Shares of JM Smucker (SJM) plummeted 10.08% in Tuesday's trading session following the release of its fiscal fourth-quarter results and a disappointing outlook for fiscal year 2026. The maker of Folgers coffee, Jif peanut butter, and Smucker's jams faced a sharp sell-off as investors reacted to the company's reduced earnings guidance and ongoing challenges in its operating environment.
For the fourth quarter ended April 30, JM Smucker reported adjusted earnings of $2.31 per share, surpassing analysts' expectations of $2.24. However, net sales declined 3% to $2.14 billion, falling short of the $2.18 billion consensus estimate. The company's performance was mixed across its segments, with the U.S. retail coffee and international businesses showing growth, while pet foods and sweet baked snacks experienced declines.
The primary catalyst for the stock's plunge was JM Smucker's fiscal 2026 outlook. The company projected adjusted earnings per share in the range of $8.50 to $9.50, significantly below the previous year's $10.12 and far short of analysts' expectations of $10.25. This guidance reflects a challenging operating environment, including the impact of tariffs, ongoing input inflation, and evolving consumer behaviors. CEO Mark Smucker acknowledged these headwinds, stating, "We continue to operate in a dynamic environment including evolving macroeconomic factors, record-high green coffee costs, implications from tariffs, regulatory and policy changes, and consumers that continue to seek value."
Investors were particularly concerned about the company's exposure to tariffs, especially in its coffee business. JM Smucker purchases about 500 million pounds of green coffee annually, with the majority imported from countries such as Brazil and Vietnam. The company plans to implement price increases in May and August to mitigate the impact of rising costs, but these actions may put pressure on consumer demand in an already challenging economic environment. The ongoing struggles in the Sweet Baked Snacks segment, which includes the recently acquired Hostess Brands, further contributed to investor unease.
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