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Dole (DOLE)
NYSE:DOLE

Dole (DOLE) AI Stock Analysis

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Dole

(NYSE:DOLE)

71Outperform
Dole's overall stock score reflects its stable financial position and strong earnings performance, supported by effective debt management and cash generation. While the stock shows neutral technical indicators, its reasonable valuation offers potential upside. Challenges such as declining revenue and external cost pressures are notable risks.
Positive Factors
Earnings
DOLE reported 3Q24 adjusted EBITDA of $82.1 million, surpassing both the estimate of $79.1 million and the Consensus of $81.4 million.
Financial Outlook
DOLE raised its FY24 adjusted EBITDA outlook to at least $380 million from at least $370 million.
Market Conditions
Banana and pineapple supply remains tight across the industry, allowing for some positive pricing momentum in certain markets.
Negative Factors
Comparative Performance
4Q headwinds include tough year-ago comparisons as DOLE had a strong finish in 2023 and faces higher shipping costs.
Operational Challenges
The impact of Tropical Storm Sara and a breakdown of a company vessel are expected to pressure gross margins.
Value Proposition
DOLE offers a less attractive value proposition than food-related companies due to its low margins and return on capital.

Dole (DOLE) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Dole Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionDole PLC through its subsidiaries operates in the North American and European markets for fresh fruits and vegetables. It has four reportable segments. The Fresh Fruit segment sells bananas, pineapples sourced from local growers or its owned and leased farms. The Fresh Vegetable segment sells Value-Added Salads and Fresh Packed Vegetables and salads including iceberg, romaine and leaf lettuces, celery, and meal kits. The Diversified Fresh Produce (EMEA) segment sells a variety of imported and local fresh fruits and vegetables through retail, wholesale, and foodservice channels across the European marketplace. The Diversified Fresh Produce (Americas & ROW) segment includes its U.S., Canadian, Chilean and Indian businesses, all of which market globally and locally sourced fresh produce.
How the Company Makes MoneyDole makes money primarily through the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables. The company's revenue model is centered around cultivating, sourcing, and distributing its produce to a wide range of customers, including retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice operators. Key revenue streams include the direct sale of its branded and unbranded products, as well as value-added products such as pre-packaged and ready-to-eat fruit and vegetable offerings. Significant partnerships and long-term contracts with major retailers and distributors are crucial to Dole's earnings, allowing the company to maintain a consistent market presence and ensure product availability worldwide. Additionally, Dole invests in marketing and innovation to enhance its product offerings and increase consumer demand.

Dole Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Dole exhibits a stable financial position with strong operational margins and reasonable returns on equity. However, declining revenue and increasing liabilities pose potential risks. The cash flow remains robust, supporting the company's operational needs, albeit with some growth volatility.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Dole's income statement shows a mixed performance with a modest increase in net income over the years and a strong TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) gross profit margin of 8.87%. However, the revenue has shown a declining trend from 2022 to 2023 and into the TTM, indicating potential challenges in maintaining top-line growth. The EBIT and EBITDA margins in TTM are relatively healthy at 3.90% and 4.43% respectively, showing operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
Dole's balance sheet reflects moderate financial stability with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01 in TTM, indicating a balanced leverage. The equity ratio stands at 29.08%, suggesting a significant reliance on debt. Return on equity is reasonable at 12.73%, showcasing profitability for shareholders. However, the company's increasing total liabilities point towards rising financial obligations.
Cash Flow
68
Positive
Dole's cash flow statement highlights stable operating cash flow, with a TTM figure of $275 million and a free cash flow of $193 million. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 1.17, reflecting strong cash generation capability relative to profits. However, the free cash flow growth rate has shown some fluctuations, indicating potential challenges in sustaining cash flow growth.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
8.48B8.25B9.23B6.45B4.35B
Gross Profit
717.72M694.17M594.71M349.13M333.59M
EBIT
280.56M272.16M114.43M-61.00M67.54M
EBITDA
410.72M391.21M316.00M80.02M105.89M
Net Income Common Stockholders
125.51M124.06M86.50M-31.22M40.97M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
336.04M281.48M234.21M256.68M160.50M
Total Assets
4.45B4.85B4.59B4.67B1.89B
Total Debt
1.30B1.43B1.64B1.74B490.97M
Net Debt
971.33M1.16B1.41B1.49B330.46M
Total Liabilities
3.01B3.43B3.27B3.42B1.20B
Stockholders Equity
1.29B1.25B1.16B1.08B535.01M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
180.29M197.94M140.89M-49.06M121.37M
Operating Cash Flow
262.72M275.98M238.89M16.38M144.57M
Investing Cash Flow
35.78M-3.27M-66.50M82.82M-25.60M
Financing Cash Flow
-237.84M-230.00M-173.40M-1.34M-100.58M

