- Grocery and Restaurant Prices Post Biggest Jump Since 2022
May 14, 2026
Quick Read
Kraft Heinz (KHC) CEO cited lower-income shoppers “literally running out of money,” while McDonald’s (MCD) expects sustained pricing pressures and Walmart (WMT) gained 4.6% U.S. comp sales growth with a 18.48% year-to-date stock gain as consumers trade down to discount grocers. Energy costs driven by Iran tensions and Strait of Hormuz disruptions pushed grocery prices up 0.5% and restaurant menu prices up 0.7% in April, the largest monthly increases since late 2025, compressing margins across food and dining while consumer sentiment hit its lowest point since 1952. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks and Kraft Heinz wasn't one of them. Get them here FREE.
Grocery prices jumped 0.5% in April and restaurant menu prices climbed 0.7%, the biggest monthly moves in either category since late 2025. Before that, you would have to go back to 2022 to find a hotter print.
The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks and Kraft Heinz wasn't one of them.Get them here FREE.
The April CPI report, released Tuesday by the BLS, showed headline inflation running at 3.8% year over year, up from 3.3% in March, the highest reading since 2023. Core CPI accelerated to 2.8%. Energy alone drove more than 40% of the monthly increase, as the Iran war and the standstill in the Strait of Hormuz keep bleeding into food, logistics, and dining costs.
The K-Shaped Squeeze
The personal savings rate fell to 3.6% in March, and University of Michigan consumer sentiment hit its lowest reading dating back to 1952. Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) CEO Steve Cahillane told Bloomberg lower-income shoppers are "literally running out of money at the end of the month." McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) CEO Chris Kempczinski warned "the pressures there are going to continue." Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR) CEO Marc Bitzer said the appliance industry is seeing a decline on par with the financial crisis. Whirlpool shares are down 41.34% year to date.
The Profit Angle
The barbell trade is back. Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has captured share across income tiers, with Walmart U.S. comp sales up 4.6% and the stock up 18.48% year to date. Its earnings report later this month is the next bellwether. Meanwhile, Kraft Heinz is committing $600 million to defend volumes that keep slipping. Watch the ceasefire, gasoline pass-through, and a Fed boxed in by sticky inflation and a still-resilient labor market.
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- MGP Ingredients, Freshpet, Energizer, and Coty Shares Are Falling, What You Need To Know
May 14, 2026
What Happened?
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after Iran peace talks collapsed pushing up expenses for packaged food companies.
Consumer staples companies, food, beverages, and household good, use oil and natural gas throughout their supply chain. Natural gas powers fertilizer plants, crude oil feeds packaging resins and shipping fuel, and vegetable oil prices track crude closely.
When oil rises, the cost of making and delivering every box of cereal and bottle of ketchup rises with it. For example, Kraft Heinz expects 4% input cost inflation this year with resin hedges expiring in mid-Q3. General Mills reported gross margins down 310 basis points in Q3 fiscal 2026, directly attributable to higher input costs.
The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.
Among others, the following stocks were impacted:
Beverages, Alcohol, and Tobacco company MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI) fell 4.8%. Is now the time to buy MGP Ingredients? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free. Perishable Food company Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) fell 5.5%. Is now the time to buy Freshpet? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free. Household Products company Energizer (NYSE:ENR) fell 4.8%. Is now the time to buy Energizer? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free. Personal Care company Coty (NYSE:COTY) fell 4.6%. Is now the time to buy Coty? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
Zooming In On Freshpet (FRPT)
Freshpet’s shares are very volatile and have had 28 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 6 months ago when the stock gained 12.1% on the news that the company reported third-quarter financial results that significantly surpassed Wall Street's profit expectations.
Net sales for the quarter rose 14% year-over-year to $288.8 million, exceeding analyst forecasts. The company's earnings per share (EPS) came in at $1.86, which was substantially higher than the average analyst forecast of $0.42. This large increase in profit was primarily due to a one-time deferred tax benefit of $77.9 million.
Freshpet also reported strong volume growth of 12.9% and an improved operating margin, which rose to 8.6% from 4.7% in the same period last year. The company generated positive free cash flow of $31.56 million for the quarter.
