Flowers Foods, Inc. produces and markets packaged bakery food products in the United States. Its principal products include fresh breads, buns, rolls, snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas, as well as frozen breads and rolls under the Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Mrs. Freshley's, and Tastykake brand names. The company distributes its products through a direct-store-delivery distribution and a warehouse delivery system, as well as operates bakeries. Its customers include national and regional restaurants, institutions and foodservice distributors, and retail in-store bakeries; wholesale distributors; mass merchandisers, supermarkets, vending outlets, and convenience stores; quick-serve chains, food wholesalers, institutions, dollar stores, and vending companies; and public health care, military commissaries, and prisons, and other governmental institutions. The company was formerly known as Flowers Industries and changed its name to Flowers Foods, Inc. in 2001. Flowers Foods, Inc. was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia.

Flowers Foods, Inc.

WK Kellogg Co. (NYSE: KLG) surged nearly 30% on July 10 after Italian food giant Ferrero announced a $3.1 billion acquisition, including debt. The all-cash deal values WK Kellogg at $23 per share, an almost 40% premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price, and is expected to close in the second half of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Ferrero, best known for brands like Nutella, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, and Tic Tac, is expanding its U.S. footprint with this move, adding iconic cereal brands such as Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops to its growing packaged food empire.
With shares now trading near the offer price, the key question is whether there’s any value left on the table, or if the buyout buzz has already capped further gains. For investors who seek lower volatility than individual stocks, the Trefis High-Quality portfolio presents an alternative, having outperformed the S&P 500 and generated returns exceeding 91% since its inception. Separately, see Down 30%, What’s Next For BG’s Stock?
From Stagnant Spin-Off to Takeover Target
Spun off from Kellanova in October 2023, WK Kellogg entered the market with a portfolio of well-known cereals but lacked growth momentum. Sales have declined at an average annual rate of 3.1% over the past three years, including a 6.2% year-over-year drop to $663 million in the most recent quarter. Margins remain slim, with a 5.6% operating margin over the last four quarters and a 2.1% net margin, reflecting weak pricing power in a mature product category.
Still, the brand equity was undeniable. For Ferrero, which has previously acquired Nestlé’s U.S. candy business, Fox’s Biscuits, and Wells Enterprises, adding a U.S. breakfast mainstay aligns with a broader strategy to diversify beyond confectionery. The acquisition plants a flag in the $20B U.S. cereal market and positions Ferrero for further cross-category growth.
Undervalued No More?
Before the deal, WK Kellogg’s market cap hovered around $1.5 billion, making Ferrero’s offer a near 100% premium. On a relative basis, KLG was cheap: trading at just 0.6x sales and 26.7x earnings, both below historical levels and reflecting skepticism about growth. Now, with shares near $23, the implied P/E ratio has risen into the mid-30s, suggesting limited room for further rerating.
A Smarter Way to Play the Market?
While a single-stock bet on KLG may no longer offer meaningful upside, broader exposure to quality businesses can still deliver. The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 4-year period. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index, less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Ferrero Buys WK Kellogg: Sweet Deal or Fully Priced?

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – June 24, 2025 – Zacks Equity Research shares Eldorado Gold EGO as the Bull of the Day and Flowers Foods FLO as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on MercadoLibre MELI, Amazon AMZN and Alibaba BABA.
Here is a synopsis of all five stocks.
It’s time to go digging for gold, literally. While the broader market has been jostling between interest rate anxiety and soft-landing optimism, the yellow metal has been stealthily consolidating gains. Meanwhile, there's one stock in the precious metals space that’s glimmering more than the rest.
Today’s Bull of the Day is Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) Eldorado Gold, a mid-tier gold miner that’s setting itself up for a breakout year.
Eldorado Gold is a Canadian-based gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Canada, and Greece. While many of its peers overextend and overpromise, EGO has stayed lean, focused, and smart about where and how it digs.
In a world where geopolitical risk is part of the game, Eldorado’s diversified asset base gives it a cushion. From the high-grade Lamaque mine in Quebec to the Skouries project in Greece, EGO is sitting on a resource base that’s about to deliver serious production upside.
The reason for the favorable rank is that 4 analysts have increased their earnings estimates for the current year and next year. The bullish sentiment has pushed up our Zacks Consensus Estimate from $1.42 to $1.65 for the current year while next year’s number is up from $1.76 to $2.53.
That means that next year’s earnings growth is forecast to come in at 53%. That’s on revenue growth forecasts of 19% this year and 36% next year.
This growth is clearly illustrated in our Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Chart on Zacks.com. Estimates have gone from bottoming out in late 2023 to ticking higher until the start of this year, when estimates retreated a touch. They bottomed out at the start of Q3 and have been moving higher ever since. With geopolitical risk continuing despite talk of ceasefires and such, gold remains bid, helping the gold miners continue to shine.
You ever walk into a grocery store and catch the smell of freshly baked bread? It’s a simple pleasure. But as investors, we have to separate that warm, comforting aroma from cold, hard earnings trends. That brings us to today’s Bear of the Day, Flowers Foods. The stock is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and a company that’s feeling the heat for all the wrong reasons.
