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Post Holdings Inc (POST)
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Post Holdings (POST) AI Stock Analysis

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POST

Post Holdings

(NYSE:POST)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$122.00
▲(12.18% Upside)
Post Holdings demonstrates strong financial performance and strategic growth through acquisitions, contributing to a solid overall score. However, high leverage and mixed technical indicators present potential risks. The company's valuation is reasonable, and recent corporate events are favorable, supporting future growth prospects.
Positive Factors
Guidance and Performance
The strong first quarter performance and guidance raise should support an outperformance for the shares.
Profitability Strategy
Management focuses on profitability over topline growth, especially in retail, while it could also benefit from incremental avian-flu driven pricing and value-add foodservice products.
Share Buyback
Post repurchased 1.6m shares in the quarter for $181.1 million and repurchased an additional 1m shares for $106.9 million subsequent to the quarter.
Negative Factors
Cost Pressures
POST expects to incur an incremental $30-$50mm in avian-flu related cost pressures in FQ2.
Sales Performance
Consumer Brands Sales Softer; Margin Upside: Net sales -2.5% with organic sales -6% (volume -8.8%).
Volume Pressures
Volume softer on Pet, Weetabix, and cheese/egg distribution loss.

Post Holdings (POST) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Post Holdings Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPost Holdings, Inc. operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, Refrigerated Retail, and BellRing Brands. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal and hot cereal products. It serves grocery stores, mass merchandise customers, supercenters, club stores, natural/specialty stores, and drug store customers, as well as sells its products in the military, ecommerce, and foodservice channels. The Weetabix segment primarily markets and distributes branded and private label RTE cereal, hot cereals and other cereal-based food products, breakfast drinks, and muesli. This segment sells its products to grocery stores, discounters, wholesalers, and convenience stores, as well as through ecommerce. The Foodservice segment produces and distributes egg and potato products in the foodservice and food ingredient channels. It serves foodservice distributors and national restaurant chains. The Refrigerated Retail segment produces and distributes side dishes, eggs and egg products, sausages, cheese, and other dairy and refrigerated products for grocery stores and mass merchandise customers. The BellRing Brands segment markets and distributes ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and supplements. It serves club stores, food, drug and mass customers, and online retailers, as well as specialty retailers, convenience stores, and distributors. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.
How the Company Makes MoneyPost Holdings generates revenue through multiple key streams primarily focused on the sale of branded and private label food products. Its revenue model is built around the production and distribution of breakfast cereals, snacks, and nutritional products, which are sold through various channels including grocery stores, mass retailers, and food service establishments. The company benefits from established brand loyalty and market presence, allowing it to maintain competitive pricing and drive sales. Additionally, strategic partnerships and acquisitions, such as the integration of brands like Bob's Red Mill and the acquisition of various snack and nutrition brands, enhance its product offerings and expand its market reach, contributing significantly to its earnings. The company also leverages economies of scale and efficient supply chain management to optimize profitability.

