Q3 EPS Estimates for Flowers Foods Reduced by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research has reduced its Q3 2025 earnings estimate for Flowers Foods from $0.27 to $0.24 per share, reflecting a broader trend of lowered earnings expectations.
• Flowers Foods reported a net margin of 4.30% and a return on equity of 17.85% in its latest quarter, while also achieving $1.24 billion in revenue, which was slightly below expectations.
• The company's quarterly dividend of $0.2475 reflects a 6.7% dividend yield and a payout ratio of 95.19%, signaling a significant commitment to shareholder returns despite fluctuations in earnings estimates.

Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research cut their Q3 2025 EPS estimates for shares of Flowers Foods in a note issued to investors on Friday, September 5th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $0.24 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $0.27. The consensus estimate for Flowers Foods' current full-year earnings is $1.18 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Flowers Foods' Q4 2025 earnings at $0.18 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $1.06 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $0.33 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.28 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.29 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.19 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.10 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.38 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.28 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $1.13 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on FLO. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on shares of Flowers Foods from $20.00 to $16.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Flowers Foods from $20.00 to $15.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 18th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Flowers Foods from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Finally, DA Davidson reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $15.00 target price on shares of Flowers Foods in a research report on Monday, August 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $15.33.

Flowers Foods Stock Down 3.3%

Shares of Flowers Foods stock traded down $0.49 during trading on Monday, hitting $14.31. 3,525,147 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,559,309. The stock has a market cap of $3.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.76 and a beta of 0.29. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $15.72 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $16.97. Flowers Foods has a twelve month low of $14.26 and a twelve month high of $23.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.26.

Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 15th. The company reported $0.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.01. Flowers Foods had a return on equity of 17.85% and a net margin of 4.30%.The firm had revenue of $1.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.27 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.36 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Flowers Foods has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.000-1.10 EPS.

Institutional Trading of Flowers Foods

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FLO. Susquehanna International Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Flowers Foods by 76.7% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 75,167 shares of the company's stock worth $1,553,000 after purchasing an additional 32,631 shares during the period. Comerica Bank grew its position in Flowers Foods by 6.0% during the fourth quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 79,255 shares of the company's stock worth $1,637,000 after buying an additional 4,498 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in Flowers Foods by 193.0% during the fourth quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 213,532 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,412,000 after acquiring an additional 140,646 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its holdings in Flowers Foods by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 41,200 shares of the company's stock valued at $851,000 after acquiring an additional 1,165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Flowers Foods by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 217,032 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,484,000 after acquiring an additional 1,238 shares in the last quarter. 75.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Flowers Foods

In other news, insider Cindy Cox sold 3,600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.00, for a total value of $54,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 16,994 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $254,910. This represents a 17.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 11.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Flowers Foods Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 5th will be given a $0.2475 dividend. This represents a $0.99 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 5th. Flowers Foods's payout ratio is currently 95.19%.

About Flowers Foods

Flowers Foods, Inc produces and markets packaged bakery food products in the United States. Its principal products include fresh breads, buns, rolls, snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas, as well as frozen breads and rolls under the Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Mrs.