Kraft Heinz stock lifts outlook despite third-quarter sales decline

Published on 11/12/2026 at 03:17 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Kraft Heinz stock is in focus after third-quarter results and a higher full-year earnings outlook. Emerging Markets growth offset part of the U.S. weakness.

Quarterly Results And Outlook

Kraft Heinz reported lower third-quarter sales and adjusted operating income while Emerging Markets growth partly offset weakness in North America.
Management raised the 2026 adjusted EPS outlook and improved the lower end of its organic sales forecast.
Higher costs, weaker volume and mix, and planned investment continue to weigh on operating performance.

Kraft Heinz, US5007541064, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Kraft Heinz reported its third-quarter 2026 results on Wednesday, November 4, and raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook. The company's investor-relations release said net sales fell 2.0 percent year over year to 6.115 billion US dollars, while organic net sales declined 1.1 percent.

Kraft Heinz stock traded at 21.86 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 23:00 CET on Wednesday, November 11, 0.78 percent above the Xetra close of Wednesday, November 11. The comparison uses the Xetra closing price of 21.69 euros at 17:35 CET.

Mixed Regional Performance

North America sales declined 3.4 percent, while Europe and Pacific Developed Markets fell 5.6 percent. Emerging Markets sales increased 13.8 percent, with organic sales growth of 15.6 percent, helping to offset weaker performance in the larger developed-market regions.

Operating income fell 14.6 percent to 875 million US dollars. Adjusted operating income declined 15.2 percent to 939 million US dollars, as procurement and logistics inflation, higher variable compensation, unfavorable volume and mix, and increased advertising costs outweighed efficiency initiatives.

Higher Earnings Outlook

Kraft Heinz raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to 2.07 to 2.13 US dollars from 2.03 to 2.09 US dollars. The company attributed the increase mainly to an expected adjusted tax rate of 23.5 percent, compared with 24.5 percent previously.

The company also narrowed its organic net sales outlook to a decline of 0.5 percent to 1.25 percent, compared with the previous range of a decline of 0.5 percent to 2 percent. Constant-currency adjusted operating income is still expected to fall 16 percent to 18 percent, while the outlook includes approximately 700 million US dollars of incremental investment compared with 2025.

The Kraft Heinz investor-relations release said the outlook includes an approximately 100-basis-point headwind from lower SNAP benefits. Free cash flow conversion is expected at approximately 110 percent for the full year.

Business And Competition

Kraft Heinz is a global food and beverage company headquartered in the United States, with brands including Heinz, Kraft, Philadelphia, Primal Kitchen and Lunchables. It sells products in more than 40 countries and reported approximately 25 billion US dollars in 2025 net sales.

The company operates in the competitive packaged-food market alongside global groups such as Nestle, PepsiCo and Mondelez International. Kraft Heinz is positioned as one of the larger branded food and beverage companies, with Emerging Markets and Away From Home providing growth areas while its North American retail business remains under pressure.