Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ) Issues FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Key Points

• FY2026 EPS guidance: Utz issued EPS guidance of $0.771–$0.795, essentially in line with the consensus estimate of $0.770, while revenue guidance was not provided.
• Voluntary recall and near‑term risk: Utz Quality Foods recalled certain seasonings over a potential Salmonella risk, a precautionary move that could cause sales disruption, incremental costs and has helped weigh on the stock.
• Mixed analyst and market outlook: analysts' ratings average to a "Hold" with an average target of $12.06, while the stock trades around $7.72 (market cap ~$1.11B) and shows a very high P/E (~772.6) and a 3.3% dividend yield backed by a 2,500% payout ratio, signaling dividend sustainability concerns.

Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ - Get Free Report) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided EPS guidance of 0.771-0.795 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 0.770. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $15.00 price target on shares of Utz Brands in a report on Thursday, April 9th. BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Utz Brands in a report on Monday, April 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $10.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Utz Brands in a research note on Friday, March 27th. DA Davidson set a $15.00 target price on shares of Utz Brands in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded shares of Utz Brands from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Utz Brands currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $12.06.

Utz Brands Stock Performance

UTZ opened at $7.72 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $7.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.51. Utz Brands has a 1 year low of $7.11 and a 1 year high of $14.67. The stock has a market cap of $1.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 772.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.87.

Utz Brands (NYSE:UTZ - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported $0.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $361.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $361.77 million. Utz Brands had a net margin of 0.06% and a return on equity of 8.57%. Utz Brands has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.771-0.795 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Utz Brands will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Utz Brands Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 23rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 13th were given a dividend of $0.063 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 13th. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Utz Brands's dividend payout ratio is currently 2,500.00%.

Trending Headlines about Utz Brands

Here are the key news stories impacting Utz Brands this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Long‑term/value buyers may view the pullback as a buying opportunity — coverage arguing UTZ is trading near lows with upside potential could attract investors looking for recovery upside. Should You Buy Utz Brands (UTZ) At All‑Time Low?
• Neutral Sentiment: Utz Quality Foods (a UTZ subsidiary) issued a voluntary recall after learning a seasoning containing dry milk powder — sourced from California Dairies and supplied by a third party — may have Salmonella; the company says affected seasoning batches tested negative before use. This is a precautionary, voluntary recall rather than an announced outbreak tied to confirmed illnesses. Utz Quality Foods, LLC Issues Voluntary Recall
• Negative Sentiment: Recall breadth and media coverage (multiple flavors/brands sold nationwide) increase the risk of near‑term sales disruption, incremental costs for product retrieval and disposal, and damage to consumer confidence; detailed affected SKUs, UPCs and best‑by/batch codes have been published. Expect higher supply‑chain, logistics and potential remediation costs until inventories are cleared/verified. Utz Potato Chips Recalled Over Salmonella Risk — Here's What Products Have Been Pulled
• Negative Sentiment: Separately, coverage indicates UTZ shares fell on below‑expected guidance and profit concerns, compounding pressure from the recall; weaker guidance + recall uncertainty is the main reason the stock is under pressure today. Monitor company commentary for updated sales, costs and any revision to FY guidance. Utz Brands (UTZ) Slid Due to Below‑Expected Guidance

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Utz Brands

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of UTZ. NewEdge Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Utz Brands in the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Utz Brands by 431.5% in the fourth quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 3,343 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 2,714 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Utz Brands by 76.1% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 3,756 shares of the company's stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 1,623 shares during the last quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd raised its position in shares of Utz Brands by 134.0% in the fourth quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 6,125 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 3,507 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Utz Brands in the fourth quarter valued at about $111,000. 95.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Utz Brands

Utz Brands, Inc is a leading U.S. manufacturer and distributor of salty snack foods, offering a wide range of products including potato chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, popcorn and tortilla chips. Headquartered in Hanover, Pennsylvania, the company markets its snacks under several well-known brands and serves grocery, mass merchandise, club, convenience and online retailers throughout the United States.

Founded in 1921 by Bill and Salie Utz as a small country store operation, the business expanded gradually through direct delivery to local customers and sales to regional grocers.

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