The Kraft Heinz Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets food and beverage products in North America and internationally. Its products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy products, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, and other grocery products under the Kraft, Oscar Mayer, Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, Velveeta, Ore-Ida, Maxwell House, Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Heinz, ABC, Master, Quero, Kraft, Golden Circle, Wattie's, Pudliszki, and Plasmon brands. It sells its products through its own sales organizations, as well as through independent brokers, agents, and distributors to chain, wholesale, cooperative, and independent grocery accounts; convenience, value, and club stores; pharmacies and drug stores; mass merchants; foodservice distributors; institutions, including hotels, restaurants, bakeries, hospitals, health care facilities, and government agencies; and online through various e-commerce platforms and retailers. The company was formerly known as H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation and changed its name to The Kraft Heinz Company in July 2015. The Kraft Heinz Company was founded in 1869 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Kraft Heinz Company

The Kraft Heinz Company KHC is likely to register declines in the top and bottom lines when it reports third-quarter 2025 earnings on Oct. 29, before the opening bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $6.26 billion, indicating a 2% drop from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
The consensus mark for quarterly earnings has been revised downward by one cent in the past seven days to 57 cents per share, projecting a decline of 24% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.
KHC has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.1%, on average. In the last reported quarter, the company’s bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a margin of 7.8%.
Kraft Heinz Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Factors Likely to Impact KHC’s Upcoming Results
Kraft Heinz has encountered challenges in its volume performance, putting pressure on its top-line growth. The company is navigating shifting consumer preferences and macroeconomic pressures, including tariffs and inflation, as well as softness in the U.S. Away from Home segment. These ongoing obstacles threaten Kraft Heinz’s organic sales, which, in turn, are likely to have weighed on overall revenues in the quarter under review.
Our model suggests a year-over-year decline of 2.8 percentage points in the volume/mix for the third quarter of 2025. As a result, we project a drop of 2.3 percentage points in organic net sales for the same period.
In addition to weak volume trends, Kraft Heinz has also been dealing with margin pressure. The downside can be attributed to unfavorable volume/mix shifts, rising manufacturing and procurement costs, and unfavorable foreign currency impacts.
Additionally, the company indicated that certain inflationary and promotional costs, initially expected in the second quarter, were shifted into the third quarter, likely to have impacted margins by 30-40 basis points. We expect the company’s adjusted gross margin to contract 140 basis points year over year to 32.9% in the third quarter of 2025.
Kraft Heinz is driving growth through targeted pricing, operational efficiencies and innovation. Its Brand Growth System is gaining momentum, while the company continues to expand in emerging markets.
Earnings Whispers for KHC Stock
Our proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Kraft Heinz this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chance of an earnings beat, which is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Kraft Heinz currently has an Earnings ESP of -0.81% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell).
Stocks With the Favorable Combination
Here are a few companies, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Vital Farms VITL currently has an Earnings ESP of +8.84% and flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. The company is likely to register growth in the top line when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The consensus mark for revenues is pegged at $191.1 million, which indicates an increase of 31.8% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Vital Farms’ quarterly earnings per share of 29 cents implies an 81.3% rise from the year-ago quarter. The consensus mark has been unchanged in the past 30 days. VITL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 35.8%, on average.
Hershey HSY has an Earnings ESP of +0.19% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present. HSY is likely to register a bottom-line decline when it releases third-quarter 2025 results. The consensus estimate for Hershey’s quarterly earnings has been risen by 1 cent in the past seven days to $1.08 per share, implying a drop of 53.9% from the year-ago quarter’s number.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $3.12 billion, which implies growth of 4.3% from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. HSY delivered an earnings surprise of 8.5%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Monster Beverage MNST currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.18% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is expected to register growth in its top and bottom lines when it reports third-quarter 2025 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MNST’s quarterly earnings was unchanged in the last 30 days at 48 cents per share, indicating 20% growth from the year-ago quarter's reported number.
The consensus estimate for Monster Beverage’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $2.1 billion, implying a rise of 11.9% from the figure in the prior-year quarter. MNST reported an earnings surprise of 0.2%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
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Kraft Heinz to Report Q3 Earnings: Key Factors to Watch Ahead