Story Continues
Freshpet is down 16.3% since the beginning of the year, and at $50.34 per share, it is trading 43.8% below its 52-week high of $89.64 from May 2025. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Freshpet’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at only $296.34.
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- Tyson Foods, Inter Parfums, and Estée Lauder Shares Plummet, What You Need To Know
May 14, 2026
What Happened?
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after Iran peace talks collapsed pushing up expenses for packaged food companies.
Consumer staples companies, food, beverages, and household good, use oil and natural gas throughout their supply chain. Natural gas powers fertilizer plants, crude oil feeds packaging resins and shipping fuel, and vegetable oil prices track crude closely.
When oil rises, the cost of making and delivering every box of cereal and bottle of ketchup rises with it. For example, Kraft Heinz expects 4% input cost inflation this year with resin hedges expiring in mid-Q3. General Mills reported gross margins down 310 basis points in Q3 fiscal 2026, directly attributable to higher input costs.
The stock market overreacts to news, and big price drops can present good opportunities to buy high-quality stocks.
Among others, the following stocks were impacted:
Perishable Food company Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) fell 2.7%. Is now the time to buy Tyson Foods? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free. Personal Care company Inter Parfums (NASDAQ:IPAR) fell 4%. Is now the time to buy Inter Parfums? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free. Personal Care company Estée Lauder (NYSE:EL) fell 4.5%. Is now the time to buy Estée Lauder? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.
Zooming In On Estée Lauder (EL)
Estée Lauder’s shares are somewhat volatile and have had 14 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful but not something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.
The previous big move we wrote about was 10 days ago when the stock gained 5.5% on the news that the company reported first-quarter 2026 earnings that beat profit expectations and raised its full-year forecast.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.88 per share, easily surpassing analyst estimates of $0.65. Revenue for the quarter grew 4.6% year on year to $3.71 billion, which was in line with expectations. Investors were also encouraged by a 2% increase in organic revenue, marking a significant turnaround from declines in previous quarters.
Looking ahead, Estée Lauder increased its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to a midpoint of $2.40, signaling management's confidence in its continued momentum. This combination of a strong earnings beat and a positive outlook appeared to drive investor sentiment.
Estée Lauder is down 22.5% since the beginning of the year, and at $82.72 per share, it is trading 30.8% below its 52-week high of $119.61 from February 2026. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Estée Lauder’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at only $280.59.
Story Continues
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- Grocery and Restaurant Prices Post Biggest Jump Since 2022
May 14, 2026 · 247wallst.com
Grocery prices jumped 0.5% in April and restaurant menu prices climbed 0.7%, the biggest monthly moves in either category since late 2025.
- Trump Wants Rate Cuts. The Data Just Made That Nearly Impossible.
May 14, 2026 · 247wallst.com
The President wants rate cuts. His pick is set to take the chair at the Federal Reserve. Futures markets have spent weeks pricing in easing. Then the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the April Consumer Price Index report, and the door slammed shut. Headline CPI rose 3.8% year-over-year in April, up from 3.3% in March,... Trump Wants Rate Cuts. The Data Just Made That Nearly Impossible.
- Trump cuts to grocery subsidies bite US food companies
May 13, 2026
The food industry is starting to feel the impact of cuts to US grocery subsidies that were part of the giant tax and spending bill passed
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- Kool-Aid to launch electrolyte packets with no artificial dyes as part of Kraft Heinz makeover
May 13, 2026 · cnbc.com
Kool-Aid is launching electrolyte packets made without artificial dyes and sugar. Parent company Kraft Heinz is trying to reverse slumping sales by modernizing many of its iconic brands.
