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JM Smucker (SJM)
NYSE:SJM

JM Smucker (SJM) AI Stock Analysis

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SJM

JM Smucker

(NYSE:SJM)

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Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
,
Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$107.00
â–²(5.52% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/27/26
SJM’s score is held back primarily by the sharp swing to large TTM losses and higher leverage, despite solid and improving free cash flow. Technicals are supportive (price above key moving averages with positive MACD), and the dividend yield adds appeal, but valuation remains constrained by negative earnings. The latest earnings call was mixed—maintained guidance and strength in coffee/Uncrustables are positives, while Sweet Baked Snacks disruption and outlook reset remain the key overhang.
Positive Factors
Cash generation
Sustained, sizable free cash flow provides a durable buffer versus earnings volatility. Positive FCF supports debt service, targeted deleveraging, reinvestment in brands and supply chain, and funding for productivity programs without relying on external capital over the next several quarters.
Brand & category momentum
Clear growth in Uncrustables and distribution gains reflect durable brand equity and widening retail/away‑from‑home penetration. Such structural household additions and channel expansion underpin steady revenue potential and margin leverage as scale and mix improve over multiple quarters.
Governance & capital allocation progress
Active investor engagement and fresh board talent signal stronger financial oversight and discipline. A clearer capital-allocation framework and the stated path to <=3.0x leverage increase the likelihood of prioritized deleveraging, disciplined reinvestment, and shareholder-friendly actions over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Earnings deterioration
A recent swing to large trailing losses materially weakens profitability metrics and returns. Persistent negative operating income compresses internal capital availability, reduces margin resilience, and necessitates sustained operational fixes before historical returns and ROE normalize across reporting periods.
Elevated leverage
Higher leverage reduces financial flexibility and increases interest/execution risk while the company repairs profitability. Until net leverage meaningfully declines, investment choices, M&A optionality and large share‑repurchase programs remain constrained and financial stress from shocks is amplified.
Sweet Baked Snacks disruption
Operational disruptions and elevated bakery costs have produced durable top-line and margin setbacks in the acquired Hostess portfolio. Added trademark amortization and reset to lower long‑term growth raise the structural revenue and profitability hurdle, extending the timeline to full recovery.

JM Smucker (SJM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

JM Smucker Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionThe J. M. Smucker Company manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products worldwide. It operates in three segments: U.S. Retail Pet Foods, U.S. Retail Coffee, and U.S. Retail Consumer Foods. The company offers mainstream roast, ground, single serve, and premium coffee; peanut butter and specialty spreads; fruit spreads, shortening and oils, and frozen sandwiches and snacks; pet food and pet snacks; and foodservice hot beverage, foodservice portion control, and flour products, as well as dog and cat food, frozen handheld products, juices and beverages, and baking mixes and ingredients. It provides its products under the Meow Mix, 9Lives, Kibbles 'n Bits, Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Rachael Ray Nutrish and Nature's Recipe, Folgers, Café Bustelo, Dunkin', Folgers, Café Bustelo, 1850, Jif, Smucker's, Smucker's Uncrustables, Robin Hood, and Five Roses. The company sells its products through direct sales and brokers to food retailers, club stores, discount and dollar stores, online retailers, pet specialty stores, natural foods stores and distributors, drug stores, military commissaries, and mass merchandisers. Smucker Company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Orrville, Ohio.
How the Company Makes MoneyJM Smucker makes money primarily by selling branded packaged goods to customers such as mass retailers, grocery chains, club stores, e-commerce retailers, and foodservice distributors. Revenue is generated across its major operating segments: (1) Coffee—sales of branded roast-and-ground coffee, K-Cup pods, and other coffee formats; (2) Pet Foods—sales of branded dog and cat food and pet snacks/biscuits; and (3) Consumer Foods—sales of spreads (e.g., fruit spreads and peanut butter), baking and topping products, and other center-of-store packaged foods. The core revenue model is volume (units shipped) multiplied by net price, with performance influenced by brand strength, category demand, promotional activity, product mix (e.g., premium vs. value offerings), and price changes that can reflect commodity and input-cost movements (such as coffee, peanuts, grains, packaging, and freight). The company also earns from licensed brand arrangements where applicable (for example, selling packaged coffee under licensed trademarks) and from foodservice and away-from-home offerings, which extend distribution beyond retail. Profitability (and therefore earnings) is driven by gross margin management—pricing, cost of goods (commodities and manufacturing), productivity initiatives, and supply chain efficiency—along with marketing spend and administrative costs.

