Zacks Research Forecasts Reduced Earnings for Kraft Heinz

Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for Kraft Heinz in a research report issued on Tuesday, February 24th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $0.52 per share for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $0.62. Zacks Research has a “Strong Sell” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Kraft Heinz’s current full-year earnings is $2.68 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Kraft Heinz’s Q3 2026 earnings at $0.49 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.54 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.50 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.53 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.50 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.56 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $2.14 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and issued a $23.00 target price on shares of Kraft Heinz in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Kraft Heinz from $26.00 to $23.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Kraft Heinz from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Kraft Heinz from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on shares of Kraft Heinz from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and six have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $24.89.

Kraft Heinz Trading Up 0.0%

NASDAQ KHC opened at $24.57 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Kraft Heinz has a 1-year low of $21.99 and a 1-year high of $33.35. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $23.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $25.13. The company has a market capitalization of $29.08 billion, a PE ratio of -4.97 and a beta of 0.08.

Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The company reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.06. Kraft Heinz had a negative net margin of 23.44% and a positive return on equity of 7.07%. The company had revenue of $6.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.84 EPS. The company’s revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Kraft Heinz has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.980-2.100 EPS.

Institutional Trading of Kraft Heinz

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Jessup Wealth Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Kraft Heinz in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Key Capital Management INC acquired a new position in Kraft Heinz during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. DV Equities LLC bought a new stake in Kraft Heinz in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Kraft Heinz by 70.2% in the 4th quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,239 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 511 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rakuten Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Kraft Heinz by 172.4% during the 2nd quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 1,245 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 788 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.17% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Miguel Patricio sold 125,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.82, for a total value of $3,102,500.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 686,817 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $17,046,797.94. This trade represents a 15.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Kraft Heinz Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. Kraft Heinz’s dividend payout ratio is -32.39%.

Key Stories Impacting Kraft Heinz

Here are the key news stories impacting Kraft Heinz this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Capri Sun (a KHC-owned or partner brand area) is relaunching a popular limited‑edition flavor, a consumer-facing marketing push that can help short‑term retail velocity and brand relevance. Capri Sun Brings Back Fan-Favorite Moon Punch
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst pieces assessing KHC’s valuation signal debate between bargain and value‑trap narratives — the stock’s pullback has attracted value-oriented takes but no clear consensus to flip sentiment. Is Kraft Heinz (KHC) Now Attractive After Recent Share Price Weakness?
• Neutral Sentiment: Mizuho lowered its price target to $25 but kept a Neutral rating after CAGNY presentations — a modest pullback in expectations rather than a full downgrade in sentiment. Mizuho Revises Kraft Heinz Valuation after CAGNY Presentations
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader ad/marketing industry moves (e.g., WPP cost cuts tied to AI disruption) could change media cost dynamics for consumer packaged goods marketers like Kraft Heinz but are not an immediate company‑specific catalyst. Advertising giant WPP to cut £500m in costs
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research issued a string of cuts to Kraft Heinz’s quarterly EPS forecasts and maintains a “Strong Sell” stance — these lowered estimates materially increase near‑term downside risk and likely pressure sentiment and multiples. Zacks Research cuts KHC EPS estimates (MarketBeat summary)
• Negative Sentiment: Industry commentary highlights structural headwinds for legacy CPG companies (changing shopper habits, pricing sensitivity and channel shifts), reinforcing investor concerns about sustained growth and margin recovery for Kraft Heinz. Kraft Heinz and the structural reckoning facing legacy CPG

Kraft Heinz Company Profile

The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC) is a global food and beverage company formed in 2015 through the merger of Kraft Foods Group and H.J. Heinz Company. The combination created one of the largest packaged-food companies in the world, built around well-known consumer brands. The merger was supported by major investors and established a multi-national platform for branded food products.

Kraft Heinz develops, manufactures, markets and distributes a broad portfolio of branded packaged foods and condiments.