Key Points
Berkshire's CEO and chief stock picker has been leery of putting a serious amount of cash into the stock market of late, perhaps worried about steep valuations.
While the market is admittedly valued well above long-term norms here, this hasn't prevented it from making gains, nor is there any guarantee it will drag stocks down anytime soon.
Investors should consider what proven stock pickers like Warren Buffett are doing or not doing, but investors should also be comfortable making their own decisions.
There's no denying that Warren Buffett is one of the world's most brilliant stock pickers. The impressive gains Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) continues to dish out prove as much.
To say Buffett is 100% right 100% of the time, however, would be inaccurate. He gets things wrong on occasion, too. For instance, after steering food company Heinz into what turned into a disastrous merger with Kraft back in 2015 to create now-struggling food giant Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC), Buffett finally admitted in 2019 that he "overpaid" for Kraft. The massive food company recently decided to split itself up again, if that tells you anything.
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This isn't the Oracle of Omaha's biggest misstep of late, though. Rather, Buffett's biggest recent bungle isn't an investment he made but one he didn't make. And it's cost him $53 billion over the past year.
Berkshire's kept too much on the sidelines at the wrong time
Anyone reading this likely knows Berkshire Hathaway's been sitting on a large amount of idle cash for a while now. What most people may not realize is just how much cash, and just how long it's been idle. Buffett's been largely on the sidelines since the third quarter of last year, when it reported that it was sitting on $325 billion in cash, versus Berkshire Hathaway's then market cap of just under $1 trillion. Since then, the conglomerate's uninvested cash hoard has grown to $344 billion, averaging $339 billion for the three reported quarters since then.
Connect the dots. Without explicitly saying it, Buffett's clearly just not seen any worthy buying opportunities during this time.
And yet, the market's still moved higher since then. The S&P 500 has gained 15.7% since last September, in fact. Had Berkshire Hathaway simply bought and held a basic index fund with its uninvested cash during this 12-month span, the company would be worth roughly $53 billion more than it is right now.
Now, it's admittedly easy to second-guess any decision with the gift of hindsight. There's also no arguing that Buffett's concern at the time (and in the meantime) is reasonable -- the market's trailing and forward-looking valuations have both reached uncomfortably steep levels, leaving stocks ripe for a rather serious correction.
Even in Buffett's own words, though, "It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price." The market may be expensive as a whole here, but that's mostly because the market's very biggest companies (like the "Magnificent Seven") have raced to wildly expensive prices. There are plenty of wonderful companies still trading at fair prices at this time. Berkshire isn't buying any of them. Indeed, it's selling pieces of a bunch of the ones it already owns, undermining Buffett's argument that his favorite holding period is truly "forever."
And some statistics and data confirm that this short-term-minded hesitation is a mistake.
You can't afford to miss out on the market's few "best" days
Your stocks already have good and bad days, but in the long run, there are more good ones than bad ones. That's how the S&P 500 manages to achieve an average annual gain of about 10% per year, even if it loses ground in some years.
What you may not realize is that most of the market's long-term gains are driven by a tiny number of trading days in any given year. Researchers with Wells Fargo crunched the numbers, reporting earlier this year that not being fully invested during just the market's 30 best days over the course of the past 30 years would have dialed your average annual gain in an S&P 500 index fund back from 8.4% to 2.1%.
It's an eye-popping concern simply because you can't possibly predict when those 30 best days might materialize. You'll need to be "in" the stock market before they unfurl.
And mutual fund company Hartford's deeper digging into the matter further confirms that investors' biggest risk isn't being in the market at the wrong time. It's not being in it all the time. Specifically, Hartford notes that between 1995 and 2024, half of the S&P 500's best 50 days were seen in the middle of bear markets, while another 28% of them materialized during the first two months of new bull markets, when many investors were still likely to be on the sidelines.
More to the point here and now, yes, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has missed out on a lot of gains it arguably should have reaped.
You're smart, too
It's still difficult to question or criticize Buffett. Again, Berkshire's long-term track record speaks for itself. And he may well be vindicated sooner than later for refusing to deploy a huge amount of cash in anything, whether that be publicly traded equity or privately owned businesses. It's also difficult not to notice there's something "off" about the U.S. stock market, as well as the underlying global economy, even if it's not clear exactly what's wrong. Buffett probably senses it, too.
This may also be a scenario, however, where average individual investors don't necessarily want to read too much into a decision Buffett has made for Berkshire, since his reasoning and concerns may not apply to you. For instance, Berkshire Hathaway's multibillion-dollar purchases and exits can push a stock's price measurably higher and lower, respectively, negating much of the value he's trying to extract. Most ordinary investors don't have that problem.
Whatever the case, the bigger bottom line is simply this: Even if he's a genius, Buffett isn't always right. There's much to be said for trusting your own gut, even if it's telling you something different from what the crowd or experts are. And the more personally experienced you are with the market, the more you should be willing to trust your own instincts and not strictly rely on someone else's ideas and actions.
Just some food for thought.
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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.