JM Smucker Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Product
Revenue by Product
Details revenue generated from individual products, offering insight into consumer preferences and product performance within the market.
Chart InsightsJM Smucker's Coffee segment shows robust growth, driven by a significant price increase, despite volume declines and tariff impacts. The Sweet Baked Snacks segment is outperforming expectations, fueled by SKU rationalization and brand investments, although profitability remains a concern. The Uncrustables brand continues its strong trajectory, aiming for a billion-dollar valuation. However, challenges persist in the spreads and frozen handheld categories, with declining sales. The company is focused on strategic debt reduction, leveraging strong free cash flow, which may bolster long-term financial stability.
Data provided by:The Fly

JM Smucker Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 26, 2026
(Q3-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jun 04, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The call presented a mixed picture. Strength in coffee, Uncrustables and pet (including solid innovation and distribution gains) and constructive engagement on governance and capital allocation were clear positives and supported confidence in the company’s strategy and the fiscal-year EPS midpoint. However, meaningful near-term headwinds in Sweet Baked Snacks — including sales declines, higher-than-expected bakery costs, a plant fire disruption, and a reset to lower long-term growth assumptions that triggered Hostess trademark amortization — are significant negatives that mute overall momentum. Management believes coffee and operational actions will drive margin recovery, but uncertainty remains around the timing and magnitude of recovery in Sweet Baked Snacks.
Q3-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Constructive Engagement with Activist Investor and Board Strengthening
Recent engagement with Elliott described as very constructive; management and Elliott aligned on operating improvements, portfolio management, disciplined capital allocation and governance. Two recent Board additions (Bruce Chung and David Singer) expected to strengthen financial oversight and capital-allocation capabilities.
Coffee Portfolio Performing Well with Margin Improvement Expected
Management reiterated a positive outlook for coffee, citing brand strength and category resilience. They expect coffee deflation to benefit both absolute profit dollars and margin percentages, and are targeting a mid-20s% segment profit margin in fiscal Q4. Hedging provides flexibility; elasticities came in better than anticipated in Q3.
Tariff Headwind Lapped Next Year (Benefit to Future Profitability)
Company identified a $75 million unmitigated tariff impact in the current fiscal year that will be lapped next fiscal year, effectively allowing an add-back to exit segment profit when comparing year-over-year results.
Uncrustables Growth and Distribution Expansion
Uncrustables total-company sales up ~10% (retail ~6%), C-store sales tripled recently, and the brand added approximately 3.5 million new households. Distribution gains in Away From Home and C-store channels support continued growth toward the $1 billion revenue target.
Pet Segment Strength and Innovation
Pet business performed well: Meow Mix delivered ~5% top-line growth for the quarter; Milk-Bone resumed growth supported by base biscuits; new innovations (e.g., Gravy Bursts, Peanut Buttery Bites) are performing strongly and supporting both premium and value segments.
Maintained Full-Year EPS Guidance and Confidence in Midpoint
Company maintained fiscal-year EPS guidance and expressed confidence in achieving the $9 midpoint. Management cited coffee upside as the primary source of potential EPS outperformance.
SG&A Discipline Yielding Savings
Management expects SG&A to be flat to slightly down for the year, attributing this to efficiencies and prudent management of spend that supported EPS overdelivery in the quarter.
