$7.89B
McCormick & Company Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of a wide array of flavorful products, including spices, seasoning mixes, and condiments, to the food industry. Its operations are divided into tw...
How the Company Makes Money
McCormick makes money primarily by selling flavor products through two main revenue streams. (1) Consumer segment: The company sells branded spices, herbs, seasonings, recipe mixes, and condiments to retailers (e.g., grocery, mass merchandise, clu...
McCormick & Company Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Mar 31, 2026
(Q1-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 25, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presents a largely positive strategic and financial case for the McCormick–Unilever Foods combination: clear scale benefits, quantified cost synergies ($600M), reinvestment plans ($100M), a pro forma $20B revenue base and margin expansion targets (21% baseline to ~23%–25% by year 3). Management emphasized detailed integration planning and brand/innovation advantages across channels and geographies. Key risks include integration complexity at an unprecedented scale for McCormick, near‑term elevated leverage (~4x at close), regulatory/separation timing and the absence of a specific EPS accretion figure today. Overall, the positive strategic rationale, quantified synergies and growth targets outweigh the highlighted risks.Positive Updates
Strategic combination creates a global flavor leader
McCormick announced a planned combination with Unilever Foods to create a scaled, flavor-focused company combining iconic global and regional brands (McCormick, Knorr, Hellmann's, French's, Frank's RedHot, Cholula, MAI) and complementary capabilities across consumer and food‑service channels.
Negative Updates
Integration complexity and execution risk
Deal is materially larger than McCormick's prior acquisitions; management acknowledged regulatory filings, the need for Unilever to separate its Foods business and a multi‑year integration execution (planning >1 year pre-close) — creating elevated integration and execution risk given scale.
Read all updates
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Strategic combination creates a global flavor leader
McCormick announced a planned combination with Unilever Foods to create a scaled, flavor-focused company combining iconic global and regional brands (McCormick, Knorr, Hellmann's, French's, Frank's RedHot, Cholula, MAI) and complementary capabilities across consumer and food‑service channels.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Management gave detailed deal and financial guidance: the Reverse Morris Trust will leave pro forma ownership at ~65% Unilever / ~35% McCormick with $15.7 billion cash to Unilever, implying an EV of ~ $44.8B for Unilever Foods and ~ $21B for McCormick (≈13.8x CY‑2025 EBITDA on a 1‑month VWAP); pro forma 2025 net sales are ~$20B with pro forma operating margin ~21% (Food Service pro forma sales ~ $6B). They expect to reinvest roughly $100M of incremental synergies into brands, realize ~$600M of annual run‑rate cost synergies (≈8% of McCormick’s 2025 pro‑forma sales, ~2/3 captured by end of year 2 and fully by year 3), target sustainable organic sales growth of 3%–5% and operating margins of ~23%–25% by year 3, see the transaction as accretive to sales growth, adjusted operating margin and adjusted EPS in the first full year, expect net leverage ≤4x at close and reduction to ~3x within two years, and plan to maintain a dividend policy consistent with the historical ~60% payout.McCormick & Company Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
76
Positive
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
| Breakdown | TTM | Nov 2025 | Nov 2024 | Nov 2023 | Nov 2022 | Nov 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 7.11B | 6.84B | 6.72B | 6.66B | 6.35B | 6.32B |
| Gross Profit | 2.70B | 2.59B | 2.59B | 2.50B | 2.27B | 2.49B |
| EBITDA | 1.28B | 1.34B | 1.32B | 1.21B | 1.16B | 1.22B |
| Net Income | 1.64B | 789.40M | 788.50M | 680.60M | 682.00M | 755.30M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 16.35B | 13.20B | 13.07B | 12.86B | 13.12B | 12.91B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 177.70M | 95.90M | 186.10M | 166.60M | 334.00M | 351.70M |
| Total Debt | 4.91B | 4.00B | 4.51B | 4.59B | 5.33B | 5.39B |
| Total Liabilities | 8.79B | 7.43B | 7.75B | 7.78B | 8.43B | 8.48B |
| Stockholders Equity | 6.98B | 5.74B | 5.29B | 5.06B | 4.68B | 4.41B |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | 818.50M | 740.40M | 647.00M | 973.40M | 389.50M | 550.30M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 897.60M | 962.20M | 921.90M | 1.24B | 651.50M | 828.30M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -980.50M | -255.20M | -269.00M | -260.50M | -146.40M | -908.60M |
| Financing Cash Flow | 96.00M | -840.90M | -583.10M | -1.18B | -487.20M | 22.00M |
McCormick & Company Technical Analysis
Neutral
54.33
Price Trends
49.15
Negative
55.58
Negative
60.64
Negative
Market Momentum
-0.10
Negative
54.59
Neutral
81.47
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MKC, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 54.33 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 47.37, above the 50-day MA of 49.15, and below the 200-day MA of 60.64, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.10 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 54.59 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 81.47 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for MKC.