- 3 Berkshire Stocks Under $30 and 2 Under $30 Greg Abel May Buy
May 12, 2026
Quick Read
Kraft Heinz (KHC) trades at $23.96 with a 6.76% dividend yield and forward P/E near 12, posting four consecutive EPS beats while free cash flow jumped 59%, though organic net sales face 1.5-3.5% headwinds. Sirius XM (SIRI) sits at $27.10 with a 4.04% yield and 11 trailing P/E after locking in an exclusive YouTube audio ad partnership, achieving record-low 1.5% churn and 37% podcast revenue growth. Liberty Latin America (LILA) trades at $7.63 with 13% Q1 operating income growth and plans to distribute $500M in preferred stock. Nu Holdings (NU) posts a 23 trailing P/E with 42% full-year revenue growth to $15.77B and 33% Q4 return on equity after securing conditional U.S. national bank approval. Pfizer (PFE) trades at $25.68 pairing a 6.6% yield with a forward P/E of 9, with non-COVID operations growing 9% operationally. Berkshire Hathaway’s Greg Abel is sitting on record cash reserves and scanning the sub-$30 share-price segment for the brand-heavy, cash-generative franchises Warren Buffett favored during market downturns. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks and Kraft Heinz wasn't one of them. Get them here FREE.
Warren Buffett built Berkshire Hathaway by paying reasonable prices for durable cash flows, and three of his current bets still trade below $30 a share. With Greg Abel sitting on a record cash pile, the sub-$30 aisle is where value hunters are scanning for the kind of brand-heavy, cash-generative franchises Omaha tends to favor when sentiment sours.
Here are five stocks under $30 that fit the Buffett template: three Berkshire already owns, plus two Abel could plausibly add to the book.
Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC)
Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) owns Heinz, Philadelphia, Lunchables, and Primal Kitchen. Shares recently traded at $23.96, paying a 6.76% dividend yield at a forward multiple near 12. Q1 adjusted EPS hit $0.58 against a $0.5027 consensus, the fourth consecutive beat, while free cash flow jumped 58.9% to $766M. CEO Steve Cahillane's $600M reinvestment plan anchors the turnaround case. The risk: organic net sales are guided down 1.5% to 3.5% on SNAP and private-label pressure. With analyst targets clustered near $23.87, the value here lives in the dividend.
The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks and Kraft Heinz wasn't one of them.Get them here FREE.
Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI)
Sirius XM (NASDAQ:SIRI) operates satellite radio and Pandora and just locked in an exclusive U.S. audio ad partnership covering YouTube's roughly 255 million monthly listeners. Shares sit near $27.10, up 37.2% year to date, on a trailing P/E of 11 and forward P/E of 9. The dividend yields 4.04% at $0.27 quarterly. Q1 churn hit a record-low 1.5% and podcast revenue grew 37%, with full-year free cash flow guided to $1.35B. The bear note: self-pay subscribers are still shrinking. Wall Street targets average $28.08, leaving the cash return as the main draw.
Story Continues
Liberty Latin America (NASDAQ: LILA)
Liberty Latin America (NASDAQ:LILA) runs broadband and mobile networks across the Caribbean and Latin America under Flow, Liberty, and Más Móvil. Shares recently sat at $7.63, up 63.38% over the past year. Q1 operating income rose 13%, the company added 50,200 postpaid subscribers, and CEO Balan Nair announced plans to distribute $500M in 9% preferred stock. Berkshire still holds the position. The risk is real: net leverage sits at 4.5x and Hurricane Melissa weighed on Caribbean revenue. Analyst targets at $11.90 imply meaningful upside if recovery holds.
Nu Holdings (NYSE: NU)
Nu Holdings (NYSE:NU), Latin America's largest digital bank, sits outside Berkshire's current portfolio yet matches the profitable, scale-driven financial profile Abel has flagged interest in. It's also formerly a Berkshire Hathaway holding. Shares trade near $13.80 at a trailing P/E of 23. Full-year revenue grew 42.06% to $15.77B, net income climbed 45.61% to $2.87B, and Q4 return on equity hit 33%. Nubank also secured conditional OCC approval for a U.S. national bank. Risks include Brazilian macro exposure and $4.20B in expected credit losses. Consensus target sits at $19.87, well above the current quote.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE)
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is another non-Berkshire name that fits the Buffett-style screen Abel may inherit. Shares recently traded at $25.68, up 21.96% over the past year, pairing a 6.6% yield with a forward P/E of 9. The non-COVID portfolio grew 9% operationally in Q4, with Vyndaqel, Eliquis, and Abrysvo all posting double-digit gains. Q4 adjusted EPS came in at $0.66 versus a $0.57 consensus. Risks include a $1.5B loss-of-exclusivity headwind plus Most-Favored-Nation pricing uncertainty. Consensus target stands at $29.11.