Capital Allocation Flexibility as Leverage Falls
Company reaffirmed historical framework for use of divestiture proceeds (debt paydown or share repurchase). Management noted the plan to reach <=3x leverage by the end of next fiscal year, which would enable consideration of share repurchases again.
Negative Updates
Sweet Baked Snacks — Significant Top-Line Pressure
Sweet Baked Snacks faced notable weakness: fiscal Q4 exit rate described as a low double-digit decline (roughly ~10%+), with third-quarter top line below expectations driven by category headwinds and execution issues. Management characterized the portfolio as on a stabilization journey and lowered long-term growth expectations.
Sweet Baked Snacks — Elevated Costs and Operational Disruptions
Bakery network costs came in materially higher than anticipated in Q3. The business also absorbed a temporary manufacturing disruption from an Emporia, Kansas plant fire (February) and the costs associated with the Indianapolis facility closure, which was more costly than anticipated.
Hostess Long-Term Outlook Reset and Brand Amortization
Management reduced long-term sales growth assumption for Hostess to 2% and moved to regularly amortize the Hostess trademark beginning in Q4. Full-year amortization outlook increased to $210 million, signaling a more conservative long-term view for the acquired Sweet Baked Snacks franchise.
Uncertainty for Fiscal 2027 Top-Line in Sweet Baked Snacks
Management stated it is still early to provide FY2027 outlook for Sweet Baked Snacks. Uncertainty remains whether recent stabilization actions will translate to top-line recovery, even as profitability is expected to begin improving from a low base.
Certain Pet Portfolio Pressure — Dog Snacks Tail Soft
Pup-Peroni and Canine Carry Outs remained soft, pressured by competition and private-label activity despite overall pet strength; management expects remediation to take time and is investing in a brand refresh.
EPS Range Still Wide; Q4 Variability Remains
Despite maintaining full-year guidance, management left a wide EPS range and noted prudence; top-line softness in Sweet Baked Snacks and the Emporia fire are muting some of the SG&A savings, contributing to range uncertainty.
Pricing/Cost Dynamics in Coffee (Tariff and Elasticity Headwinds)
While coffee is a net positive, the company acknowledged a material $75 million tariff headwind in the current fiscal year (to be lapped next year) and previously expected elasticity-driven headwinds (which came in better than anticipated in Q3), indicating sensitivity to commodity and pricing dynamics.
Promotional and Execution Changes in Sweet Baked Snacks
Company implemented promotion resets and SKU rationalization in Sweet Baked Snacks to stabilize the brand (Hostess), which reduced promotional activity and may have contributed to near-term volume pressure while operational fixes are implemented.
Company Guidance
Management kept full‑year EPS guidance intact and said they remain most confident in the $9 midpoint, with any upside likely driven by coffee; SG&A is now expected flat to slightly down (versus prior flat) and full‑year amortization is forecast at $210 million after beginning trademark amortization in Q4. They reiterated a path to 3.0x leverage or below by the end of next fiscal year (which would enable share repurchases), confirmed a $75 million unmitigated tariff headwind this year that will be lapped next year, and said coffee should see profit and margin improvement (expecting a mid‑20s percent segment profit margin in Q4) while elasticities improved in Q3. For Sweet Baked Snacks/Hostess they adopted a 2% long‑term growth assumption and warned Q4 will be softer due to category trends and a plant disruption (with profitability expected to begin recovering into Q4). Uncrustables remains a growth driver—total business up ~10%, retail up ~6%, ~3.5M new households added and approaching the $1 billion revenue target.

