An update has just come out today on General Mills, Inc. (GIS), in which senior food industry analyst Steven Ralston, CFA is restating his Hold rating on the company. We excerpted the following details:
'Productivity initiatives and new product introductions should help General Mills achieve high single-digit earnings growth in the long term. The company is in various stages of implementing a strategy to enhance shareholder value. Starting in fiscal 2005, cash flow was utilized to reduce debt, repurchase shares, and increase dividends going forward.
'However, recently, debt has been issued, raising the company's net debt position. In addition, increasing input commodity costs are impeding meaningful margin expansion. The stock is rated a Hold. During the last three years, a period of relatively stable and modest earnings growth, General Mills stock has traded in a narrow P/E range of 15 to 19.
'The stock is currently trading at a P/E multiple of 17.9. Given that the company resumed its share buyback program in fiscal 2006 and is exhibiting modest EPS growth, we expect the stock to trade in the top-end of the historical valuation range; hence, our target price of $61.75 is based on a 19 P/E on trailing 12-month earnings.'
Read the full analyst report on GIS.
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