Wrapping up Q4 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the shelf-stable food stocks, including The Marzetti Company (NASDAQ: MZTI) and its peers.

As America industrialized and moved away from an agricultural economy, people faced more demands on their time. Packaged foods emerged as a solution offering convenience to the evolving American family, whether it be canned goods or snacks. Today, Americans seek brands that are high in quality, reliable, and reasonably priced. Furthermore, there's a growing emphasis on health-conscious and sustainable food options. Packaged food stocks are considered resilient investments. People always need to eat, so these companies can enjoy consistent demand as long as they stay on top of changing consumer preferences. The industry spans from multinational corporations to smaller specialized firms and is subject to food safety and labeling regulations.

The 17 shelf-stable food stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.5%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 12.3% since the latest earnings results.

The Marzetti Company (NASDAQ: MZTI)

Known for its frozen garlic bread and Parkerhouse rolls, The Marzetti Company (NASDAQ: MZTI) sells bread, dressing, and dips to the retail and food service channels.

The Marzetti Company reported revenues of $509.8 million, flat year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a slower quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates and a miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

CEO David A. Ciesinski commented, “We were pleased to complete the quarter with record gross profit and higher gross profit margin. The 1.1% decline in Retail segment net sales compares to strong prior-year growth of 6.3% and reflects softer demand during the timeframe of the U.S. government shutdown. Retail segment highlights included continued growth from our category-leading New York Bakery™ frozen garlic bread products and expanding distribution for our licensed Texas Roadhouse® dinner rolls. In the Foodservice segment, reported net sales were up 5.2% with Adjusted Foodservice Net Sales growth of 1.6% led by higher demand from several of our core national chain restaurant accounts and increased sales for our branded Foodservice products. Inflationary pricing also contributed to the increase in Foodservice net sales.”

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 16.1% since reporting and currently trades at $145.96.

Read our full report on The Marzetti Company here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Hershey (NYSE: HSY)

Best known for its milk chocolate bar and Hershey's Kisses, Hershey (NYSE: HSY) is an iconic company known for its chocolate products.

Hershey reported revenues of $3.09 billion, up 7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.8%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 7.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $221.

Is now the time to buy Hershey? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Campbell's (NASDAQ: CPB)

With its iconic canned soup as its cornerstone product, Campbell's (NASDAQ: CPB) is a packaged food company with an illustrious portfolio of brands.

Campbell's reported revenues of $2.56 billion, down 4.5% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.6%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 13.3% since the results and currently trades at $21.40.

Read our full analysis of Campbell’s results here.

J. M. Smucker (NYSE: SJM)

Best known for its fruit jams and spreads, J.M Smucker (NYSE: SJM) is a packaged foods company whose products span from peanut butter and coffee to pet food.

J. M. Smucker reported revenues of $2.34 billion, up 7% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.5%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

The stock is down 1.3% since reporting and currently trades at $105.24.

Read our full, actionable report on J. M. Smucker here, it’s free.

BellRing Brands (NYSE: BRBR)

Spun out of Post Holdings in 2019, Bellring Brands (NYSE: BRBR) offers protein shakes, nutrition bars, and other products under the PowerBar, Premier Protein, and Dymatize brands.

BellRing Brands reported revenues of $537.3 million, flat year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 6.7%. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

BellRing Brands delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is down 23.7% since reporting and currently trades at $18.60.

Read our full, actionable report on BellRing Brands here, it’s free.

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