Post Holdings Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 07, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: 5.69%|
Next Earnings Date:Nov 13, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong adjusted EBITDA performance, successful acquisition and integration efforts, aggressive share buybacks, and tax benefits. However, it also noted significant challenges in the Post Consumer Brands segment, particularly in cereal and pet volumes, as well as the impact of cost pressures from tariffs and regulatory changes. The company is taking steps to address these issues, but the short-term outlook remains mixed.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Q3 Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA approached $400 million despite a challenging macro environment, driven by significant improvement in cold chain businesses.
Successful Acquisition of 8th Avenue
The acquisition of 8th Avenue was finalized on July 1, 2025, bringing the business back into the Post portfolio with clear synergies in nut butter and granola.
Aggressive Share Buybacks
Post Holdings repurchased 8% of the company fiscal year-to-date, demonstrating strong capital allocation strategy.
Substantial Tax Law Benefits
Recent tax law changes are projected to reduce cash taxes paid by $300 million over the next 5 years due to bonus depreciation and interest deductibility changes.
Growth in Weetabix and UFIT
Weetabix flagship product grew 2.4% in a declining category, and UFIT volumes increased by 31% year-over-year.
Negative Updates
Decline in Post Consumer Brands Net Sales
Net sales decreased by 9% due to lower volumes in both Grocery and Pet segments, with cereal volumes down 6% and pet volumes down 13%.
Challenges in Pet Segment
Pet volume consumption was down 3.7% year-over-year, with issues in Gravy Train price elasticities and Nutrish relaunch causing larger-than-expected volume declines.
Cereal Category Volume Challenges
Cereal category volumes were down 4.1% year-over-year, with Post's branded portfolio declining by 4.9%.
Loss of Private Label Business in Pet
Post lost some private label business in Pet, which they expect to replace by early FY '26, contributing to the current volume challenges.
Continued Cost Pressures
Tariffs and regulatory changes to food ingredients are increasing costs and creating uncertainty.
Company Guidance
During the Post Holdings Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, the company provided guidance indicating strong performance despite challenging conditions. Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 approached $400 million, with net sales reaching $2 billion, a 2% increase driven by cold chain business growth and Avian Influenza-related pricing adjustments. The company highlighted a strategic acquisition of 8th Avenue, contributing to their diversified portfolio, and noted that they have repurchased 8% of their shares fiscal year-to-date. Looking ahead, Post Holdings anticipates a reduction in cash taxes by an estimated $300 million over the next five years due to tax law changes. They also provided a preliminary view of their Foodservice segment's normalized quarterly adjusted EBITDA run rate at approximately $115 million, expecting continued growth. The company remains focused on cost optimization and strategic investments, with an increased adjusted EBITDA guidance range of $1.5 billion to $1.52 billion for the fiscal year.

Post Holdings Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Post Holdings maintains a stable financial position with strengths in operational efficiency and cash flow management. While the income statement reflects solid profitability, modest revenue growth suggests a need for strategic growth initiatives. The balance sheet shows moderate leverage, which requires careful management to mitigate financial risk. Strong cash flow performance supports the company's operational and strategic flexibility.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Post Holdings shows a stable financial performance with a strong gross profit margin of 29.1% and a net profit margin of 4.5% for TTM. Revenue growth is modest at -0.5% compared to the previous annual period, indicating the need for growth initiatives. The EBIT margin stands at 10.0% and EBITDA margin at 14.8%, reflecting solid operational efficiency. However, the slight decline in revenue suggests a need for market expansion or product innovation.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The company's financial stability is moderate, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81, indicating a reliance on debt. The return on equity (ROE) is 9.3%, showing a decent return for shareholders, while the equity ratio is 29.9%, suggesting moderate leverage. While the equity ratio provides some buffer against financial risk, the high debt levels could pose a risk if not managed properly.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Post Holdings demonstrates strong cash flow management with a free cash flow growth rate of 45.1% and a robust operating cash flow to net income ratio of 2.74 for TTM. This indicates efficient cash generation and the ability to fund operations and investments. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 2.04, reflecting effective capital expenditure management and strong cash profitability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue7.92B7.92B6.99B5.85B4.98B4.71B
Gross Profit2.31B2.30B1.88B1.47B1.43B1.45B
EBITDA1.31B1.27B1.10B830.10M913.10M633.00M
Net Income366.10M366.70M301.30M756.60M166.70M800.00K
Balance Sheet
Total Assets13.37B12.85B11.65B11.31B12.41B12.15B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.06B787.40M103.90M681.30M664.50M1.19B
Total Debt7.35B7.06B6.23B6.10B6.57B7.15B
Total Liabilities9.36B8.75B7.80B7.74B9.36B9.32B
Stockholders Equity4.00B4.09B3.84B3.25B2.74B2.85B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow563.70M502.20M447.30M128.90M395.70M391.00M
Operating Cash Flow932.40M931.70M750.30M384.20M588.20M625.60M
Investing Cash Flow-612.60M-677.50M-669.30M-220.20M-793.60M-218.50M
Financing Cash Flow396.20M415.60M-555.70M-237.20M-167.50M-272.00M

Post Holdings Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price108.75
Price Trends
50DMA
108.31
Positive
100DMA
110.52
Negative
200DMA
111.32
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.21
Negative
RSI
56.36
Neutral
STOCH
81.85
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For POST, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 108.75 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 106.47, above the 50-day MA of 108.31, and below the 200-day MA of 111.32, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.21 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.36 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 81.85 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for POST.

