Stephens Has Lowered Expectations for Marzetti (NASDAQ:MZTI) Stock Price

Marzetti (NASDAQ:MZTI) had its price objective reduced by equities researchers at Stephens from $190.00 to $180.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage presently has an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Stephens’ target price suggests a potential upside of 16.35% from the stock’s previous close.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on MZTI. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Marzetti in a research note on Friday, January 9th. DA Davidson lifted their target price on Marzetti from $179.00 to $184.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 12th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Marzetti from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $188.00.

Marzetti Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of MZTI opened at $154.70 on Wednesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $166.11 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.95. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.69 and a beta of 0.39. Marzetti has a 12-month low of $152.95 and a 12-month high of $198.39.

Marzetti (NASDAQ:MZTI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $2.15 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.23 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $509.77 million during the quarter. Marzetti had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 9.25%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Marzetti will post 6.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Marzetti

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in Marzetti during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Marzetti during the fourth quarter worth $37,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Marzetti during the fourth quarter valued at $52,000. Blue Trust Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Marzetti in the 4th quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Marzetti in the 4th quarter worth $62,000. 66.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Marzetti News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Marzetti this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Announced agreement to acquire Bachan’s, adding a premium Asian sauce brand and immediate scale in specialty sauces — a strategic growth move that supports revenue diversification and higher-margin expansion. The Marzetti Company Announces Agreement to Acquire Bachan’s, Inc.
• Positive Sentiment: Local press highlights the Bachan’s deal value (~$400M sale), underscoring the scale and strategic premium-brand rationale behind the acquisition. This helps justify management’s M&A-driven growth thesis. Sebastopol maker of Bachan’s Japanese Barbecue Sauce selling for $400 million
• Positive Sentiment: Company reported record gross profit in the quarter and management framed the Bachan’s acquisition as a strategic complement to product expansion — positives for medium-term margin upside if integration succeeds. The Marzetti Co (MZTI) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: DA Davidson reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and $184 price target — a constructive mid-term view but not a buy signal; implies upside vs. current price but cautious stance. Benzinga: DA Davidson rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Stephens reiterated an Equal Weight rating while lowering its price target to $180, signaling tempered upside expectations even as coverage remains broadly neutral. Stephens Reiterates Equal Weight Rating for Marzetti (NASDAQ:MZTI)
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary pieces provide mixed views on consumer staples dynamics; analysts are weighing Marzetti’s premium-brand push against softer category volume trends. Analysts Offer Insights on Consumer Goods Companies
• Negative Sentiment: Q2 EPS missed consensus (reported $2.15 vs. $2.23 est.), triggering a gap down and increased selling pressure as traders repriced near-term profitability. Marzetti (NASDAQ:MZTI) Shares Gap Down After Earnings Miss
• Negative Sentiment: Market commentary and analysis describe a “bitter plunge” after the miss, highlighting investor sensitivity to volume pressures and near-term demand softness. The Marzetti Company’s Bitter Plunge
• Negative Sentiment: Deep-dive reporting flags volume pressures in core categories despite product expansion and M&A — a risk to meeting street revenue/volume expectations near-term. MZTI Q4 Deep Dive: Acquisition and Product Expansion Amid Volume Pressures

Marzetti Company Profile

Lancaster Colony Corporation engages in the manufacturing and marketing of specialty food products for the retail and foodservice channels in the United States. It operates in two segments, Retail and Foodservice. The company offers frozen garlic bread under the New York BRAND Bakery; frozen Parkerhouse style yeast and dinner rolls under the Sister Schubert's brand; salad dressings under the Marzetti, Simply Dressed, Cardini's, and Girard's brands; vegetable and fruit dips under the Marzetti brand; croutons and salad toppings under the New York BRAND Bakery, Chatham Village, and Marzetti brands; and frozen pasta under the Marzetti Frozen Pasta brand.