Flowers Foods is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery goods in the United States. With brands like Nature’s Own, Dave’s Killer Bread, and Wonder Bread under its belt, you’d think the business would be in a good spot. After all, people have to eat, right?
Yes, but this is Wall Street, not Main Street. Here, it’s not about what’s in your pantry. It’s about what’s in the pipeline. And when it comes to earnings, FLO has been serving up some half-baked results.
Over the last sixty days, five analysts have cut their earnings estimates for the current year and next year. The bearish moves have slashed our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year from $1.18 to $1.10 while next year’s number is off from $1.27 to $1.14. That means that analysts are now forecasting a 14% contraction in earnings this year and just 3.6% growth next year.
The Food – Miscellaneous industry is in the Bottom 27% of our Zacks Industry Rank.
Additional content:
E-commerce Booms in Latin America: Will Mercadolibre Rule the Market?
MercadoLibre is benefiting from increasing Internet adoption across Latin America, further solidifying its role as the go-to destination for online shopping in the region. The company continues to enhance its online buying experience through better pricing, navigation and product selection, helping it outperform in key markets. Strong brand preference across Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile in the first quarter of 2025 highlights growing consumer trust in its marketplace and value proposition.
MercadoLibre sees a significant runway for growth. Physical stores still represent around 85% of retail spend in the region, while MELI holds less than 5% share. In the first quarter, unique active buyers grew 25% year over year, driving strong FX-neutral GMV growth of 30% in Brazil, 23% in Mexico and 126% in Argentina. The company aims to raise purchase frequency and category penetration, especially in areas like supermarkets, to capture more of this opportunity.
To support these goals, MELI is investing in user experience and infrastructure. Features like repeat purchase options and category-based navigation helped the supermarket category grow 65% year over year in the first quarter, outpacing all others. Logistics upgrades also played a key role. Fulfillment penetration in Brazil surpassed 60% in March, and rising scale is lowering per-order costs across regions, enabling strategic initiatives like free shipping.
These improvements are translating into strong financial results. In the first quarter, commerce revenues reached $3.3 billion, growing 32.3% year over year, and accounted for 55.6% of MercadoLibre’s total revenues. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MELI’s second-quarter Commerce revenues is pegged at $3.7 billion. As MercadoLibre expands its footprint and enhances its platform, its ability to retain a dominant share of Latin America’s e-commerce market appears increasingly durable.
MELI Faces Stiff Competition in the E-Commerce Market
As Latin America’s e-commerce landscape heats up, MercadoLibre is facing intensifying competition from global giants like Amazon and Alibaba.
Amazon is steadily expanding its regional operations, leveraging its advanced logistics network and strong brand to attract more consumers. At the same time, Alibaba’s AliExpress appeals to price-sensitive shoppers with ultra-cheap goods and an extensive product range.
These players are aggressively targeting MELI’s core markets, threatening to erode its pricing power, customer retention and long-term profitability. While MELI remains the regional leader, sustained pressure from Amazon and Alibaba could change the competitive dynamics in Latin American e-commerce.
MELI’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
MELI shares have gained 43% in the year-to-date (YTD) period, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector’s growth of 2% and 0.7%, respectively.
From a valuation standpoint, MELI stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 3.96X compared with the industry’s 2.01X. MELI has a Value Score of D.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter 2025 earnings is pegged at $12.01 per share, which has been revised upward by 2.65% over the past 30 days, indicating 14.60% year-over-year growth.
The consensus mark for 2025 earnings is pegged at $47.75 per share, which has been revised downward by 0.35% over the past 30 days. The estimate indicates 26.69% year-over-year growth.
MercadoLibre currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index.Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Eldorado Gold and Flowers Foods have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day

A particularly strong insider buying signal is what we call a "cluster-buy" where three or more different insiders make open market purchases within a short period of one another. At Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO), 3 different insiders purchased 12,000 shares at an average price of $16.87/share, for a total of $202,439, with the most recent purchase on May 27, 2025.
Presumably the only reason an insider would take their hard-earned cash and use it to buy stock of their company in the open market, is that they expect to make money. So when multiple insiders all decide to make purchases around the same time, it could be a strong indication that the stock is undervalued. Below is a table summarizing the insider buys that make up this "cluster":
The chart below shows the one year performance of FLO shares, versus its 200 day moving average. Note that FLO's low point in its 52 week range is $16.285 per share, with $23.87 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $17.09, with shares currently trading up about 0.5% on the day.
The current annualized dividend paid by Flowers Foods, Inc. is $0.99/share, currently paid in quarterly installments, and its most recent dividend has an upcoming ex-date of 06/05/2025. Below is a long-term dividend history chart for FLO, which can be of good help in judging whether the most recent dividend with approx. 5.8% annualized yield is likely to continue.
Free Report: Top 8%+ Dividends (paid monthly)
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Bargain Hunters Take Note: Insider Cluster-Buying At FLO

Launched on 08/19/2003, the First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF (FVD) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
The fund is sponsored by First Trust Advisors. It has amassed assets over $8.96 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.