Warren Buffett's Forecast Proved Incorrect -- and It's Cost Him $53 Billion Over the Last Year

Kraft Heinz (KHC) ended the recent trading session at $25.52, demonstrating a +1.55% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.53% gain on the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.52%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq increased by 0.52%.
The stock of processed food company with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Chicago has fallen by 3.64% in the past month, lagging the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 1.68% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.71%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Kraft Heinz in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to go public on October 29, 2025. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.57, down 24% from the prior-year quarter. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $6.27 billion, indicating a 1.79% decline compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $2.57 per share and a revenue of $25.24 billion, representing changes of -16.01% and -2.36%, respectively, from the prior year.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Kraft Heinz. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.33% downward. Kraft Heinz currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).
In terms of valuation, Kraft Heinz is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.79. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 15.2, so one might conclude that Kraft Heinz is trading at a discount comparatively.
Investors should also note that KHC has a PEG ratio of 2.94 right now. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Food - Miscellaneous industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.73.
The Food - Miscellaneous industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 193, placing it within the bottom 22% of over 250 industries.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Remember to apply Zacks.com to follow these and more stock-moving metrics during the upcoming trading sessions.
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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.

Kraft Heinz (KHC) Outperforms Broader Market: What You Need to Know

Investors in Kraft Heinz Co (Symbol: KHC) saw new options begin trading this week, for the December 19th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the KHC options chain for the new December 19th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $22.50 strike price has a current bid of 25 cents. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $22.50, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $22.25 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of KHC, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $25.25/share today.
Because the $22.50 strike represents an approximate 11% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 83%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 1.11% return on the cash commitment, or 6.43% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Kraft Heinz Co, and highlighting in green where the $22.50 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $27.50 strike price has a current bid of 28 cents. If an investor was to purchase shares of KHC stock at the current price level of $25.25/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $27.50. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 10.02% if the stock gets called away at the December 19th expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if KHC shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Kraft Heinz Co, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing KHC's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $27.50 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $27.50 strike represents an approximate 9% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 77%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 1.11% boost of extra return to the investor, or 6.42% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example is 30%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 27%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $25.25) to be 25%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
AGRO Historical Stock Prices
ZVRA shares outstanding history
Institutional Holders of SMA
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

First Week of KHC December 19th Options Trading

The latest trading session saw Kraft Heinz (KHC) ending at $30.77, denoting a +0.2% adjustment from its last day's close. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.22%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.36%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.16%.
Heading into today, shares of the processed food company with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Chicago had lost 0.94% over the past month, outpacing the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 5.7% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.36% in that time.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Kraft Heinz in its upcoming release. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $0.79, showcasing a 1.28% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $6.69 billion, indicating a 2.53% downward movement from the same quarter last year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Kraft Heinz. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the company's business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed a 0.29% decrease. At present, Kraft Heinz boasts a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).
Digging into valuation, Kraft Heinz currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 10.04. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 16.73, so one might conclude that Kraft Heinz is trading at a discount comparatively.
One should further note that KHC currently holds a PEG ratio of 3.54. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. Food - Miscellaneous stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 2.75 based on yesterday's closing prices.
The Food - Miscellaneous industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 189, positioning it in the bottom 25% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
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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.

Kraft Heinz (KHC) Ascends While Market Falls: Some Facts to Note

Investors in Kraft Heinz Co (Symbol: KHC) saw new options begin trading today, for the November 28th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the KHC options chain for the new November 28th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $24.00 strike price has a current bid of 41 cents. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $24.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $23.59 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of KHC, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $24.98/share today.
Because the $24.00 strike represents an approximate 4% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 65%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 1.71% return on the cash commitment, or 12.46% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Kraft Heinz Co, and highlighting in green where the $24.00 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $26.00 strike price has a current bid of 54 cents. If an investor was to purchase shares of KHC stock at the current price level of $24.98/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $26.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 6.24% if the stock gets called away at the November 28th expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if KHC shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Kraft Heinz Co, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing KHC's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $26.00 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $26.00 strike represents an approximate 4% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 56%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 2.16% boost of extra return to the investor, or 15.77% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example is 26%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 53%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $24.98) to be 25%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
MDR Split History
UBNK market cap history
Synchrony Financial Average Annual Return
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