JM Smucker Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Overall fundamentals are mixed. Cash flow is a clear strength (TTM operating cash flow ~$1.29B; free cash flow ~$971M), but the income statement has deteriorated sharply with large TTM net losses (~$1.26B) and negative operating income. The balance sheet is adequate but more levered (debt-to-equity ~1.40) and returns are pressured by losses, reducing flexibility until profitability stabilizes.
Income Statement
34
Negative
Results have deteriorated sharply: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) revenue is up modestly (~2%), but profitability is deeply negative with net losses of about $1.26B and negative operating income. This follows a profitable 2021–2024 period (including solid margins in 2024), suggesting a major recent margin/charge-driven disruption rather than a slow drift. Strengths include resilient top-line scale and historically strong margins, but the current loss-making profile and negative operating leverage are the key near-term red flags.
Balance Sheet
52
Neutral
The balance sheet is adequate but more levered than it used to be. Debt-to-equity has risen to ~1.40 in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) from ~0.57–0.61 in 2021–2023, while equity has declined versus 2024–2025 levels. Total assets have also come down from the 2024 peak, and returns on equity are materially negative in TTM due to losses. Positives include a sizable equity base (~$5.2B), but higher leverage and loss-driven erosion in returns reduce financial flexibility.
Cash Flow
62
Positive
Cash generation is a relative bright spot. TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow is ~$1.29B and free cash flow is ~$971M, with strong free-cash-flow growth versus the prior annual period. Even with net losses, free cash flow remains positive (free cash flow is ~75% of net income in magnitude), supporting debt service and reinvestment. The main weakness is that operating cash flow covers only about ~55% of net income in magnitude, indicating earnings quality is currently distorted and cash flow is not fully tracking reported losses.
BreakdownTTMApr 2025Apr 2024Apr 2023Apr 2022Apr 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue8.93B8.73B8.18B8.53B8.00B8.00B
Gross Profit2.92B3.38B3.12B2.80B2.70B3.14B
EBITDA-156.80M-155.60M1.69B573.80M1.46B1.80B
Net Income-1.26B-1.23B744.00M-91.30M631.70M876.30M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets16.27B17.56B20.27B14.99B16.05B16.28B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments52.80M69.90M62.00M1.14B169.90M334.30M
Total Debt7.45B7.76B8.55B4.42B4.61B4.91B
Total Liabilities11.03B11.48B12.58B7.70B7.91B8.16B
Stockholders Equity5.24B6.08B7.69B7.29B8.14B8.12B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow971.20M816.60M642.90M717.00M718.80M1.26B
Operating Cash Flow1.29B1.21B1.23B1.19B1.14B1.56B
Investing Cash Flow-255.70M-100.30M-3.96B262.60M-355.50M311.10M
Financing Cash Flow-1.03B-1.10B2.14B-964.60M-944.50M-1.94B

JM Smucker Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price101.40
Price Trends
50DMA
105.92
Negative
100DMA
103.49
Negative
200DMA
103.70
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.89
Positive
RSI
35.28
Neutral
STOCH
5.95
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SJM, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 101.4 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 109.47, below the 50-day MA of 105.92, and below the 200-day MA of 103.70, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.89 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 35.28 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 5.95 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SJM.

JM Smucker Risk Analysis

JM Smucker disclosed 31 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. JM Smucker reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

JM Smucker 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
$12.50B18.816.13%4.82%1.55%-40.81%
65
Neutral
$14.78B22.5914.03%2.61%1.64%-1.83%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
62
Neutral
$20.06B15.3823.70%5.19%-5.65%0.41%
61
Neutral
$10.81B-3.86-21.55%4.45%-0.66%-326.55%
58
Neutral
$7.44B-3.16-1.13%7.87%-5.82%-119.70%
54
Neutral
$6.28B14.1413.98%5.64%2.71%4.90%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SJM
JM Smucker
101.40
-3.71
-3.53%
CPB
Campbell Soup
21.08
-15.07
-41.68%
CAG
Conagra Brands
15.56
-8.53
-35.40%
GIS
General Mills
37.59
-17.94
-32.31%
HRL
Hormel Foods
22.71
-5.68
-20.02%
MKC
McCormick & Company
55.06
-23.58
-29.99%

JM Smucker Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
JM Smucker Finalizes Separation Agreement with Former COO
Neutral
Mar 3, 2026

The J. M. Smucker Company has finalized a separation agreement with former President and Chief Operating Officer John Brase, who ceased serving as an executive officer as previously reported on February 10, 2026. The agreement, effective February 26, 2026, sets out cooperation, confidentiality, non-compete, and non-solicitation obligations and includes a customary waiver and release of claims.