Why Large Cap Value
Companies that fall in the large cap category tend to have a market capitalization above $10 billion. Overall, they are usually a stable option, with less risk and more sure-fire cash flows than mid and small cap companies.
While value stocks have lower than average price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, they also have lower than average sales and earnings growth rates. Value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in nearly all markets when you consider long-term performance, growth stocks are more likely to outpace value stocks in strong bull markets.
Costs
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.60%, making it one of the most expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.37%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
ETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 21% of the portfolio. Utilities and Consumer Staples round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) accounts for about 0.47% of total assets, followed by American States Water Company (AWR) and Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO).
The top 10 holdings account for about 4.7% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
FVD seeks to match the performance of the Value Line Dividend Index before fees and expenses. The Value Line Dividend Index is a modified equal dollar weighted index comprised of U.S. exchange listed securities of companies that pay above-average dividends and have potential for capital appreciation.
The ETF return is roughly 1.35% so far this year and is up about 7.28% in the last one year (as of 05/12/2025). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $40.45 and $46.70.
The ETF has a beta of 0.74 and standard deviation of 13.61% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 225 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
Alternatives
First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, FVD is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Value area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and the Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) track a similar index. While Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has $66.91 billion in assets, Vanguard Value ETF has $130.84 billion. SCHD has an expense ratio of 0.06% and VTV charges 0.04%.
Bottom-Line
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF (FVD): ETF Research Reports
Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
American States Water Company (AWR) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Vanguard Value ETF (VTV): ETF Research Reports
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD): ETF Research Reports
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Should First Trust Value Line Dividend ETF (FVD) Be on Your Investing Radar?

To become a "Dividend Aristocrat," a dividend paying company must accomplish an incredible feat: consistently increase shareholder dividends every year for at least 20 consecutive years. Companies with this kind of track record tend to attract a lot of investor attention — and furthermore, "tracking" funds that follow the Dividend Aristocrats Index must own them. With all of this demand for shares, dividend growth stocks can sometimes become "fully priced," where there isn't much upside to analyst targets.
But we here at ETF Channel have looked through the underlying holdings of the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (which tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index), and found these five dividend growth stocks that actually still have fairly substantial upside to the average analyst target price 12 months out. Which means, if the analysts are correct, these are five dividend growth stocks that could produce capital gains in addition to their growing dividend payments.
In the first table below, we present the five stocks. The recent share price, average analyst 12-month target price, and percentage upside to reach the analyst target are presented.
Stock
Recent Price
Avg. Analyst 12-Mo. Target
% Upside to Target
Walmart Inc (Symbol: WMT)
$94.64
$109.94
16.17%
Sysco Corp (Symbol: SYY)
$75.09
$84.69
12.79%
W.W. Grainger Inc. (Symbol: GWW)
$995.82
$1122.70
12.74%
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (Symbol: CFR)
$127.86
$143.50
12.23%
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO)
$18.64
$20.83
11.77%
The average 12-month analyst targets are only targets for the share price however, and each of these stocks are expected to pay dividends during that holding period — so the expected total return if these stocks reach their analyst targets is actually the share price upside seen by the analysts plus the dividend yield shareholders can expect. To ballpark that total return potential, we have added the current yield to the analyst target price upside, in order to arrive at the 12-month total return potential:
Stock
Dividend Yield
% Upside to Analyst Target
Implied Total Return Potential
Walmart Inc (Symbol: WMT)
0.99%
16.17%
17.16%
Sysco Corp (Symbol: SYY)
2.72%
12.79%
15.51%
W.W. Grainger Inc. (Symbol: GWW)
0.82%
12.74%
13.56%
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (Symbol: CFR)
2.97%
12.23%
15.2%
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO)
5.15%
11.77%
16.92%
Another consideration with dividend growth stocks is just how much the dividend is growing. We looked up the trailing twelve months worth of dividends shareholders of each of the above five companies have collected, and then also looked up the same number for the prior trailing twelve months. This gives us a rough yardstick to see how much the dividend has grown, from one trailing twelve month period to another.
Stock
Prior TTM Dividend
TTM Dividend
% Growth
Walmart Inc (Symbol: WMT)
$0.76
$0.832
9.47%
Sysco Corp (Symbol: SYY)
$1.99
$2.03
2.01%
W.W. Grainger Inc. (Symbol: GWW)
$7.44
$8.2
10.22%
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (Symbol: CFR)
$3.63
$3.77
3.86%
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO)
$0.92
$0.96
4.35%
These five stocks are part of our full Dividend Aristocrats List. The average analyst target price data upon which this article was based, is courtesy of data provided by Zacks Investment Research via Quandl.com.
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Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats »
Also see:
Alphabetical List of All Hedge Funds
POTN Options Chain
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding SRHR
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

5 Dividend Growth Stocks With Upside To Analyst Targets

Worried about the next round of tariffs? Tech disruption from DeepSeek? The geopolitical landscape?