November 28th Options Now Available For Kraft Heinz (KHC)

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) on Wednesday closed up +0.58%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) closed unchanged, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed up +1.19%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ25) rose +0.60%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ25) rose +1.17%.
Most stock indexes rallied on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 posting fresh all-time highs. Strength in semiconductor and AI infrastructure stocks on Wednesday supported gains in the broader market. Optimism that growth in the AI sector and spending on artificial intelligence will translate into corporate profits is a major bullish factor for stocks. Stocks are also underpinned by hopes that a resilient US economy and additional Fed easing will continue to support the economy.
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US MBA mortgage applications fell -4.7% in the week ended October 3, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -1.2% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -7.7%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell -3 bp to 6.43% from 6.46% in the prior week.
The minutes of the September 16-17 FOMC meeting had a hawkish tone, stating, "Most policymakers judged that it would be appropriate to ease policy further over the remainder of the year," but "a majority of participants emphasized upside risks to their outlooks for inflation."
The shutdown of the US government is now into its second week, weighing on market sentiment and delaying key economic reports. The government shutdown means delays in the release of government reports, including Tuesday's Aug US trade report and last Friday's monthly payroll report. A prolonged shutdown could also delay the government's inflation data, scheduled for release on October 15. The White House has warned that if the government shutdown lingered, it would trigger widespread dismissals of employees in government programs that don't align with President Trump's priorities. Bloomberg Economics estimates that 640,000 federal workers will be furloughed during the shutdown, which would expand jobless claims and push the unemployment rate up to 4.7%.
The ongoing US government shutdown, expectations of additional Fed easing, President Trump's criticism of the Fed, and political uncertainty in France and Japan are all driving investors to safe-haven assets, such as gold and Bitcoin. Gold prices soared above $4,000 an ounce to another record high on Wednesday. According to the latest data, the People's Bank of China added to its gold holdings in September for an eleventh consecutive month.
Market focus this week will be on any new developments regarding tariffs, trade, or attempts by lawmakers to end the ongoing US government shutdown. On Thursday, Fed Chair Powell will give welcoming remarks at a Fed Community Bank Conference. On Friday, the University of Michigan Oct consumer sentiment index is expected to fall -1.1 to 54.0.
Rising corporate earnings expectations are a bullish backdrop for stocks. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, more than 22% of companies in the S&P 500 provided guidance for their Q3 earnings results that are expected to beat analysts' expectations, the highest in a year. However, Q3 profits are expected to have risen by +7.2%, the smallest increase in two years. Also, Q3 sales growth is projected to slow to +5.9% from 6.4% in Q2.
The markets are pricing in a 93% chance of a -25 bp rate cut at the next FOMC meeting on Oct 28-29.
Overseas stock markets on Wednesday settled mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +0.64%. China's Shanghai Composite did not trade and is closed for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday. Japan's Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -0.45%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ5) on Wednesday closed down by -2 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield rose +0.4 bp to 4.127%. T-note prices gave up early gains on Wednesday and turned lower after the S&P 500 climbed to a new record high, which curbed safe-haven demand for government debt securities. Weak demand for the Treasury's $39 billion auction of 10-year T-notes also weighed on T-note prices Wednesday, as the auction had a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.48, below the 10-auction average of 2.57.