A low share price by itself is never a thesis. Each of these names carries a specific risk that could undo the cheap headline multiple, from food-volume erosion to Brazilian macro to drug-pricing reform. Treat this list as a starting point for your own diligence, not a substitute for it.
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- Snackables Launch Tests Kraft Heinz Efforts To Refresh Lunchables Growth
May 12, 2026
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Lunchables, owned by Kraft Heinz, has launched new "Snackables" double snack packs designed for splitting and sharing. The product extends the brand's on the go lineup with shareable, bite sized options aimed at snackers looking for convenience.
Kraft Heinz (NasdaqGS:KHC) is rolling out Snackables at a time when its stock trades around $23.26 and has seen mixed recent returns, including a 3.7% gain over the past week and a 0.9% move over the past month. Over longer horizons, the share price is down 4.6% year to date and has declined 12.1% over the past year, with weaker returns over the past 3 and 5 years as well.
For investors watching how Kraft Heinz works with its legacy brands, Snackables shows how the company is using familiar labels to address demand for quick, shareable snacks. The commercial traction of this product line, along with any follow on extensions, will help indicate how much the refreshed snacking portfolio contributes to the wider Kraft Heinz story.
Stay updated on the most important news stories for Kraft Heinz by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Kraft Heinz.NasdaqGS:KHC Earnings & Revenue Growth as at May 2026
2 things going right for Kraft Heinz that this headline doesn't cover.
Snackables extends Kraft Heinz’s push into higher-convenience, on-the-go formats within packaged foods, an area where it competes with players like General Mills, Mondelez, and PepsiCo’s Frito Lay snacks. The double snack pack format gives Lunchables more occasions, such as sharing at school, offices, and travel, without moving away from its core proposition of cheese, crackers, and bite-sized add ons. For investors, the key question is whether Snackables can help Kraft Heinz hold or win shelf space in the snacking aisle and support pricing power as consumers look for portion control and convenience rather than full meal kits.
How This Fits Into The Kraft Heinz Narrative
Snackables aligns with the narrative focus on product innovation and convenient offerings that can broaden the role of legacy brands like Lunchables and contribute incremental revenue over time. If Snackables fails to gain traction, it would highlight the narrative concern that Kraft Heinz’s innovation rate still lags peers and that efforts to refresh core North America retail categories are slow to change underlying volume trends. The narrative centers heavily on macro brand investment, emerging markets, and cost actions, while this launch adds a specific example of on the go, shareable snacking that may not be fully reflected in high level assumptions.
Story Continues
Knowing what a company is worth starts with understanding its story. Check out one of the top narratives in the Simply Wall St Community for Kraft Heinz to help decide what it's worth to you.
The Risks and Rewards Investors Should Consider
⚠️ Snackables targets a crowded snacking category where Kraft Heinz faces strong competition from established snack portfolios at Mondelez, PepsiCo, and General Mills. ⚠️ Analysts have flagged that Kraft Heinz still carries a high level of debt and that the dividend has not been well covered by earnings, so heavy product support spending needs to be watched against cash flow. 🎁 Snackables supports the push to make legacy brands more relevant to changing consumer preferences for bite sized, on the go options, which management has highlighted as a key opportunity. 🎁 Early products like Dino and Star Tater Tots and higher protein mac and cheese show a pattern of brand refreshes, and Snackables adds to that pipeline across multiple aisles and eating occasions.
What To Watch Going Forward
Investors may want to watch how retailers merchandise Snackables versus traditional Lunchables, how quickly the range expands into new flavors or formats, and whether management highlights Snackables in future earnings commentary alongside North America retail performance. It is also worth tracking how much of Kraft Heinz’s reported marketing and innovation spend is directed toward on the go snacking versus other categories, and whether these launches line up with any changes in reported volumes or mix in the snacks and kids foods portfolio.