All of the above?
Fret not my contrarian friend--here are seven wonderfully-sleepy dividend stocks. They yield between 5% and 14.1% and we are discussing them today because all seven boast low betas.
This means these shares move less than the overall market. An admirable quality when it comes to a dividend stock because we're not here for the price drama, we're here for the payout.
Beta represents an investment's volatility against a benchmark. Stock beta is typically benchmarked against the S&P 500, aka "the market." Beta is based around the number 1, so a stock with a beta equal to 1 moves with the market. If the S&P 500 is down 1%, we would expect this stock to be down one percent.
A beta above 1 is more volatile than the market. Think Bitcoin.
Our focus today is stocks with betas below one. If the S&P is down 1%, we expect these positions to be down 0.5% or 0.25% or so.
Betas are based on historical price movements and are not future guarantees. But directionally they can be helpful to know. We can reasonably expect low-beta stocks to deliver smaller swings in price action. We can easily see this dynamic at work when comparing a traditional emerging-market fund (very volatile) versus a minimum-volatility EM fund:
Lower Volatility Means a Much Smoother Ride
That said, beta is not the end of our research. We also consider the fundamentals driving the profits (and payouts) of tomorrow. Let's get into these seven low betas, starting with our "lowest" yield of 5% and working our way all the way up to 14.1%. Let's start with aisle five.
Consumer Staples
Baking specialist Flowers Foods (FLO, 5.0% yield), the company behind bread brands such as Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder and Sunbeam, as well as snack brands including Tastykake and Mrs. Freshley's.
FLO's business is predictable. Revenues have been in a larger uptrend for years; same goes for profits, though legal settlements tied to employee classifications took a big chunk out of the bottom line in 2023. And that consistency has led to a longer-term (five-year) beta of just 0.37, or roughly only a third as volatile as the market, while its one-year beta of negative 0.11 reflects a truly slow-moving stock that hasn't been aligned with the market. Given the year the broader market has had, that's not great.
Flowers Marches to the Beat of Its Own Drum. But It's a Lousy Beat.
We could excuse some of underperformance as investors keeping their assets away from stodgy defensive plays and chasing the market's growth--FLO and the S&P 500 have been running almost inverse to each other for a couple of years now. But Flowers also has a problem with mismanaging expectations, and has produced mostly in-line or disappointing earnings reports during its current downtrend.
ConAgra (CAG, 5.6% yield) has a similar volatility profile, with a low five-year beta of 0.27 and a slightly negative one-year beta. It's befitting a staples stock--one with a wider business than Flowers, dealing with four different divisions: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice. As a result, it offers a more diverse product lineup that includes Birds Eye frozen vegetables, Marie Callender's and Healthy Choice frozen meals, Duncan Hines baking mixes, Slim Jim meat sticks, Reddi-wip whipped cream and Angie's Boomchickapop popcorn, among others.
The financial picture is much less promising here. Profits have dropped in each of the past three years, and 2024's net income was only a bit more than a quarter of what it was in 2021. Worse, the top and bottom lines are pacing for another retreat in the current fiscal year. While the majority of its brands continue to hold or gain market share, expectations for increased inflation are holding back ConAgra, which guided down in December.
CAG shares have long exemplified the "Dividend Magnet," for better or worse.
Unfortunately, after a few years of annual dividend raises, ConAgra has once again gone more than a year without hiking the payout--and it shows.
The Dividend Magnet Is on Low-Power Mode
Universal Corp. (UVV) has always stood out to me because it's a useful oddball in a niche dividend space. Specifically, it's a "picks and shovels" play in tobacco. Traditional tobacco stocks are names like Philip Morris (PM) and Altria (MO) that produce cigarettes and other tobacco products. However, Universal Corp. doesn't produce finished products--it merely supplies the tobacco.
Actually, it does much more--in addition to procuring and processing flue-cured, burley, dark air-cured, and oriental leaf tobacco, it also has an ingredients division (Universal Ingredients) and a "value-added agricultural business" (Universal Enterprises) that includes nicotine production, a lifecycle data solution and even a compost facility.
There's a decided lack of volatility in corporate financials and the dividend, which are growing, albeit slowly. But one- and five-year betas of 0.14 and 0.78 actually reflect shares that refuse to mirror the S&P 500 more than they reflect serene stock movement.
Peaks and Valleys Are More Common Than You'd Expect
Unfortunately, for the moment, UVV is hands-off. The company hasn't released a quarterly earnings report since August--in November, it received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange that it was not in compliance for failing to report its quarter numbers and has six months to file its 10-Q. This largely stems from an internal investigation over allegations of embezzlement at a Mozambique subsidiary. Universal doesn't believe it will have a material negative impact for the fiscal year, but even if we were considering getting our feet wet, the most prudent move would be to wait until the company is back in compliance.
A Staples-Esque Consumer Play
Amcor (AMCR) is a cyclical play that often feels like it's defensive. This Switzerland-headquartered firm makes a variety of packaging--everything from shrink bags for food to blister packaging for pharmaceutical pills to sachets for cosmetic samples--for consumer and healthcare companies. So, yes, consumer demand still plays a big role in Amcor's fortunes, but not as acutely as consumer cyclical companies that specialize in, say, just making snacks, or just making drinks.