Under the terms, Brase will receive multiple lump-sum payments in April 2026 covering 18 months of base salary, a pro rata fiscal 2026 incentive payout, medical insurance support, relocation assistance, and outplacement services. Certain tranches of his restricted stock, options, and performance units will vest or become eligible for vesting on a pro-rated, performance-based basis, while remaining equity awards are forfeited, with the overall package aligned to Smucker’s existing executive severance framework.

The most recent analyst rating on (SJM) stock is a Hold with a $125.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on JM Smucker stock, see the SJM Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesRegulatory Filings and Compliance
JM Smucker Expands Board, Adds Two New Directors
Neutral
Feb 26, 2026

On February 24, 2026, The J. M. Smucker Company’s board of directors approved an expansion of the board from ten to eleven members and elected Woo-Sung (Bruce) Chung and David Singer as new directors, effective April 15, 2026, with both also joining the audit committee. At the same time, director Mercedes Abramo will move from the audit committee to the nominating, governance, and corporate responsibility committee, reflecting a rebalancing of board responsibilities.

Chung and Singer will receive standard non-employee director compensation, and Smucker will enter into director indemnification agreements with each, effective April 15, 2026, consistent with those provided to existing directors and officers. The company said there were no special arrangements underlying their election and no related-party transactions requiring disclosure, and it announced the board changes publicly in a press release dated February 26, 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (SJM) stock is a Hold with a $105.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on JM Smucker stock, see the SJM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
J.M. Smucker Unveils Major Executive Leadership Reorganization
Positive
Feb 10, 2026

On February 10, 2026, The J.M. Smucker Co. announced a sweeping leadership reorganization, effective February 9, 2026, eliminating the chief operating officer role as President and COO John Brase exited executive leadership, while CEO and Chair Mark Smucker reassumed the president title. The shake-up consolidates strategic and operational oversight under a tighter senior team and is framed as supporting the company’s long‑term growth and profitability ambitions.

Chief Financial Officer Tucker Marshall was elevated to CFO | Executive Vice President, Frozen Handheld and Spreads and Sweet Baked Snacks, gaining responsibility for sales and strategic leadership of frozen handheld, spreads, sweet baked snacks, and international businesses. The move pairs his financial stewardship with direct P&L and commercial oversight in categories the company has identified as key growth and margin‑improvement engines.

Rob Ferguson was promoted from Senior Vice President and General Manager, Coffee and Procurement to Chief Product Supply Officer | Executive Vice President, Coffee, Pet, and Away From Home, taking charge of operations, distribution, supply chain, procurement, commodity hedging, quality, R&D, and productivity programs. His remit now includes strategic leadership of U.S. retail coffee, pet foods, and away‑from‑home, signaling a stronger alignment of supply chain, innovation, and category growth priorities.

Chief People and Company Services Officer Jill Penrose advanced to Chief People and Administrative Officer | Chief of Staff, adding corporate strategy and chief of staff duties to her existing communications, government relations, HR, community relations, and philanthropy responsibilities. The expanded role centralizes strategic planning and organizational culture under a single leader, reflecting the importance of coordinated change management during the restructuring.

Further changes, effective July 27, 2026, will shift Tim Wayne from Senior Vice President and General Manager, Away From Home and International to Senior Vice President and General Manager, Coffee and Away From Home, and move Robert Crane to Senior Vice President, Head of Sales and International from his current sales leadership role. Both will report into Ferguson and Marshall respectively, tightening reporting lines between category leadership, international expansion, and enterprise‑wide commercial strategy.

The company also disclosed planned retirements of Senior Vice President, Operations, Randy Day, and Senior Vice President, Information Services and Supply Chain, Bryan Hutson, who will stay on to support transitions. Smucker plans to recruit a Chief Technology Officer to drive information technology and artificial intelligence strategy, as well as new senior roles in operations, supply chain, and science and technical functions, underscoring a push to modernize its infrastructure and innovation capabilities while maintaining its fiscal 2026 outlook.

The most recent analyst rating on (SJM) stock is a Hold with a $105.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on JM Smucker stock, see the SJM 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 27, 2026