Continue reading Bernanke Finally Admits to Inflation Gain from Commodity Prices

Bernanke Finally Admits to Inflation Gain from Commodity Prices originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Two mega trends are converging on the grain markets. One has been poor growing weather, and the other is increased demand for food throughout the developing world. The combination of these two factors are driving grain prices higher and higher.

On Wednesday, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a notice that severe drought in China's main winter wheat region could pose a serious threat to output, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Some 5.2 million hectares out of the total of about 14 million hectares could be under threat from poor rainfall and low snow cover.

Continue reading Wheat Futures Surge on U.N. Warning

Wheat Futures Surge on U.N. Warning originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

With about twenty minutes to go before the end of the trading day, I see a quote of $31.18 for Kraft Foods (KFT). That meant that the stock was basically flat, down a mere penny to be exact.

Boring. I actually used that word to describe this stock back in August. What else do you call a stock that has traded in such a narrow 52-week range? Currently, the low for the year is set at $27.09 while the high is $32.67.

Continue reading Kraft: Boring Peformance, Exciting Yield

Kraft: Boring Peformance, Exciting Yield originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading McDonald's Global Same-Store Sales Increase

McDonald's Global Same-Store Sales Increase originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Moments ago, food firm Yum! Brands (YUM) reaffirmed its 2010 earnings per share (EPS) growth forecast. Ahead of its annual investor meeting, the group restated expectations for EPS growth of 14%, less special items. In addition, YUM believes it will deliver 2011 EPS growth of 10%, excluding special items. These numbers are bolstered by the company's strength in China. CEO David Novak stated, "2010 has been a strong year led by our China business, and I'm pleased to report we remain on track to deliver 14% EPS growth."

Continue reading Yum! Brands Affirms 2010 Earnings Growth Outlook

Yum! Brands Affirms 2010 Earnings Growth Outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The J.M. Smucker Company (SJM) was down almost 1.4% to $62.15 at the close of the day. Volume was quite heavy. The market voted on the food entity's latest earnings report. Should investors listen to this opinion and immediately put in sell orders?

According to Theflyonthewall, the business, whose colleagues include ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG) and Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT), made an adjusted $1.38 per share during its fiscal second quarter. That was six solid pennies ahead of the overall projection. Not only was that beat cool to see, but income guidance for fiscal year 2011 saw an improvement.

Continue reading Smucker Falls: Should Investors Worry?

Smucker Falls: Should Investors Worry? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As is often the case, growth and recovery in America begins at ground level. Current upbeat news from regional food producers is signaling good news for many companies, including Deere & Company (DE). While developing industrial bases such as China and India have taken on the lion's share of mid to heavy manufacturing duties, they are also developing increased needs to feed hungry work forces. Indeed, they are also developing the capital to feed those needs.

The spin-off from this morphing consumption dynamic is a surge of growth in America's agricultural and food production sectors. Indications are that the increased demands being put upon American agricultural output is fueling an increased demand for heavy weight farm tractors and is requiring food processing facility expansions. "Sales of 100-horsepower tractors, which cost about $75,000 to $100,000 each, were up 27 percent last month over the same month last year, said Charlie O'Brien, vice president of agricultural services for The Association of Equipment Manufacturers, in an Associated Press interview.

Continue reading Manufacturing Bright Spot Found in Food Production

Manufacturing Bright Spot Found in Food Production originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tuesday morning, Kellogg (K) announced that its third-quarter net income dropped 6% thanks to slumping cereal sales. In addition to the weakening cereal sales, Kellogg saw competition strengthen and continuing impact from a cereal recall.

First things first, the cereal king reported earnings of 90 cents per share ($338 million), which came in lower than last year's earnings of 94 cents per share ($361 million).

Continue reading Kellogg Reports Soggy Earnings Results

Kellogg Reports Soggy Earnings Results originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yet again, McDonald's (MCD) has asserted itself as the Big Mac Daddy of the fast-food world, reporting that its third-quarter earnings increased 10%. Proving that it does not rely solely on hamburgers and cheeseburgers, McDonald's attributed the impressive performance to blended-ice beverages and international growth.

McDonald's pulled in an impressive $1.29 per share ($1.39 billion) during the quarter, much better than last year's same-quarter results of $1.15 per share ($1.26 billion). Quarterly revenue also increased, checking in at $6.3 billion, which is 4.3% better than a year ago.