Indeed, Amcor's business line has enough financial stability that it boasts more than 40 years of consecutive dividend increases, putting it among the ranks of the Dividend Aristocrats--a title it picked up from the 2019 acquisition of Bemis.
The problem? Amcor has been largely treading water for years. So yes, volatility has been low--its one- and five-year betas sit at 0.27 and 0.85, respectively--but so have its prospects. Indeed, it was largely looking toward aggressive cost cuts to improve its bottom line.
Little Dividend Growth, Little Growth Growth
But Amcor might very well have found a potential catalyst through another acquisition. It's currently in the process of trying to merge with U.S. packaging manufacturer Berry Global (BERY), which Amcor hopes will drive volume growth through greater scale in existing categories, as well as entering new categories and geographies--not to mention the potential for synergies.
Healthcare
One of the highest-yielding low-beta stocks out there is Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI, 7.1% yield), which sits at the intersection of healthcare and real estate. Specifically, it provides financing and capital solutions to skilled nursing facility and assisted living facility partners, with a portfolio of 962 properties in 42 states and the U.K. that are leased out to 81 different operators.
Omega has turned around its fortunes over the past couple of years--a combination of an improved operational story and a much friendlier interest-rate environment.
OHI Stands Out in a Struggling Real Estate Sector
Its longer-term five-year beta isn't all that low, at 0.97--roughly in line with the market. Its one-year beta is extremely low, at 0.20. Because while OHI has been jumpier than the real estate sector over the past year (as shown in the chart above), shares have been smooth compared to the rest of the market.
In theory, its positioning in long-term care at a time when demographics are increasingly in its favor, as well as OHI's triple-net lease structures, should put the wind at Omega's back. However, I mentioned a few months ago that OHI looked frothy, and since then, the stock has pulled back sharply amid a broader pullback in real estate. The valuation has improved, with shares now trading hands at 13-times next year's FFO estimates. Reasonable though not quite a bargain.
"Flexible" Dividend Payers
It's not often that we see traditional energy operators throwing off very high yield and low beta. But independent oil-and-gas producer Chord Energy (CHRD, 9.1% yield), which operates in the Big Sky's Williston Basin, is an exception, with a 9%-plus yield, as well as one- and five-year average betas of 0.74 and 0.84, respectively--though the former is a little misleading.
Chord's Past Year: A Case of Low Beta, But Not Exactly Low Volatility
The bad news first: Chord has been downright rotten over the past year, with weak oil prices hacking share prices down by a little less than 40% since they peaked in June 2024. But CHRD had some froth to work off following a 615% total return since the start of 2021 that more than tripled the energy sector in that time. Even including the past few months' losses, it's still up by roughly double.
Still, Chord boasts a pristine balance sheet and generates strong free cash flow even amid lean oil prices. Moreover, it has one of the industry's best free-cash-flow (FCF) payout programs, bolstered by its merger with Canadian E&P Enerplus. For at least the past few quarters, it has set return of capital (RoC) at 75% of FCF. That goes toward paying a base dividend of $1.25 per share (~4.5% yield); any additional free cash flow past that funds a variable dividend and/or share buybacks.
CHRD is tactical about these expenditures. For instance, in the second quarter, RoC was set at $197 million, and Chord bought back roughly $62 million in shares while paying out a $1.27/share variable dividend. But in Q3, during which shares really started to tumble, RoC was set at $234 million, which included $146 million in buybacks (and the authorization of a new $750 million repurchase program) but a smaller 19-cent variable distribution.
The downside? Yields can really fluctuate from year to year. But it's hard to argue Chord doesn't have shareholders' best interests at heart.
Low-beta dividends don't get much bigger than International Seaways (INSW, 14.1% yield), which owns and operates a fleet of 83 ocean vessels that transport crude oil and petroleum products. Currently, its fleet includes 38 Medium Range (MR) tankers, 14 Long Range 1s (LR1s), 13 Suezmaxes, 13 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), and five Long Range 2s (LR2s).
International Seaways, like CHRD and OHI, is another example of how low beta can sometimes be deceiving. In INSW's case, its five- and one-year betas are exceedingly low, at -0.11 and 0.14, respectively, but like many of its tanker brethren, this stock can really move.
More importantly, this stock is about as tethered to its dividend as it gets.
The Dividend Magnet's Force Is Strong in This One
Of course, that's because International Seaways' dividend is even more variable than Chord. INSW features a 12-cent quarterly distribution representing just 1.2% worth of yield--thus, the vast majority of this double-digit dividend is heavily reliant on business conditions, which naturally also dictate the ups and downs of the stock itself.
It's not ideal for retirement planners, but low beta and all, swing traders might be attracted to this mix of high potential upside and yield. Specifically, INSW boasts solid fundamentals, low capex and a low cash-flow breakeven, and if shipping rates rebound in 2025 as expected, that could be a potent combo.
