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Flowers Foods (FLO)
:FLO

Flowers Foods (FLO) AI Stock Analysis

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Flowers Foods

(NYSE:FLO)

59Neutral
Flowers Foods faces significant financial challenges with recent declines in revenue and profitability, which are the primary concerns impacting the stock. Despite this, the company has made strategic acquisitions to diversify and strengthen its product offerings, which could support future growth. The stock's valuation is reasonable, and its attractive dividend yield offers some appeal. Technical indicators are mixed, reflecting uncertainty in market sentiment. Overall, while there are opportunities for growth, the stock's current financial condition presents notable risks.
Positive Factors
Brand Strategy
Management's approach in creating smaller loaves to help consumers stay within budget and expanding the DKB brand into new formats is appreciated.
Margins
Adjusted gross margins expanded driven by improved input costs and optimization of the non-retail business.
Market Position
The company is well positioned with its portfolio of healthier brands for the continued decline of the white bread segment.
Negative Factors
Competitive Pressure
The likelihood exists that competitors start to step up their own activities, leading to incremental brand support needs for FLO.
Sales Growth
It is tough to get excited about another year of tepid sales growth.
White Bread Segment
White bread remains a large part of the overall business, and at least low single-digit top line growth is necessary to gain investor attention.

Flowers Foods (FLO) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Flowers Foods Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFlowers Foods, Inc. (FLO) is a leading producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the United States. The company operates in the food processing industry, primarily focusing on producing a wide range of bakery products, including bread, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and tortillas. Some of its well-known brands include Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Tastykake, and Canyon Bakehouse. Flowers Foods distributes its products through a network of independent distributors and direct store delivery, serving retail and foodservice customers across the nation.
How the Company Makes MoneyFlowers Foods generates revenue primarily through the sale of its bakery products to retail and foodservice customers. Its revenue model relies on a diversified portfolio of bakery goods that cater to different consumer preferences and dietary needs. Key revenue streams include sales from branded products, which often command premium pricing, and private label products that cater to cost-conscious consumers. The company's direct store delivery system and partnerships with independent distributors help optimize distribution efficiency and reach a broad customer base. Additionally, Flowers Foods leverages significant economies of scale and invests in brand marketing to maintain its competitive edge and drive sales growth.

Flowers Foods Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Flowers Foods is facing financial challenges with a recent decline in revenue and profitability, as well as increased leverage. While the company has shown historical strengths such as stable gross profit margins and positive cash flows, the latest results highlight potential risks in profitability and liquidity that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable growth.
Income Statement
55
Neutral
Flowers Foods has experienced inconsistent revenue growth, with a decline in the most recent year. Gross profit margins have been strong historically, but the recent EBIT and EBITDA margins are concerning with negative EBIT reported in the latest year. Net profit margin was also impacted, showing no net income for the latest period.
Balance Sheet
65
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio that has been increasing, indicating rising debt levels. However, the equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a reasonable balance between debt and equity financing. ROE has shown strength in previous periods but is currently challenged by a lack of net income.
Cash Flow
45
Neutral
Cash flow from operations has been historically positive, but there is a sharp decline in free cash flow in the most recent period, indicating potential cash management issues. The lack of operating cash flow and free cash flow in the latest year further impacts the company's ability to support operations and growth without external financing.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income StatementTotal Revenue
5.10B5.09B4.81B4.33B4.39B
Gross Profit
2.53B2.46B2.30B2.16B2.19B
EBIT
348.29M172.87M303.21M294.92M321.49M
EBITDA
525.28M345.80M469.96M438.99M380.74M
Net Income Common Stockholders
248.12M123.42M228.39M206.19M152.32M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
5.00M22.53M165.13M185.87M307.48M
Total Assets
3.40B3.43B3.31B3.25B3.32B
Total Debt
1.60B1.35B1.17B1.19B1.31B
Net Debt
1.59B1.33B1.01B1.01B998.39M
Total Liabilities
1.99B2.08B1.87B1.84B1.95B
Stockholders Equity
1.41B1.35B1.44B1.41B1.37B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
280.58M220.28M191.82M198.45M356.54M
Operating Cash Flow
412.66M349.35M360.89M344.61M454.46M
Investing Cash Flow
-172.67M-403.81M-151.09M-191.44M-73.99M
Financing Cash Flow
-257.52M-88.15M-222.17M-274.78M-84.04M

Flowers Foods Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price18.88
Price Trends
50DMA
18.86
Negative
100DMA
19.94
Negative
200DMA
20.96
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.15
Negative
RSI
52.92
Neutral
STOCH
53.13
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FLO, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 18.88 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.62, above the 50-day MA of 18.86, and below the 200-day MA of 20.96, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.15 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 52.92 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.13 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for FLO.

