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SunOpta Inc (STKL)
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SunOpta (STKL) AI Stock Analysis

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STKL

SunOpta

(NASDAQ:STKL)

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Neutral 54 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:54Neutral
Price Target:
$4.00
▼(-30.19% Downside)
SunOpta's overall score reflects strong revenue growth and strategic positioning, but is weighed down by ongoing profitability challenges, high leverage, and bearish technical indicators. The company's focus on long-term growth is promising, yet short-term operational inefficiencies and cost pressures remain significant risks.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective sales strategies, supporting long-term business expansion and stability.
Strategic Investments
Investing in new manufacturing capacity positions SunOpta to meet future demand, enhancing its competitive edge and operational scalability.
Cash Flow Improvement
Improved cash flow indicates strong operational performance, providing financial flexibility for strategic investments and debt management.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage can strain financial resources, limiting the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities and manage economic downturns.
Operational Challenges
Operational inefficiencies can erode profit margins and hinder the company's ability to scale efficiently, impacting long-term profitability.
Gross Margin Decline
Declining gross margins suggest cost pressures that could affect profitability, requiring strategic adjustments to maintain financial health.

SunOpta (STKL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

SunOpta Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSunOpta Inc. is a leading global provider of organic and non-GMO food and beverage products, focusing on the sourcing, processing, and packaging of a variety of plant-based foods. The company operates in two primary segments: the Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment, which includes products such as almond milk, oat milk, and other dairy alternatives; and the Fruit and Vegetables segment, which encompasses frozen and dehydrated fruit and vegetable products. SunOpta emphasizes sustainability and innovation in its offerings, catering to the growing consumer demand for health-conscious and environmentally friendly food options.
How the Company Makes MoneySunOpta generates revenue through multiple streams primarily from the sale of its plant-based foods and beverages, as well as fruit and vegetable products. The company sells its products to various customers, including grocery retailers, food service operators, and ingredient manufacturers. Key revenue sources include retail sales of branded and private label products, bulk sales to food manufacturers, and contract manufacturing services. Additionally, SunOpta benefits from strategic partnerships with other companies in the food industry, which enhance its distribution capabilities and market reach. The growing consumer trend towards plant-based diets and organic products further supports its revenue potential.

SunOpta Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 05, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 04, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
SunOpta demonstrated strong revenue growth and customer demand across key product categories, despite facing significant operational challenges and cost pressures. The company made strategic decisions to prioritize long-term value, which resulted in short-term inefficiencies and delayed margin improvements.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Exceptional Revenue Growth
Revenue increased 17% year-over-year, driven entirely by customer demand, marking 9 successive quarters of average 15% volume growth.
Strong Performance in Plant-Based Beverages
Plant-based milk volumes increased at a high teens rate in Q3. The plant-based beverage category grew 9% in foodservice.
Broth and Tea Growth
Broth volumes increased high single digits, and tea was the fastest-growing product category in both retail and foodservice during the quarter.
Better-For-You Fruit Snacks Success
Achieved 21st consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth in better-for-you fruit snacks.
Increased Operating Income
Operating income rose $6.1 million to $6.9 million, driven by lower employee variable compensation costs and lower professional fees.
Negative Updates
Operational Challenges and Inefficiencies
The rapid volume growth led to inefficiencies, increased maintenance costs, overtime expenses, and higher waste, particularly exacerbated by wastewater limitations at the Midlothian facility.
Gross Margin Decline
Gross margin decreased by 60 basis points to 12.4%, and adjusted gross margin fell to 13.6% from 16.6% due to increased costs and operational pressures.
Delayed Margin Expansion Initiatives
Focus on servicing accelerated demand led to delays in planned margin expansion activities.
Increased Debt and Leverage
Debt was $266 million, and net leverage was 2.8x, maintaining the leverage ratio higher than the previously expected 2.5x.
Short-Term Cost Increases
The company faced $10 million of unexpected costs impacting the fourth quarter.
Company Guidance
During SunOpta's Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company reported a 17% revenue increase, surpassing their expectations and demonstrating robust growth trends. This surge was entirely driven by a 17% volume growth across their top six customers, marking nine consecutive quarters averaging 15% volume growth. Significant growth was observed in plant-based milk, broth, and tea categories. The company is addressing short-term operational challenges, including inefficiencies in their production schedule, equipment maintenance, and increased short-term costs, but remains confident in achieving long-term margin expansion by mid-2026. SunOpta plans to invest in an additional line of aseptic processing capacity at their Midlothian facility, anticipating completion by late 2026, to meet the accelerating demand. The company updated its full-year revenue outlook to $812-$816 million and expects adjusted EBITDA of $90-$92 million, with a leverage ratio target of 2.8x by year-end. Despite short-term challenges, SunOpta is optimistic about its strategic position and long-term growth trajectory.