McCormick & Company Risk Analysis
McCormick & Company disclosed 41 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. McCormick & Company 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
McCormick & Company Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
71 Outperform | $13.15B | 8.01 | 27.31% | 2.61% | 5.68% | 109.20% | |
62 Neutral | $20.33B | 14.63 | -3.31% | 3.23% | 1.93% | -12.26% | |
62 Neutral | $6.80B | 11.18 | 13.98% | 5.64% | -2.90% | 33.92% | |
62 Neutral | $18.42B | 8.44 | 23.70% | 5.19% | -6.48% | -10.99% | |
62 Neutral | $13.62B | 29.19 | 5.86% | 4.82% | 2.47% | -37.67% | |
62 Neutral | $12.43B | -89.61 | -21.55% | 4.45% | 3.72% | 88.76% | |
56 Neutral | $6.57B | -151.97 | -0.51% | 7.87% | -4.73% | -112.96% |
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
MKC
McCormick & Company
48.95
-22.82
-31.80%
CPB
Campbell Soup
22.81
-7.66
-25.14%
CAG
Conagra Brands
13.74
-6.14
-30.88%
GIS
General Mills
34.51
-16.15
-31.87%
HRL
Hormel Foods
24.75
-4.09
-14.18%
SJM
JM Smucker
116.49
24.96
27.26%
McCormick & Company Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
McCormick Appoints Cindy Hoots to Board of Directors
Positive
May 26, 2026
On May 19, 2026, McCormick’s board appointed Cindy Hoots, former Chief Digital Officer and CIO of AstraZeneca and current Zoom Communications director, to its Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2026. The company announced the move publicl...
Business Operations and StrategyM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
McCormick Secures $2 Billion Term Loan for Unilever Merger
Positive
May 1, 2026
On April 28, 2026, McCormick Company entered into a $2.0 billion term loan agreement with a syndicate of lenders led by Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, to help finance its pending merger with Unilever PLC’s foods business under a M...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesM&A Transactions
McCormick Names Chief Integration Officer for Unilever Deal
Positive
Apr 17, 2026
On April 15, 2026, McCormick Company appointed Andrew Foust, currently President Americas, as Chief Integration Officer to lead the integration of its recently announced combination with Unilever PLC’s foods business, while he remains an ex...
Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
McCormick Shareholders Back Board, Auditor and Executive Pay
Positive
Apr 3, 2026
On April 1, 2026, McCormick Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, during which shareholders elected eleven directors to the board to serve until the next annual meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Stockhol...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesM&A TransactionsPrivate Placements and Financing
McCormick to Acquire Unilever Foods in Major Deal
Positive
Apr 1, 2026
On March 31, 2026, McCormick Company signed a series of definitive agreements with Unilever to acquire Unilever’s foods business via a complex Reverse Morris Trust structure. Unilever will first separate its foods arm into SpinCo, transfer ...
Private Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
McCormick Updates Investor Services Plan for Stock Offering
Positive
Mar 26, 2026
McCormick Company, Incorporated has filed a legal opinion and consent from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP concerning the validity of its common stock and non-voting common stock shares to be offered under its amended Investor Services ...
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.