Flowers Foods Risk Analysis

Flowers Foods disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Flowers Foods 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

Flowers Foods Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
$6.53B19.4510.01%7.32%34.44%
KK
73
Outperform
$28.46B21.2438.65%2.74%-16.16%41.01%
CPCPB
66
Neutral
$11.80B22.5413.43%3.79%9.15%-31.94%
62
Neutral
$20.67B14.36-12.43%3.14%1.23%2.59%
SJSJM
61
Neutral
$12.42B22.22-3.55%3.68%7.07%-181.54%
FLFLO
59
Neutral
$3.98B16.1417.97%5.09%0.25%101.63%
THTHS
54
Neutral
$1.36B49.821.67%-4.59%-42.81%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FLO
Flowers Foods
18.88
-3.73
-16.50%
CPB
Campbell Soup
39.72
-3.46
-8.01%
SJM
JM Smucker
116.32
-3.70
-3.08%
K
Kellogg
82.47
27.12
49.00%
POST
Post Holdings
115.10
9.66
9.16%
THS
TreeHouse Foods
27.11
-11.59
-29.95%

Flowers Foods Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 7, 2025 | % Change Since: -1.10% | Next Earnings Date: May 15, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted the company's growth in premium segments and strategic expansions, but it also acknowledged significant challenges in sweet baked goods and a cautious outlook due to external factors. The sentiment reflects a balance between optimistic long-term strategies and immediate market pressures.
Highlights
Growth in Premium Bread Segment
Ryals McMullian reported strong growth in the premium bread segment, particularly with Perfectly Crafted up 8.5% in units in the fourth quarter.
Expansion of Wonder Brand
The company plans a national launch of Wonder snack cakes in the second quarter, leveraging Wonder's 98% brand awareness.
Innovation and New Business Wins
Increased focus on innovation and new business wins, especially in the retail side, are expected to drive growth in 2025.
Positive Outlook for Dave's Killer Bread
Despite seasonal noise, Dave's Killer Bread showed strong growth in breakfast items and achieved record household penetration.
Lowlights
Challenges in Sweet Baked Goods
Significant weakness in the sweet baked goods category led to lower-than-expected sales results.
Cautious Guidance for 2025
Financial guidance for 2025 is cautious due to volatile environment, potential for tariffs, commodities volatility, and weak consumer demand.
Decline in Core Bread Consumption
Core bread in the Dave's franchise started to run negative in consumption data, down about 3% in the last four weeks.
Increased SD&A Costs
Increased selling, distribution, and administrative costs are expected to pressure earnings, driven by workforce-related expenses and rent.
Company Guidance
In the Flowers Foods Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results Conference Call, the company outlined a cautious financial outlook for 2025, influenced by factors such as potential tariffs, commodities volatility, higher promotional activity, and continued weak consumer demand. Despite these challenges, Flowers Foods remains optimistic about long-term performance, driven by the strength of its brands and innovation, including the integration of Simple Mills into its portfolio. Key metrics highlighted include an 8.5% unit growth in Perfectly Crafted bread in Q4, significant space gains for Dave's Killer Bread in over 2,000 stores, and a planned Wonder snack launch in Q2. The company expects mix-driven growth, with a modest increase in organic sales, and will focus on expanding its premium product offerings to counteract softness in traditional white and soft variety breads.

Flowers Foods Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesM&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Flowers Foods Acquires Purposeful Foods for $795 Million
Positive
Feb 21, 2025

On February 14, 2025, C. Martin Wood III announced his decision to retire from the board of directors of Flowers Foods at the end of his current term, coinciding with the company’s 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. This decision will result in a reduction of the board’s size from 12 to 11 members. Additionally, on February 21, 2025, Flowers Foods completed the acquisition of Purposeful Foods Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Simple Mills, for $795 million. This acquisition aims to enhance Flowers Foods’ presence in the better-for-you and snacking segments, diversifying its category exposure and improving growth and margin prospects.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Flowers Foods Acquires Simple Mills for Portfolio Expansion
Positive
Jan 8, 2025

Flowers Foods has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Simple Mills, a leading brand in the better-for-you snack segment, for $795 million in cash. This acquisition is expected to bolster Flowers Foods’ growth by enhancing its product portfolio with Simple Mills’ renowned natural products and accelerating its entry into the attractive snacking categories. The deal is projected to be immediately accretive to Flowers Foods’ net sales and adjusted EBITDA growth, while aligning with the company’s strategy to diversify and expand within the better-for-you food industry.

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.