Post Holdings Risk Analysis

Post Holdings disclosed 33 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Post Holdings 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

Post Holdings Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$5.95B8.4523.47%2.48%3.82%
75
Outperform
$5.81B18.589.23%0.80%10.43%
75
Outperform
$8.14B12.3817.11%2.50%-5.16%4.95%
69
Neutral
$7.38B21.1620.26%2.68%-0.25%-49.73%
63
Neutral
$20.98B14.59-8.07%3.13%2.83%-9.85%
61
Neutral
$4.92B49.132.32%-6.25%-71.35%
58
Neutral
$4.88B22.60-190.65%16.27%5.13%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
POST
Post Holdings
108.75
-4.90
-4.31%
BRFS
BRF SA
3.42
-0.89
-20.65%
DAR
Darling Ingredients
30.94
-9.98
-24.39%
INGR
Ingredion
126.39
-1.34
-1.05%
LW
Lamb Weston Holdings
54.83
-4.79
-8.03%
BRBR
BellRing Brands
38.00
-17.15
-31.10%

Post Holdings Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesFinancial Disclosures
Post Holdings Announces Leadership Change with New COO
Neutral
Aug 7, 2025

On August 5, 2025, Post Holdings announced the retirement of Jeff A. Zadoks from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 2, 2026, with Nicolas Catoggio set to succeed him. Catoggio, who has been with Post Consumer Brands since 2021, brings over two decades of experience in the consumer goods industry, including significant roles at Boston Consulting Group and Unilever. In its third fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2025, Post Holdings reported net sales of $2.0 billion and an operating profit of $234.6 million, with a notable increase in Adjusted EBITDA. The company also raised its fiscal year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA outlook, reflecting strong performance in segments like Foodservice and Refrigerated Retail, despite challenges in Post Consumer Brands and Weetabix.

The most recent analyst rating on (POST) stock is a Buy with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Post Holdings stock, see the POST Stock Forecast page.

M&A Transactions
Post Holdings Completes Acquisition of 8th Avenue
Positive
Jul 1, 2025

On July 1, 2025, Post Holdings, Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition of 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc. This acquisition is expected to enhance Post Holdings’ market position in the consumer packaged goods sector, particularly in the foodservice and retail channels, by expanding its portfolio with additional food products.

The most recent analyst rating on (POST) stock is a Buy with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Post Holdings stock, see the POST Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Post Holdings to Acquire Remaining 8th Avenue Equity
Positive
Jun 9, 2025

On June 3, 2025, Post Holdings, Inc. entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire the remaining equity interests in its subsidiary, 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, Inc., that it does not already own. The acquisition, valued at approximately $880 million, includes the retirement of 8th Avenue’s outstanding debt and finance leases. The closing of the acquisition is expected on July 1, 2025, and will result in the termination of certain agreements with THL Equity Fund VIII Investors. This move is anticipated to streamline Post’s operations and potentially enhance its market positioning by fully integrating 8th Avenue into its corporate structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (POST) stock is a Buy with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Post Holdings stock, see the POST Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Post Holdings to Acquire 8th Avenue for $880 Million
Positive
Jun 3, 2025

On June 3, 2025, Post Holdings announced its agreement to acquire 8th Avenue Food & Provisions for approximately $880 million, with the transaction expected to close on July 1, 2025. This acquisition is anticipated to enhance Post’s portfolio diversification, internalize manufacturing for its Peter Pan® peanut butter, and expand into the dry pasta and granola categories. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Post’s free cash flow and modestly increase its leverage ratio. Post updated its fiscal year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA outlook to $1,460-$1,500 million, reflecting the expected contributions from 8th Avenue.

The most recent analyst rating on (POST) stock is a Buy with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Post Holdings stock, see the POST 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: Aug 14, 2025