We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Factors to Watch Ahead of Flowers Foods' Q3 Earnings Release
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Flowers Foods' Q3 sales and earnings are expected to decline 3.1% and 34.8% year over year.
Weak bread demand, consumer trade-down, competition and elevated costs may pressure FLO's results.
New business wins, the Nature's Own relaunch and Simple Mills' momentum may offset some weakness.
Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO - Free Report) is likely to witness a top- and bottom-line decline when it reports third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Nov. 12. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating a fall of 3.1% from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus mark for earnings has remained unchanged over the past 30 days at 15 cents a share, suggesting a decrease of 34.8% from the year-ago period’s figure. FLO has a trailing four-quarter surprise of 8.1%, on average.
Flowers Foods, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Factors Likely to Influence FLO’s Upcoming Results
Flowers Foods’ third-quarter results are likely to be pressured by persistent weakness in the fresh packaged bread category. Strained household budgets, increased price sensitivity and consumer trade-down toward lower-priced alternatives may have weighed on demand. Management expects year-over-year sales declines in the quarter, reflecting pricing and volume pressures.
Heightened competition and promotional activity could have further affected branded retail performance. Shifting consumer preferences toward smaller loaves, sourdough and functional bread varieties, where Flowers Foods remains underpenetrated, may have constrained volumes. Continued weakness in traditional loaf and competitive pressures on Dave’s Killer Bread could have compounded these challenges.
Lower production volumes are likely to have restricted operating leverage, while elevated labor, freight and marketing expenses could have pressured margins. Continued brand investments and promotional intensity may have limited profitability, although productivity improvements and cost-saving initiatives are likely to have provided some relief.
On the positive side, Flowers Foods may have benefited from new business wins across retail and away-from-home channels, with some contributions expected in the third quarter. The Nature’s Own relaunch, innovation and expanded distribution are likely to have supported performance, although benefits remain in the early stages. Continued momentum at Simple Mills and strength in select specialty bakery categories may have partly offset broader weakness.
Earnings Whispers for FLO
Our proven model doesn’t conclusively predict an earnings beat for Flowers Foods this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
Flowers Foods currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks With the Favorable Combination
Here are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +8.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues stands at $11.1 billion, which suggests 4.5% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar General’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $1.40, which calls for a 9.4% increase from the year-ago period’s figure. DG delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.1%, on average.
Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.84% and a Zacks Rank #2. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at nearly $3 billion, which indicates 4.5% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta Beauty’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $5.60, which calls for almost 9% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. ULTA delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.6%, on average.
The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.43% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KR’s upcoming quarter’s revenues is pegged at $34.6 billion, suggesting a 2.1% jump from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The consensus estimate for Kroger’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $1.16 per share, implying 10.5% growth from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 36 cents. KR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.7%, on average.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Factors to Watch Ahead of Flowers Foods' Q3 Earnings Release
Key Takeaways
Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO - Free Report) is likely to witness a top- and bottom-line decline when it reports third-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings on Nov. 12. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating a fall of 3.1% from the year-ago reported figure.
The consensus mark for earnings has remained unchanged over the past 30 days at 15 cents a share, suggesting a decrease of 34.8% from the year-ago period’s figure. FLO has a trailing four-quarter surprise of 8.1%, on average.
Flowers Foods, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Flowers Foods, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Flowers Foods, Inc. Quote
Factors Likely to Influence FLO’s Upcoming Results
Flowers Foods’ third-quarter results are likely to be pressured by persistent weakness in the fresh packaged bread category. Strained household budgets, increased price sensitivity and consumer trade-down toward lower-priced alternatives may have weighed on demand. Management expects year-over-year sales declines in the quarter, reflecting pricing and volume pressures.
Heightened competition and promotional activity could have further affected branded retail performance. Shifting consumer preferences toward smaller loaves, sourdough and functional bread varieties, where Flowers Foods remains underpenetrated, may have constrained volumes. Continued weakness in traditional loaf and competitive pressures on Dave’s Killer Bread could have compounded these challenges.
Lower production volumes are likely to have restricted operating leverage, while elevated labor, freight and marketing expenses could have pressured margins. Continued brand investments and promotional intensity may have limited profitability, although productivity improvements and cost-saving initiatives are likely to have provided some relief.
On the positive side, Flowers Foods may have benefited from new business wins across retail and away-from-home channels, with some contributions expected in the third quarter. The Nature’s Own relaunch, innovation and expanded distribution are likely to have supported performance, although benefits remain in the early stages. Continued momentum at Simple Mills and strength in select specialty bakery categories may have partly offset broader weakness.
Earnings Whispers for FLO
Our proven model doesn’t conclusively predict an earnings beat for Flowers Foods this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
Flowers Foods currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks With the Favorable Combination
Here are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +8.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues stands at $11.1 billion, which suggests 4.5% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar General’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $1.40, which calls for a 9.4% increase from the year-ago period’s figure. DG delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.1%, on average.
Ulta Beauty, Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.84% and a Zacks Rank #2. The consensus estimate for quarterly revenues is pegged at nearly $3 billion, which indicates 4.5% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ulta Beauty’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $5.60, which calls for almost 9% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. ULTA delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.6%, on average.
The Kroger Co. (KR - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +3.43% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KR’s upcoming quarter’s revenues is pegged at $34.6 billion, suggesting a 2.1% jump from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The consensus estimate for Kroger’s upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $1.16 per share, implying 10.5% growth from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 36 cents. KR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.7%, on average.