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United Natural Foods (UNFI)
NYSE:UNFI

United Natural Foods (UNFI) AI Stock Analysis

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UNFI

United Natural Foods

(NYSE:UNFI)

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Neutral 52 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:52Neutral
Price Target:
$32.00
▼(-5.88% Downside)
United Natural Foods faces significant financial and valuation challenges, with declining revenues and a negative P/E ratio. However, strong cash flow generation and positive corporate events provide some optimism. The technical analysis suggests a bearish trend, but the earnings call indicates potential for future growth.
Positive Factors
Cash Flow Generation
Strong cash flow generation enhances financial flexibility, allowing for strategic investments and debt reduction, supporting long-term stability.
Natural Products Growth
Growth in the natural products segment reflects strong market demand and positions UNFI well in the health-conscious consumer market.
Strategic Initiatives
Investments in digital and sustainable practices enhance operational efficiency and align with industry trends, supporting long-term growth.
Negative Factors
Declining Revenue
Declining revenue growth indicates challenges in maintaining market share and competitive positioning, impacting long-term profitability.
High Debt Levels
Significant leverage increases financial risk, potentially limiting the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities and weather downturns.
Conventional Product Segment Decline
Decline in conventional product sales suggests challenges in adapting to market shifts, potentially affecting overall revenue stability.

United Natural Foods (UNFI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

United Natural Foods Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUnited Natural Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail. The company offers grocery and general merchandise, produce, perishables and frozen foods, nutritional supplements and sports nutrition, bulk and foodservice products, and personal care items. It also provides Woodstock brand imports, roasts, packages, and distributes nuts, dried fruits, seeds, trail mixes, granola, natural and organic snack items, and confections. In addition, the company is involved in importing, roasting, packaging, and distributing nuts, dried fruits, seeds, trail mixes, granola, natural and organic snack items, and confections. Further, it offers Blue Marble Brands products through wholesale segment, third-party distributors, and directly to retailers; and Field Day brand products primarily to customers through its independent channel. Additionally, the company provides general merchandise, home, health and beauty care, and pharmacy products, as well as private label products through a network of 74 Cub Foods and Shoppers retail grocery stores; professional services, such as retail store support, advertising, couponing, e-commerce, consumer convenience services, store design, equipment sourcing, electronic payments processing, network and data hosting solutions, and administrative back-office solutions; and marketing services comprising consumer and trade marketing programs, as well as programs to support suppliers in understanding its markets. The company serves chains, independent retailers, and supernatural chains, as well as foodservice, e-commerce, conventional military business, and other sales customers. United Natural Foods, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
How the Company Makes MoneyUNFI generates revenue primarily through its wholesale distribution segment, where it sells a vast array of natural and organic products to retailers. The company earns money by marking up the products it purchases from manufacturers before distributing them to its customers. Key revenue streams include sales from grocery items, perishables, and private label products. Additionally, UNFI benefits from partnerships with numerous suppliers, enabling it to offer a broad selection of products. The company also leverages its e-commerce platform to reach customers directly, enhancing sales and driving growth. Factors contributing to its earnings include the increasing consumer demand for healthy and organic foods, strategic acquisitions to expand its product offerings, and operational efficiencies that improve profit margins.

United Natural Foods Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Dec 02, 2025
(Q1-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 11, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call highlights a strong financial performance with significant improvements in EBITDA, free cash flow, and gross margin, despite challenges in the conventional product segment and retail sales. The company's strategic initiatives in network optimization and natural products growth have shown positive results, contributing to overall stability and optimism for future growth.
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Solid Financial Performance
United Natural Foods, Inc. delivered solid results with adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow meaningfully above prior year levels. Net leverage declined approximately one turn compared to the prior year quarter.
Natural Products Segment Growth
The natural products segment saw growth of 11%, reflecting strong unit growth and outperforming the market.
Improved Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow results improved by over $100 million compared to last year's first quarter.
Successful Network Optimization
Network optimization efforts proceeded ahead of schedule, contributing to improved profitability and free cash flow.
Strong Adjusted EBITDA Growth
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $107 million, up nearly 25% year over year.
Improved Gross Margin
The gross margin rate in the first quarter was 13.4%, up 20 basis points versus the prior year quarter.
Negative Updates
Conventional Product Segment Decline
Sales in the conventional product segment declined about 12%, primarily due to the transition out of the Allentown distribution center.
Retail Sales Decline
Retail sales fell 5% in the quarter, partly due to store closures over the past twelve months. Same store sales declined 3%.
Company Guidance
In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) delivered strong financial performance with adjusted EBITDA reaching $107 million, marking a 25% year-over-year increase. The company also reported significant growth in free cash flow, improving by over $100 million compared to the same period last year. Net sales were stable at $7.8 billion, with natural product segment growth of 11% offsetting a 12% decline in the conventional product segment. The gross margin rate increased by 20 basis points to 13.4%, while the operating expense rate improved to 12.7% from 12.9% the previous year. UNFI reduced its net leverage ratio to 3.2 times, a decrease of one full turn from the prior year. The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook, projecting sales between $31.6 billion and $32 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $630 to $700 million, and free cash flow of approximately $300 million.