SunOpta Financial Statement Overview

Summary
SunOpta shows signs of operational improvement with revenue growth and better margins. However, ongoing net losses and high leverage pose significant risks to financial flexibility.
Income Statement
55
Neutral
SunOpta's income statement shows a modest revenue growth of 2.60% in the TTM, with improving EBIT and EBITDA margins of 3.23% and 8.15% respectively. However, the company is still operating at a net loss with a negative net profit margin of -2.02%, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving profitability.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.42, suggesting significant leverage which could pose risks. The return on equity is negative due to net losses, but the company maintains an equity ratio of 22.42%, indicating a stable asset base.
Cash Flow
62
Positive
SunOpta's cash flow statement highlights a positive free cash flow growth of 52.07% in the TTM, with strong operating cash flow to net income ratio of -4.46, suggesting solid operational performance despite net losses. However, free cash flow to net income is negative, reflecting challenges in turning profits into free cash.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2019Dec 2018
Income Statement
Total Revenue598.53M723.73M626.73M591.39M1.19B1.26B
Gross Profit86.71M96.30M86.00M98.14M115.25M123.47M
EBITDA62.00M52.80M33.55M38.12M44.03M-109.14M
Net Income9.98M-17.39M-178.79M-6.43M-604.00K-109.20M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets694.10M668.53M667.15M855.85M923.36M896.74M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.23M1.55M306.00K679.00K1.50M3.28M
Total Debt391.24M392.68M378.03M395.31M559.96M509.20M
Total Liabilities516.07M504.88M510.83M536.64M710.93M683.60M
Stockholders Equity178.03M148.59M156.32M319.21M210.54M211.64M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-2.08M18.10M-31.28M-68.05M-22.95M-42.74M
Operating Cash Flow17.78M50.03M14.84M60.58M9.81M-11.14M
Investing Cash Flow-18.57M-18.68M44.03M-106.82M27.22M-28.77M
Financing Cash Flow1.95M-31.09M-50.80M46.70M-38.76M40.03M

SunOpta Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price5.73
Price Trends
50DMA
5.79
Negative
100DMA
5.97
Negative
200DMA
5.85
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.43
Positive
RSI
17.62
Positive
STOCH
11.08
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For STKL, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 5.73 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.31, below the 50-day MA of 5.79, and below the 200-day MA of 5.85, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.43 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 17.62 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 11.08 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for STKL.

SunOpta Risk Analysis

SunOpta disclosed 36 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. SunOpta 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

SunOpta Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$313.52M22.089.52%6.62%-7.85%
70
Outperform
$962.02M48.68-17.18%-0.68%-910.85%
63
Neutral
$737.84M13.269.41%8.33%47.71%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
61
Neutral
$375.49M23.093.20%5.88%-68.62%
54
Neutral
$638.71M2.23%11.31%99.83%
43
Neutral
$108.35M-75.51%-10.13%-532.32%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
STKL
SunOpta
3.94
-3.57
-47.54%
NATR
Nature's Sunshine Products
19.78
2.35
13.48%
SENEA
Seneca Foods
114.32
48.29
73.13%
HAIN
Hain Celestial
1.26
-5.99
-82.62%
THS
TreeHouse Foods
23.37
-13.83
-37.18%
USNA
USANA Health
19.18
-22.11
-53.55%

SunOpta Corporate Events

SunOpta Inc’s Earnings Call: Growth Amid Challenges
Nov 7, 2025

SunOpta Inc’s recent earnings call painted a picture of robust growth tempered by operational challenges. The company reported strong revenue growth and customer demand across its key product categories. However, it also faced significant operational challenges and cost pressures. SunOpta’s strategic decisions to prioritize long-term value resulted in short-term inefficiencies and delayed margin improvements.

SunOpta Inc. Reports Strong Q3 2025 Growth
Nov 6, 2025

SunOpta Inc. is a company that provides customized supply chain solutions and innovations across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks, primarily serving top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers in North America.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
SunOpta Reports Strong Q3 2025 Revenue Growth and Expansion Plans
Positive
Nov 6, 2025

SunOpta reported a significant increase in revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, with a 16.8% rise to $205.4 million, driven by strong volume growth in beverages, broths, and fruit snacks. The company also saw a turnaround in earnings from continuing operations, achieving $0.8 million compared to a loss in the previous year. The announcement highlighted SunOpta’s robust demand and competitive positioning, with plans to expand capacity through a new aseptic manufacturing line in Texas and a fruit snack line in Washington, aiming to meet market demand through 2028.

Business Operations and Strategy
SunOpta to Participate in Stephens Annual Investment Conference
Neutral
Oct 29, 2025

SunOpta Inc. announced its participation in the Stephens Annual Investment Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, from November 18-20, 2025. The company will engage with investors and partake in a fireside chat, which will be accessible via a live webcast on their website, highlighting their ongoing commitment to investor engagement and transparency.

Financial Disclosures
SunOpta Inc. to Release Q3 2025 Financial Results
Neutral
Oct 8, 2025

SunOpta Inc. announced it will release its third quarter 2025 financial results on November 5, 2025, after market close. The company will host a conference call to discuss the results and recent corporate developments, providing stakeholders with insights into its financial performance and strategic direction.

SunOpta Inc Reports Strong Growth Amid Challenges
Aug 8, 2025

SunOpta Inc’s recent earnings call conveyed a positive sentiment, highlighting robust growth in revenue and EBITDA. The company demonstrated resilience despite facing challenges such as tariff headwinds and gross margin pressures. Strategic investments and a strong pipeline were emphasized as key factors positioning SunOpta for future growth.

SunOpta Inc. Reports Strong Q2 2025 Financial Growth
Aug 7, 2025

SunOpta Inc., a company specializing in customized supply chain solutions and innovation for beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks, has reported its second quarter fiscal 2025 financial results. The company operates primarily in the food and beverage industry and is known for its sustainability-forward solutions distributed across North America.

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: Nov 07, 2025