Dole Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price14.32
Price Trends
50DMA
13.71
Positive
100DMA
14.43
Negative
200DMA
14.37
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.19
Positive
RSI
52.52
Neutral
STOCH
41.02
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For DOLE, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 14.32 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 14.26, above the 50-day MA of 13.71, and below the 200-day MA of 14.37, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.19 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 52.52 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 41.02 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for DOLE.

Dole Risk Analysis

Dole disclosed 50 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Dole reported the most risks in the “Production” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Dole Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
FDFDP
71
Outperform
$1.44B10.157.32%3.33%-0.95%
71
Outperform
$1.36B10.8912.14%2.23%2.79%-13.96%
KHKHC
70
Outperform
$36.12B13.395.56%5.29%-2.98%-2.22%
CACAG
66
Neutral
$12.24B25.065.53%5.46%-2.00%-50.02%
CPCPB
65
Neutral
$11.46B22.1313.43%3.90%9.15%-31.94%
HRHRL
64
Neutral
$16.24B21.449.54%3.85%-1.84%-5.14%
62
Neutral
$20.53B13.23-10.09%7.41%1.27%7.44%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
DOLE
Dole
14.32
2.67
22.92%
CPB
Campbell Soup
38.42
-3.47
-8.28%
CAG
Conagra Brands
25.65
-1.23
-4.58%
FDP
Fresh Del Monte Produce
30.05
6.33
26.69%
HRL
Hormel Foods
29.54
-3.59
-10.84%
KHC
Kraft Heinz
30.23
-3.04
-9.14%

Dole Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 26, 2025 | % Change Since: 1.92% | Next Earnings Date: May 15, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Dole plc achieved a strong financial performance in 2024, with significant growth in key segments and effective debt reduction. However, challenges such as the impact of Tropical Storm Sara, higher shipping costs, and a non-cash write-down in the Vegetables division present headwinds for 2025.
Highlights
Record Financial Performance
Dole plc exceeded their adjusted EBITDA guidance by $12 million, with Group revenue and adjusted EBITDA increasing by 6.7% to $8.5 billion and $392 million respectively.
Debt Reduction and Cash Generation
Dole reduced net debt by over $180 million and ended 2024 with a net leverage of 1.6 times, indicating strong cash generation.
Fresh Fruit Segment Growth
The Fresh Fruit segment delivered an adjusted EBITDA of $214.8 million, an increase of $5.9 million compared to 2023, driven by volume growth in bananas and plantains.
Strong Performance in Diversified Fresh Produce Americas
This segment delivered a $22.3 million increase in adjusted EBITDA for the full year, driven by strong export performance and growth in key categories like avocados.
Positive Cash Flow from Vegetables Business
The Vegetables business concluded an encouraging turnaround, delivering positive cash flow on a full-year basis.
Lowlights
Impact of Tropical Storm Sara
The storm affected operations in Honduras, anticipated to have a notable short-term financial impact on the first part of 2025.
Higher Shipping Costs
Higher shipping costs into the U.S. due to planned dry dockings and logistical issues at ports impacted financial performance.
EMEA Segment Challenges
Despite a robust performance, the EMEA segment faced supply challenges, weather events, and entity-specific issues that mitigated growth at the margin level.
Non-Cash Write-Down in Vegetables Division
A non-cash write-down of $78.2 million net of tax was recorded for the Fresh Vegetables division, impacting the net income.
Company Guidance
In the recent earnings call, Dole plc provided guidance for the fiscal year 2025, projecting adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $370 million to $380 million. This comes after a robust performance in 2024 where the company exceeded its expectations with an adjusted EBITDA of $392 million, a 6.7% increase from the previous year. The company emphasized its strong cash generation, which led to a reduction in net debt by over $180 million, ending the year at $637 million with a net leverage of 1.6 times. Dole also highlighted a 6.7% increase in group revenue, reaching $8.5 billion, driven by strong performances in its Diversified Fresh Produce Americas and Fresh Fruit segments. Despite facing headwinds such as higher shipping costs and the impact of Tropical Storm Sara, the company remains optimistic, focusing on strategic capital allocation and potential growth opportunities in 2025.
Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.