United Natural Foods Financial Statement Overview

Summary
United Natural Foods is facing financial challenges with declining revenues and negative profitability metrics. However, the company shows resilience in cash flow generation, with a positive free cash flow growth rate of 25% in the TTM period.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
United Natural Foods has experienced a decline in revenue growth, with a negative growth rate of -9.8% in the TTM period. The company is facing profitability challenges, as indicated by negative net profit and EBIT margins. Gross profit margin remains stable, but the overall income statement reflects financial stress due to declining revenues and negative profitability metrics.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a high debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24, indicating significant leverage. Return on equity is negative, reflecting the company's struggles to generate profits from its equity base. The equity ratio is moderate, suggesting a balanced asset structure, but the high leverage poses potential risks.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals a positive free cash flow growth rate of 25% in the TTM period, indicating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is positive, suggesting that the company is generating cash despite net losses. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio indicates reliance on cash flow rather than profitability.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue31.78B30.98B30.27B28.93B26.95B
Gross Profit4.22B4.20B4.13B4.18B3.94B
EBITDA498.00M328.00M444.00M732.00M599.00M
Net Income-118.00M-112.00M24.00M248.00M149.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.59B7.53B7.39B7.63B7.53B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments44.00M40.00M37.00M44.00M41.00M
Total Debt3.45B3.55B3.27B3.38B3.43B
Total Liabilities6.04B5.89B5.65B5.84B6.01B
Stockholders Equity1.55B1.64B1.74B1.79B1.51B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow239.00M-92.00M301.00M80.00M304.00M
Operating Cash Flow470.00M253.00M624.00M331.00M614.00M
Investing Cash Flow-218.00M-342.00M-339.00M-49.00M-237.00M
Financing Cash Flow-248.00M92.00M-292.00M-279.00M-384.00M

United Natural Foods Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price34.00
Price Trends
50DMA
36.80
Negative
100DMA
33.76
Positive
200DMA
29.91
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.80
Negative
RSI
47.18
Neutral
STOCH
76.84
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For UNFI, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 34 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 34.17, below the 50-day MA of 36.80, and above the 200-day MA of 29.91, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.80 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.18 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 76.84 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for UNFI.

United Natural Foods Risk Analysis

United Natural Foods disclosed 25 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. United Natural Foods 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

United Natural Foods Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$2.60B36.9814.12%8.88%54.12%
71
Outperform
$1.82B25.125.85%1.44%2.19%-39.07%
71
Outperform
$819.31M21.916.65%12.68%3.09%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
58
Neutral
$386.35M24.696.58%3.70%-5.33%
58
Neutral
1.54%-134.75%
52
Neutral
$2.07B-20.39-6.37%1.45%-5.49%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
UNFI
United Natural Foods
34.00
6.74
24.72%
CVGW
Calavo Growers
21.64
-2.98
-12.10%
SPTN
SpartanNash Co
26.90
9.03
50.53%
ANDE
The Andersons
53.76
14.05
35.38%
CHEF
The Chefs' Warehouse
63.95
15.19
31.15%
AVO
Mission Produce
11.61
-2.84
-19.65%

United Natural Foods Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder MeetingsStock BuybackBusiness Operations and Strategy
United Natural Foods Holds Annual Meeting on Governance
Positive
Dec 17, 2025

At its Annual Meeting held on December 16, 2025, United Natural Foods, Inc.’s stockholders voted to approve several key proposals, including the election of directors, ratification of KPMG LLP as its auditors, approval of executive compensation, and an amendment to its equity incentive plan, adding 1.5 million shares. Additionally, the Board’s repurchase program, authorized in 2022 for up to $200 million, has $138 million remaining, with repurchases planned to resume subject to financial leverage and market conditions. These actions demonstrate the company’s focus on strengthening governance, financial strategies, and shareholder value.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
United Natural Foods Unveils 2025 Investor Day Strategy
Positive
Dec 10, 2025

On December 10, 2025, United Natural Foods, Inc. hosted its 2025 Investor Day in New York City, where it outlined its value creation strategy and long-term financial targets for fiscal years 2025 to 2028. The company aims to drive sustainable growth and increase value for stakeholders by enhancing digital capabilities, investing in supply chain technology, and streamlining operations. UNFI expects low-single digit net sales growth, low-double digit adjusted EBITDA growth, and approximately $300 million in annual free cash flow from fiscal 2026 to 2028, positioning itself as a valued partner in the food retail industry.

Business Operations and Strategy
United Natural Foods Releases 2025 Impact Report
Positive
Nov 18, 2025

On November 18, 2025, United Natural Foods, Inc. released its 2025 Impact Report, detailing its sustainability efforts throughout the fiscal year. This report highlights the company’s commitment to sustainable practices across its value chain, potentially enhancing its industry positioning and stakeholder relations.

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: Dec 19, 2025