T-notes initially moved higher on Wednesday, amid concerns about the ongoing US government shutdown, which could lead to additional job losses, reduced consumer spending, and a weakened US economy, potentially allowing the Fed to continue cutting interest rates.
European government bond yields on Wednesday moved lower. The 10-year German bund yield dropped to a 3-week low of 2.666% and finished down -3.1 bp at 2.679%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell by -1.0 bp to 4.709%.
German Aug industrial production fell -4.3% m/m, weaker than expectations of -1.0% m/m and the biggest decline in almost 3.5 years.
ECB Governing Council Member Muller said the Eurozone economy is slowly picking up and inflation is in line with the ECB's 2% target.
Swaps are discounting a 1% chance for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at its next policy meeting on October 30.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks rallied on Wednesday, providing a supportive factor for the broader market. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) closed up more than +11% to lead gainers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100. Also, Dell Technologies (DELL) closed up more than +9%, and Super Micro Computer (SMCI) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed up more than +6%. In addition, Micron Technology (MU) and ON Semiconductor (ON) closed up more than +5%, and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) and Microchip Technology (MCHP) closed up more than +3%. Finally, NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Applied Materials (AMAT), Broadcom (AVGO), Nvidia (NVDA), and GlobalFoundries (GFS) closed up more than +2%.
Gold mining stocks moved higher on Wednesday after the price of gold soared over $4,000 an ounce to a new record high. Anglogold Ashanti Plc (AU), Coeur Mining (CDE), and Gold Fields Ltd (GFI) closed up more than +3%, and Newmont (NEM) closed up more than +1%.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) closed up more than +8% after signing an agreement to provide direct-to-cellular connectivity when needed for Verizon customers starting in 2026.
Confluent (CFLT) closed up more than +7% after Reuters reported the company is exploring a sale after receiving acquisition interest.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) closed up more than +6% after signing a contract with iQPS to launch three more satellites for the Japanese company.
Datadog (DDOG) closed up more than +6% after Bernstein raised its price target on the stock to $170 from $147.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) closed up more than +5% after Citigroup upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $48.
Constellation Energy (CEG) closed up more than +4% after Seaport Global Securities upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $407.
Penguin Solutions (PENG) closed down more than 15% after forecasting fiscal 2026 sales of $1.31 billion to $1.59 billion, with the midpoint below the consensus of $1.48 billion.
Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) closed down more than -9% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after rival Equifax said its VantageScore 4.0 service will offer mortgage credit scores at $4.50 through the end of 2027.
Joby Aviation (JOBY) closed down more than -7% after offering a $500 million block of shares overnight in a range of $16.85-$17.35, well below Tuesday's closing price of $18.91.
Defensive food-producing companies retreated on Wednesday as the overall market strengthened. Tyson Foods (TSN) closed down more than -3%. Also, J M Smucker (SJM) and General Mills (GIS) closed down more than -2%. In addition, Kraft Heinz (KHC), Mondelez International (MDLZ), Conagra Brands (CAG), and the Campbell Company (CPB) closed down more than -1%.
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) closed down more than -3% after announcing it intends to offer $1.3 billion in convertible senior notes due 2031.
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) closed down more than -1% after TD Cowen cut its price target on the stock to $199 from $212.
Edwards Lifesciences (EW) closed down more than -1% after Oppenheimer & Co. downgraded the stock to market perform from outperform.
Earnings Reports(10/9/2025)
Apogee Enterprises Inc (APOG), Applied Digital Corp (APLD), Byrna Technologies Inc (BYRN), Delta Air Lines Inc (DAL), Helen of Troy Ltd (HELE), Neogen Corp (NEOG), Oil-Dri Corp of America (ODC), Park Aerospace Corp (PKE), PepsiCo Inc (PEP).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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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.