Continue reading McDonald's Earnings Rise on Beverages and International Growth

McDonald's Earnings Rise on Beverages and International Growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading General Mills Profit Rises as Cereal, Organic Products Sales Grow

General Mills Profit Rises as Cereal, Organic Products Sales Grow originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tuesday morning, food-producer ConAgra (CAG) announced that its first-quarter net income fell to 33 cents per share, compared to 37 cents per share a year ago. The earnings were also short of the consensus estimate, which called for earnings of 39 cents per share. The food firm blames the results on tighter competition, inflation and the sluggish financial situation.

Breaking the numbers down a bit, the company's consumer food segment saw sales drop 2% to $1.82 billion. This facet of CAG's business comprises roughly 65% of the company's revenue. While this segment was making hay while more consumers were eating at home, a drop thanks to discounting in frozen food, table spreads and popcorn led to the poor performance.

Continue reading ConAgra's Q1 Earnings Fall Thanks to Increased Competition

ConAgra's Q1 Earnings Fall Thanks to Increased Competition originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Producer Prices Rose in August

Producer Prices Rose in August originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Del Monte Food Company's (DLM) stock wasn't one you wanted to be in today. Especially at a time when the bulls are in charge. The company, whose colleagues include ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG) and Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT), was down 2.1% to $12.56 about thirty minutes before the close of the session.

First-quarter data was reported by the business this morning. The market obviously wasn't too pleased. According to an article over at TheStreet.com, profit from continuing operations was 29 cents per share. This figure was two pennies above the estimate generated by the analysts. No matter what the traders are doing to the stock, at least shareholders can be happy about that aspect of the period.

Continue reading Del Monte Falls Despite Market Rally

Del Monte Falls Despite Market Rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'm going to take a brief look at two stocks that traded on Friday based on earnings reports. Both can be found in the foodstuffs industry. And both beat Wall Street's projections. But which one do I prefer?

Hormel Foods (HRL), the company behind the Spam and Dinty Moore brands, made 63 cents per share in the fiscal third quarter, which, according to Reuters, was three pennies ahead of the estimate. But the good news doesn't stop there: guidance for the full fiscal year was increased.

Continue reading Two Quarterly Reports: Hormel and Smucker

Two Quarterly Reports: Hormel and Smucker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The shares of Newell Rubbermaid (NWL), first discussed here on April 26, 2009 at a price of $8.08, have largely meandered this summer, and that's created an opportunity for moderate-risk investors who missed the $8 entry point. Here's why:

Look for Newell's 2010 revenue to increase 2% to 4%, with improvements registered in all business units, led by home and family, which includes food containers.

Continue reading Newell Rubbermaid: Capitalize on the 'Dinner-In' Trend

Newell Rubbermaid: Capitalize on the 'Dinner-In' Trend originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sysco (SYY) closed Monday's session on a down note. It lost 2.3% of its value, settling at a quote of $29.28. The shares have traded in a narrow range over the past twelve months; the 52-week low is $23.90 and the 52-week high is $31.99. Will the stock break out of that range to the upside anytime soon?

I wouldn't bet on it. According to the fourth-quarter earnings report, adjusted sales increased 5.8%. Net income was reported to be 57 cents per share; once adjusted, there was no year-over-year growth. The adjustment in both cases was for an extra week in fiscal 2009's Q4.

Continue reading Sysco Earnings Show Flat Adjusted Income in Q4

Sysco Earnings Show Flat Adjusted Income in Q4 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Kraft Foods (KFT) is a boring stock from one point of view. The 52-week range is rather narrow -- the low for the year is $25.72 while the high is $31.09. The shares were, however, pretty fascinating during Thursday's extended-hours session. Traders sent the foodstuffs price higher by well over 3% at one point.

The market enjoyed the second-quarter results. According to TheFly, adjusted net income of 60 cents per share was eight pennies ahead of the estimate. Management made good use of the company's brand power to drive results.

Continue reading Kraft Earnings Top Estimates

Kraft Earnings Top Estimates originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Good News from Heinz

Good News from Heinz originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Campbell Soup Posts Higher Adjusted Profit

Campbell Soup Posts Higher Adjusted Profit originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 24 May 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Hormel Down on Q2 News

Hormel Down on Q2 News originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 19 May 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.