This 11% Payer Is Another Top Buy as Volatility Ticks Up
If we're trying to find both stability and double-digit yields for the longer term, we can do much better than INSW.
I'm talking about a massive 11%, in a fund diversified across numerous holdings, that pays us each and every month.
At an 11% yield, this expertly run closed-end fund (CEF) pays us ...
$11,000 in dividends on every $100K invested.
$22,000 on every $200K.
$500K? A sweet $55,000 in yearly dividends.
And with those payouts rolling in every month, the next one is always just a few short days or weeks away.
Which is why I'm urging all investors to buy this stout 11% payer now. It's a rare bargain in a universe of overpriced US stocks and funds, and I don't want you to miss your opportunity here.
Click here to learn more about this bargain-priced high yielder and download a free Special Report revealing its name, ticker and my complete research on it.
Also see:
Warren Buffett Dividend Stocks
Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats
Future Dividend Aristocrats: Close Contenders
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

7 Wonderfully-Sleepy Dividend Stocks Yielding Up to 14.1%

The following companies are expected to report earnings prior to market open on 02/07/2025. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Fortive Corporation (FTV)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The electrical test equipment company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 7 analysts that follow the stock is $1.12. This value represents a 14.29% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year FTV has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 3rd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 4.3%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for FTV is 20.70 vs. an industry ratio of 42.00.
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The consensus earnings per share forecast from the 11 analysts that follow the stock is $2.13. CBOE reported earnings of $2.06 per share for the same quarter a year ago; representing a a increase of 3.40%.Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The reit company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 9 analysts that follow the stock is $0.42. This value represents a 7.69% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year KIM has met analyst expectations once and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for KIM is 13.64 vs. an industry ratio of 14.70.
Avantor, Inc. (AVTR)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The medical services company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 9 analysts that follow the stock is $0.25. This value represents a no change for the same quarter last year. In the past year AVTR has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 3rd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 4%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for AVTR is 22.44 vs. an industry ratio of 0.40, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The oil/gas company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $0.46. This value represents a 9.52% increase compared to the same quarter last year. PAA missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2024 by -6.06%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for PAA is 13.01 vs. an industry ratio of 7.60, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (PAGP)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The oil (production/pipeline) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.28. This value represents a 3.70% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for PAGP is 25.80 vs. an industry ratio of 21.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The food company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $0.21. This value represents a 5.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. FLO missed the consensus earnings per share in the 1st calendar quarter of 2024 by -5%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for FLO is 15.34 vs. an industry ratio of 21.90.
Newell Brands Inc. (NWL)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The consumer company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $0.14. This value represents a 36.36% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year NWL has met analyst expectations once and beat the expectations the other three quarters. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for NWL is 14.92 vs. an industry ratio of 17.90.
Construction Partners, Inc. (ROAD)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The building company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 3 analysts that follow the stock is $0.14. This value represents a 26.32% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year ROAD has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 3rd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 1.75%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2025 Price to Earnings ratio for ROAD is 41.50 vs. an industry ratio of 14.30, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. (ULCC)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The airline company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $0.13. This value represents a 0.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. ULCC missed the consensus earnings per share in the 3rd calendar quarter of 2024 by -150%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for ULCC is 65.33 vs. an industry ratio of 13.60, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Proto Labs, Inc. (PRLB)is reporting for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. The rubber & plastic company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 1 analyst that follows the stock is $0.17. This value represents a 37.04% decrease compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year PRLB has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 3rd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 70.59%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for PRLB is 52.68 vs. an industry ratio of 13.30, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Byrna Technologies, Inc. (BYRN)is reporting for the quarter ending November 30, 2024. The technology services company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 2 analysts that follow the stock is $0.05. This value represents a 225.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year BYRN has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 3rd calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 500%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2024 Price to Earnings ratio for BYRN is 139.42 vs. an industry ratio of 0.50, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Pre-Market Earnings Report for February 7, 2025 : FTV, CBOE, KIM, AVTR, PAA, PAGP, FLO, NWL, ROAD, ULCC, PRLB, BYRN

To become a "Dividend Aristocrat," a dividend paying company must accomplish an incredible feat: consistently increase shareholder dividends every year for at least 20 consecutive years. Companies with this kind of track record tend to attract a lot of investor attention — and furthermore, "tracking" funds that follow the Dividend Aristocrats Index must own them. With all of this demand for shares, dividend growth stocks can sometimes become "fully priced," where there isn't much upside to analyst targets.
But we here at ETF Channel have looked through the underlying holdings of the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (which tracks the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index), and found these five dividend growth stocks that actually still have fairly substantial upside to the average analyst target price 12 months out. Which means, if the analysts are correct, these are five dividend growth stocks that could produce capital gains in addition to their growing dividend payments.
In the first table below, we present the five stocks. The recent share price, average analyst 12-month target price, and percentage upside to reach the analyst target are presented.