To ensure you're always in the loop on how the latest news impacts the investment narrative for Kraft Heinz, head to the community page for Kraft Heinz to never miss an update on the top community narratives.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include KHC.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
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- Kraft Heinz Celebrates 250 Years of Summer Cookouts with "The United Tastes of America"
May 12, 2026
Kraft Heinz Celebrates 250 Years of Summer Cookouts with “The United Tastes of America”
Company’s largest-ever portfolio campaign unites iconic 100+ year-old brands at the center of America’s most beloved tradition
CHICAGO, May 12, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As America approaches its 250th anniversary, The Kraft Heinz Company is marking the moment the only way it knows how: by bringing people together over food. Today, as part of its America250 sponsorship, the company unveils "The United Tastes of America", its largest portfolio campaign in history, celebrating the role its iconic brands have played in one of America’s favorite pastimes: summer cookouts. Coupled with never-before-seen products hitting grocery store shelves, the campaign honors summer get-togethers with offerings of all shapes, sizes and flavors.
For generations, cookouts have been where American culture comes to life – from casual backyard BBQs to neighborhood block parties and family reunions. This summer, with 81 percent of Americans planning to attend more gatherings this summer than last,¹ those moments matter more than ever. And while every table looks a bit different – infused with regional flavors, family traditions and personal twists – one thing remains constant: Kraft Heinz brands are at the center of it.
"From coast to coast, no matter what the cookout looks like, Kraft Heinz brands show up at the table – they’re part of the recipes, traditions and memories that define summer," said Whitney Shaw, Head of Portfolio Marketing, North America, Kraft Heinz. "For more than 150 years, our brands haven’t just been present for American history – we’ve helped feed it. As the country approaches this milestone anniversary, we’re celebrating the foods that have brought people together for generations – and continue to do so today."
At the heart of the campaign is a new national TV spot – bringing multiple Kraft Heinz brands together in a single creative – featuring favorites like HEINZ, Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, Kraft Real Mayo and Kraft Dressings. The spot captures a mosaic of American summers across the country, reinforcing a simple truth: no cookout is complete without Kraft Heinz.
Extending beyond the screen, Kraft Heinz is bringing the celebration to life with a lineup of limited-time, summer-ready innovations now available at retailers nationwide. From Velveeta America Shapes with star and USA-shaped noodles, to Ore-Ida Star Tater Tots and Jet-Puffed Jumbo Stars in glow-in-the-dark packaging – just like fireworks on the 4th of July – the portfolio is delivering playful twists on fan favorites. Iconic classics including Kraft Singles, Kraft Real Mayo, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Cool Whip and HEINZ Ketchup and Mustard will feature red, white and blue packaging designed for America’s 250th birthday festivities.
Story Continues
"The United Tastes of America" reflects Kraft Heinz’s broader ambition to meet consumers where they are – showing up in the moments that matter most. As part of its sponsorship, Kraft Heinz will have a presence at the America250 Ultimate Block Party tentpole events leading up to and culminating on the 4th of July. To follow the United Tastes of America or find America250-inspired products near you, follow @KraftHeinz on social media or visit kraftheinz.com/unitedtastesofamerica.
1 America 250/YouGov April 2025, Event Brite, Pew Research Center, "American Food Traditions by Region, 2022, NHDSC, "Hot Dog and Sausage
About The Kraft Heinz Company
Kraft Heinz (Nasdaq: KHC) is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, with approximately $25 billion in net sales in 2025 and a portfolio of iconic brands enjoyed by consumers in more than 40 countries. By investing in our capabilities and brands, including Heinz, Kraft, Philadelphia, Primal Kitchen, and Lunchables, we are unlocking the full power of our portfolio. We deliver high‑quality, great‑tasting, and affordable food for the consumers of today, while shaping the future of food. Learn more at www.kraftheinzcompany.com.
About America250
America250’s mission is to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, marking America’s Semiquincentennial. We aim to inspire our fellow Americans to reflect on our past, strengthen our love of country, and renew our commitment to the ideals of democracy through programs that educate, engage, and unite us as a nation. America250 will foster shared experiences that spark imagination, showcase the rich tapestry of our American stories, inspire service in our communities, honor the enduring strength, and celebrate the resilience of the United States of America.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512129578/en/
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