Stocks Power Higher on AI Optimism

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) today is up +0.36%, the Dow Jones Industrials Index ($DOWI) (DIA) is up +0.19%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is up +0.57%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ25) are up +0.39%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ25) are up +0.59%.
Stock indexes are moving higher today, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 just below Tuesday’s record highs. Strength in semiconductor and AI infrastructure stocks today is supporting gains in the broader market. Optimism that growth in the AI sector and spending on artificial intelligence will translate into corporate profits is a major bullish factor for stocks. Stocks are also underpinned by hopes that a resilient US economy and additional Fed easing will continue to support the economy. In addition, lower bond yields are bullish for stocks as the 10-year T-note yield is down -1 bp to 4.11%.
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US MBA mortgage applications fell -4.7% in the week ended October 3, with the purchase mortgage sub-index down -1.2% and the refinancing mortgage sub-index down -7.7%. The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell -3 bp to 6.43% from 6.46% in the prior week.
The shutdown of the US government is now into its second week, weighing on market sentiment and delaying key economic reports. The government shutdown means delays in the release of government reports, including Tuesday’s Aug US trade report and last Friday’s monthly payroll report. A prolonged shutdown could also delay the government’s inflation data, scheduled for release on October 15. The White House has warned that if the government shutdown lingered, it would trigger widespread dismissals of employees in government programs that don’t align with President Trump’s priorities. Bloomberg Economics estimates that 640,000 federal workers will be furloughed during the shutdown, which would expand jobless claims and push the unemployment rate up to 4.7%.
The ongoing US government shutdown, expectations of additional Fed easing, President Trump’s assault on the Fed, and political uncertainty in France and Japan are all driving investors to haven assets, such as gold and Bitcoin. Gold prices soared above $4,000 an ounce to another record high today. According to the latest data, the People’s Bank of China added to its gold holdings in September for an eleventh consecutive month.
Market focus this week will be on any new developments regarding tariffs, trade, or attempts by lawmakers to end the ongoing US government shutdown. Later today, the minutes of the September 16-17 FOMC meeting will be released. On Thursday, Fed Chair Powell will give welcoming remarks at a Fed Community Bank Conference. On Friday, the University of Michigan Oct consumer sentiment index is expected to fall -1.1 to 54.0.
Rising corporate earnings expectations are a bullish backdrop for stocks. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, more than 22% of companies in the S&P 500 provided guidance for their Q3 earnings results that are expected to beat analysts’ expectations, the highest in a year. However, Q3 profits are expected to have risen by +7.2%, the smallest increase in two years. Also, Q3 sales growth is projected to slow to +5.9% from 6.4% in Q2.
The markets are pricing in a 93% chance of a -25 bp rate cut at the next FOMC meeting on Oct 28-29.
Overseas stock markets today are mixed. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +0.53%. China’s Shanghai Composite did not trade and is closed for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday. Japan’s Nikkei Stock 225 closed down -0.45%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ5) today are up by +3 ticks. The 10-year T-note yield is down -1.4 bp to 4.109%. T-note prices are supported today by the ongoing US government shutdown, which could lead to additional job losses, reduced consumer spending, and a weakened US economy, allowing the Fed to continue cutting interest rates. Supply pressures are limiting gains in T-note prices as the Treasury will auction $39 billion of 10-year T-notes later today as part of this week’s $119 billion of T-note and T-bond auction package.
European government bond yields are moving lower today. The 10-year German bund yield dropped to a 3-week low of 2.666% and is down -3.2 bp at 2.678%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is down by -1.7 bp to 4.702%.
German Aug industrial production fell -4.3% m/m, weaker than expectations of -1.0% m/m and the biggest decline in almost 3.5 years.
ECB Governing Council Member Muller said the Eurozone economy is slowly picking up and inflation is in line with the ECB’s 2% target.
Swaps are discounting a 1% chance for a -25 bp rate cut by the ECB at its next policy meeting on October 30.
US Stock Movers
Chip makers and AI infrastructure stocks are climbing today, a supportive factor for the broader market. Dell Technologies (DELL) is up more than +7% to lead gainers in the S&P 500, and Micron Technology (MU) is up more than +5% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is up more than +4% and ON Semiconductor (ON) is up more than +3%. In addition, Nvidia (NVDA) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are up more than +2%, and NXP Semiconductors NV (NXPI), Analog Devices (ADI), and Texas Instruments (TXN) are up more than +1%.
Gold mining stocks are moving higher today after the price of gold soared over $4,000 an ounce to a new record high. Anglogold Ashanti Plc (AU), Coeur Mining (CDE), and Gold Fields Ltd (GFI) are up more than +2%, and Newmont (NEM) is up more than +1%.
Confluent (CFLT) is up more than +11% after Reuters reported the company is exploring a sale after receiving acquisition interest.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is up more than +8% after signing an agreement to provide direct-to-cellular connectivity when needed for Verizon customers starting in 2026.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) is up more than +7% after signing a contract with iQPS to launch three more satellites for the Japanese company.
Datadog (DDOG) is up more than +5% after Bernstein raised its price target on the stock to $170 from $147.
Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is up more than +4% after Citigroup upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $48.
Constellation Energy (CEG) is up more than +2% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100 after Seaport Global Securities upgraded the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $407.
Penguin Solutions (PENG) is down more than -16% after forecasting fiscal 2026 sales of $1.31 billion-$1.59 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $1.48 billion.
Joby Aviation (JOBY) is down more than -11% after offering a $500 million block of shares overnight in a range of $16.85-$17.35, well below Tuesday’s closing price of $18.91.
Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) is down more than -3% to lead losers in the S&P 500 after rival Equifax said its VantageScore 4.0 service will offer mortgage credit scores at $4.50 through the end of 2027.
Defensive food-producing companies are sliding today as the overall market strengthens. J M Smucker (SJM) is down more than -2%. Also, Tyson Foods (TSN), General Mills (GIS), Kraft Heinz (KHC), Conagra Brands (CAG), and the Campbell Company (CPB) are down more than -1%.
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is down more than -2% after TD Cown cut its price target on the stock to $199 from $212.
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) is down more than -2% after announcing it intends to offer $1.3 billion in convertible senior notes due 2031.
Edwards Lifesciences (EW) is down more than -1% after Oppenheimer & Co. downgraded the stock to market perform from outperform.
Earnings Reports(10/8/2025)
Acuity Inc (AYI), Cal-Maine Foods Inc (CALM), Conagra Brands Inc (CAG), Novagold Resources Inc (NG), Rezolve AI PLC (RZLV), RPM International Inc (RPM).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
More news from Barchart
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stocks Climb as AI Investment Accelerates

Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) is likely to register a decline in both top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Oct. 9. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at $418.8 million, implying a 11.7% decrease from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HELE’s quarterly earnings has remained unchanged in the past 30 days at 54 cents per share, indicating a 55.4% decline from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of almost 10.3%, on average.
Helen of Troy Limited Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Things to Know About HELE’s Q2 Earnings
Helen of Troy has been facing continued pressure from tariff-related disruptions and global trade uncertainty. On its lastearnings call management highlighted that HELE has been experiencing order cancellations and lower direct imports from China as retailers adjust to higher costs and evolving tariff policies. These headwinds are likely to have weighed on fiscal second-quarter sales and margins. To mitigate the impact, Helen of Troy has been diversifying its sourcing outside China and expects to reduce tariff exposure by the end of fiscal 2026. While supplier cost reductions and selective price increases are helping offset part of the pressure, earnings are likely to have remained constrained until trade conditions stabilize.
Helen of Troy has been navigating a challenging macroeconomic environment marked by weaker consumer and retailer demand. Consumers are facing financial constraints and prioritizing essential purchases over discretionary items. This has been impacting the company’s sales. Our model expects a 17.3% drop in organic volumes for the fiscal second quarter.
Helen of Troy has also been grappling with rising SG&A expenses. In the fiscal first quarter, the rise in the consolidated SG&A ratio was mainly due to elevated marketing expenses, increased outbound freight costs and unfavorable operating leverage. The persistence of any of these factors is a concern. We expect a 310-basis point expansion in adjusted SG&A (as a percentage of sales) to 38.9% in the fiscal second quarter.
Yet, the strength of the company’s Leadership Brands remains a cornerstone amid broader challenges. HELE’s strategic focus on operational excellence and portfolio optimization has helped stabilize performance. Its data-driven approach continues to strengthen brand fundamentals, while international expansion and distribution optimization enhance reach and efficiency. In addition, the global restructuring initiative, Project Pegasus, has been delivering cost savings. These factors are likely to have offered some respite in the to-be-reported quarter.
Earnings Whispers for HELE Stock
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Helen of Troy this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
Helen of Troy currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Some Stocks With a Favorable Combination
Here are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
The Hershey Company (HSY) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.61% and a Zacks Rank of 3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The company is likely to register a jump in the top line when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $3.11 billion, which indicates an increase of 4.1% from the prior-year quarter. However, Hershey’s bottom line is estimated to decline year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings per share is pegged at $1.06, implying a 54.7% decrease from the year-ago period. HSY delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.5%, on average.
Kraft Heinz Company (KHC) currently has an Earnings ESP of +0.44% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is likely to register a top and bottom-line decrease when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kraft Heinz’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $6.27 billion, which implies a drop of 1.7% from the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kraft Heinz’s quarterly earnings per share is pegged at 58 cents, indicating a 22.7% plunge from the year-ago period. KHC delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.1%, on average.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.37% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The company is likely to register top and bottom-line declines when it reports third-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $4.11 billion, which implies a 17.1% decrease from the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark’s quarterly earnings per share is pegged at $1.63, indicating a 10.9% fall from the year-ago period figure. KMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.2%, on average.
5 Stocks Set to Double
Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in the coming year. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +112%, +171%, +209% and +232%.
Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.
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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.