Stock
Recent Price
Avg. Analyst 12-Mo. Target
% Upside to Target
L3Harris Technologies Inc (Symbol: LHX)
$219.79
$266.73
21.36%
Coca-Cola Co (Symbol: KO)
$61.53
$73.00
18.64%
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO)
$19.89
$22.83
14.80%
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (Symbol: LECO)
$198.62
$226.00
13.79%
Chevron Corporation (Symbol: CVX)
$156.01
$177.41
13.72%
The average 12-month analyst targets are only targets for the share price however, and each of these stocks are expected to pay dividends during that holding period — so the expected total return if these stocks reach their analyst targets is actually the share price upside seen by the analysts plus the dividend yield shareholders can expect. To ballpark that total return potential, we have added the current yield to the analyst target price upside, in order to arrive at the 12-month total return potential:
Stock
Dividend Yield
% Upside to Analyst Target
Implied Total Return Potential
L3Harris Technologies Inc (Symbol: LHX)
2.11%
21.36%
23.47%
Coca-Cola Co (Symbol: KO)
3.15%
18.64%
21.79%
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO)
4.83%
14.80%
19.63%
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (Symbol: LECO)
1.51%
13.79%
15.3%
Chevron Corporation (Symbol: CVX)
4.18%
13.72%
17.9%
Another consideration with dividend growth stocks is just how much the dividend is growing. We looked up the trailing twelve months worth of dividends shareholders of each of the above five companies have collected, and then also looked up the same number for the prior trailing twelve months. This gives us a rough yardstick to see how much the dividend has grown, from one trailing twelve month period to another.
Stock
Prior TTM Dividend
TTM Dividend
% Growth
L3Harris Technologies Inc (Symbol: LHX)
$4.56
$4.64
1.75%
Coca-Cola Co (Symbol: KO)
$1.84
$1.94
5.43%
Flowers Foods, Inc. (Symbol: FLO)
$0.91
$0.95
4.40%
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (Symbol: LECO)
$2.63
$2.88
9.51%
Chevron Corporation (Symbol: CVX)
$6.04
$6.52
7.95%
These five stocks are part of our full Dividend Aristocrats List. The average analyst target price data upon which this article was based, is courtesy of data provided by Zacks Investment Research via Quandl.com.
Get the latest Zacks research report on LECO — FREE
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Dividend Growth Stocks: 25 Aristocrats »
Also see:
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Institutional Holders of IEI
SUMO Videos
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

(Flowers Foods, Inc. FLO) is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/E) ratio of 0.77 compared with the Zacks Food – Miscellaneous industry’s 1.24. This valuation gap highlights the stock's attractiveness for value-oriented investors seeking potential upside in an otherwise competitive sector. Strengthening its appeal, FLO boasts a Value Score of B, a metric that underscores its favorable position.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
However, a closer look at the company’s operations highlights a mix of strategic priorities, growth opportunities, and broader and category challenges.
Factors Driving FLO’s Appeal
Flowers Foods has been on track with its core priorities, which include developing its team, concentrating on brands, prioritizing margins and looking out for prudent mergers and acquisitions. To this end, management has been shifting its focus toward becoming a more brand-focused company. The company expects its optimized portfolio to drive market share gains through innovation.
Innovation remains at the core of Flowers Foods' strategy, with several new product launches contributing to growth. On its third-quarterearnings call management stated that the keto loaf had gained an impressive 730 basis points in unit share and 770 basis points in dollar share, making it one of the fastest-growing products in its subcategory. Flowers Foods introduced Dave’s Killer Bread snack bars and plans a national rollout of snack bites in 2025. Building on Wonder's extensive brand equity, Flowers Foods is also preparing for a national launch of sweet baked goods in 2025. These product launches not only diversify the company’s portfolio but also position it to capture growth in adjacent and emerging categories, enhancing long-term revenue potential.
Driven by its focus on catering to consumers’ evolving needs, Flowers Foods' primary bread brands continued to deliver impressive performance in the third quarter of 2024. Unit sales of Nature’s Own brand increased by 2% in tracked channels, supported by the brand's strong consumer recognition and focus on health-conscious offerings. DKB achieved a 4% increase in unit sales, driven by its appeal to premium and organic-focused consumers. Wonder Bread saw a 3% rise in unit sales, bolstered by its nostalgic value and consistent quality. Canyon Bakehouse delivered exceptional 11%-unit sales growth, solidifying its dominance in the gluten-free bread segment.
Moving to margins, the company is undertaking pricing and saving measures and efforts to enhance business efficiency. Flowers Foods is adhering to its objectives, which include executing its portfolio strategy by exiting the low-margin business and replacing it with a margin-accretive new business, enhancing its cost structure, investing in its brands to drive volume and share gains and boosting the product mix, utilizing technology to improve data visibility and make better strategic decisions and investing in its team to enhance overall execution.
Key Challenges Faced by Flowers Foods
Like many other food companies, such as General Mills GIS, Conagra Brands CAG and B&G Foods BGS, Flowers Foods has been encountering a dynamic consumer landscape. Shifts in spending behavior and heightened promotional activity negatively impacted the company's performance in the third quarter of 2024. While the broader food industry has benefited from a consumer shift toward at-home consumption, Flowers Foods faces headwinds specific to its core categories, including fresh packaged bread and cake.