Helen of Troy Gears Up for Q2 Earnings: Here's What You Should Know

Key Points
Dividend stocks have historically outperformed non-dividend-paying stocks.
Kraft Heinz has focused on billions in cost savings and product innovation.
Winnebago needs to execute but has the opportunity for big market share gains.
Contrarian value investing isn't for the faint of heart. In fact, Wall Street has a saying for investors: "Don't try to catch a falling knife."
The phrase refers to the attempts value investors sometimes make as they try to add value to their portfolios. They go after stocks hated by the market in an attempt to increase returns on a rebound and reduce risk by buying at better value prices. But in doing so, they can end up with steeper and steeper losses as stocks can continue falling.
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This article is not focused on "falling knife" prospects. But it will discuss how Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC) and Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO) are brilliant dividend stocks trading at massive discounts worthy of consideration. Read on to learn more.
Kraft Heinz: High yield at a big discount
Just over a decade ago, Kraft merged with Heinz to create one of North America's largest food and beverage manufacturers. The combined packaged foods giant boasts dozens of brands beyond its namesakes, including Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, Philadelphia cream cheese, Kool-Aid, Capri-Sun, Cool Whip, A-1, and more. It's a global powerhouse with products sold in more than 190 countries and territories.
While Kraft Heinz has felt the impact of a tightening consumer spend, its strategic path forward should have long-term positive impacts. Essentially, since mid-2019, the packaged goods company has prioritized category management and e-commerce, as well as elevated brand spending (marketing) and product innovation. In fact, innovation accounted for roughly 3% of sales in fiscal 2024, which was almost double the level in 2022, and management expects another $2 billion of incremental net sales from new products by the end of fiscal 2027.
Further, Kraft Heinz generated $1.7 billion in savings on its stated path to a total of $2.5 billion by the end of fiscal 2027. But this strategic move isn't to support margins. It's to free up resources to invest in its product mix and innovation -- which remains a key for the company moving forward.
In addition to focusing on product innovation and cost-cutting, Kraft Heinz substantially improved its financial flexibility over the past few years. It gained a substantial debt load after the merger in 2015, but was able to prioritize debt repayment since mid-2019, with a chunk directed at debt reduction from the divestiture of its natural cheese business and the Planters brand.
And yet, after all these efforts to get the combined company into financial order, it recently announced that it plans to split into two companies sometime in the second half of 2026.
Kraft Heinz still faces challenges stemming from inflation that has yet to abate, tempered consumer spending, and added costs associated with improving the health profile of its products. The company trades at a staggering 48% discount to Morningstar's price-to-fair-value target of $51 per share. Investors would be wise to temper expectations from the company's decision to separate its business into two independent publicly traded companies: sauces, spreads, and seasonings, and North American grocery.
Ultimately, given the substantial discount the stock trades at while offering investors a robust 6% dividend yield, it might be time to start a small position in this dividend stock. It has a renewed focus on product innovation, a significant cost-savings program, and the future split will give investors now access to what will likely be two growing companies.
Winnebago Industries: An evolution through the decades
Winnebago Industries has significantly evolved since beginning recreational vehicle production in 1958. Winnebago manufactures Class A, B, and C motor homes, and expanded into towables in 2011 with the acquisition of SunnyBrook, with Grand Design following in 2016. It also dipped its toes into boating in 2018 with the purchase of Chris-Craft, and in 2021 with the acquisition of Barletta and its pontoon boats.
There are a couple of factors that make Winnebago an intriguing stock. First, the company has been accelerating the value it returns to shareholders via its dividend over the past five years, as you can see in the chart below.
Further, keep in mind that one of those large dividend increases came during the pandemic, and more large increases since then are good signs of financial health and confidence in the business.
Second, Winnebago has upside between leaner manufacturing and potential market share gains. More specifically, Winnebago is now not manufacturing a unit until it has a firm order, which should mean less discounting and more profitable sales. And while the company owns about 10% of North American towables market share, the top two competitors own roughly 80% market share combined -- leaving plenty of room for growth if management executes on price and compelling products.
Lastly, despite its challenges and lack of durable competitive advantages, Winnebago offers investors a robust 4.1% dividend yield and is trading at a roughly 55% discount to Morningstar's fair value estimate of $75 per share.
What it all means
Both Kraft Heinz and Winnebago have trailed the broader S&P 500 over the past three years and certainly face their own challenges in competitive industries. It may not be an easy road or one quickly traveled, but both companies also have a future that, in Kraft Heinz's case, could be more focused after a company split, and in Winnebago's case, could have lucrative international expansion. At these discounts and with these high dividend yields, it may be time for investors to take a closer look and consider opening a small position.
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Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Kraft Heinz and Winnebago Industries. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.