The cake category remains a persistent challenge, reflecting evolving consumer preferences that are shifting away from traditional offerings. With consumers prioritizing at-home dining, the foodservice channel continues to face demand erosion. This shift limits Flowers Foods’ ability to capitalize on recovery opportunities in out-of-home dining spaces. These pressures underscore the company's reliance on struggling segments, presenting risks to revenue growth.
The competitive environment has intensified, with promotions rising notably in the second half of 2024. Reliance on promotions may undermine Flowers Foods’ ability to sustain premium pricing for its core brands, posing a threat to profitability. Apart from this, persistent inflationary pressures in labor and input costs are an area of concern.
Investors’ Playbook for FLO Stock
Flowers Foods’ strong brands and strategic priorities, especially innovation, underscore its potential for long-term growth. However, challenges, such as shifting consumer behaviors, cost inflation and increased promotional activity, could weigh on near-term performance. While FLO’s attractive valuation may appeal to value-focused investors, its ability to manage macroeconomic pressures and sustain growth warrants a close watch. For now, maintaining positions in Flowers Foods seems prudent. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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General Mills, Inc. (GIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
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Is Flowers Foods Stock Worth a Buy at a P/S Multiple of 0.8X?

Flowers Foods, Inc. FLO has taken a significant step forward in its strategic growth journey by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Simple Mills for $795 million in cash. This acquisition represents a transformative move for Flowers Foods, delivering substantial benefits across its business operations and financial profile. Financed through a $795 million term loan from the Royal Bank of Canada, the deal is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.
The company’s strategic priorities, ranging from brand innovation and operational efficiency to targeted acquisitions, pave the way to growth. The addition of Simple Mills is set to spur growth and diversify Flowers Foods' revenue base, reinforcing its position in the better-for-you and snacking categories.
Simple Mills, a premium brand offering better-for-you crackers, cookies, snack bars and baking mixes, brings substantial growth opportunities to Flowers Foods. The brand’s innovative use of nutrient-dense ingredients and its ability to resonate with health-conscious consumers have fueled its strong market performance, significantly outpacing category growth. With Simple Mills’ strong presence in more than 30,000 natural and conventional stores nationwide, Flowers Foods gains access to a broader consumer demographic.
Simple Mills’ products, which are outpacing overall category growth, offer Flowers Foods a chance to capture a larger share of this attractive market. The acquisition is expected to immediately contribute to Flowers Foods' net sales adjusted EBITDA growth and margins, while also aiding its earnings per share by 2026. On a proforma basis, the transaction positions Flowers Foods for long-term financial success, supporting top-line growth and improved profitability.
What’s More for FLO?
Acquisitions are a key pillar of Flowers Foods' growth strategy, enabling expansion of its brand portfolio, geographic reach and product offerings. The company focuses on investments aligned with its strategic priorities to strengthen core categories and explore emerging markets. Notable acquisitions include Papa Pita Bakery in 2023, Dave’s Killer Bread (DKB) and Alpine Valley Bread Company in 2015, and Canyon Bakehouse in 2018. DKB, a top-performing brand, achieved $1 billion in retail sales in 2023, while Canyon Bakehouse has propelled Flowers into the gluten-free bakery space. The company’s Nature’s Own brand also continues to perform well.
Innovation has been a cornerstone of Flowers Foods' strategy. The launch of keto-friendly products, including Nature’s Own keto bread, has resonated with consumers, driving significant share gains in the sub-category. Building on this momentum, the company plans to introduce keto hamburgers and hotdog buns in 2024 and 2025. The forthcoming national rollout of Wonder-branded sweet baked goods and DKB snack bites reflects a keen focus on high-growth adjacent categories like indulgent treats and better-for-you snacks.
Despite all the positives, Flowers Foods continues to navigate a challenging consumer environment marked by shifts in spending behavior and heightened promotional activity, which have negatively impacted the company's performance in the third quarter of 2024. While the broader food industry has benefited from a consumer shift toward at-home consumption, Flowers Foods faces headwinds specific to its core categories, including fresh packaged bread and cake.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company’s shares have lost 10.4% in the past three months compared with the industry’s decline of 9.4%.
FLO Stock Past Three Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to Consider
Freshpet Inc. FRPT manufactures, distributes and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet’s current financial-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 27.2% and 228.6%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels. FRPT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 144.5%, on average.
United Natural Foods, Inc. UNFI distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce and conventional grocery and non-food products. It presently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1. UNFI delivered an earnings surprise of 553.1% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for United Natural Foods’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 0.3% and 442.9%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels.
Tyson Foods, Inc. TSN operates as a food company worldwide. It operates through four segments, Beef, Pork, Chicken and Prepared Foods. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. TSN delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 57%.
The consensus estimate for Tyson Foods’ current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 2% and 13.2%, respectively, from the prior-year reported levels.
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Flowers Foods, Inc.

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