McCormick & Company Stock Outlook: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Hunt Valley, Maryland-based McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) is a global leader in flavor, manufacturing and selling herbs, spices, seasonings, condiments, sauces, and flavor solutions across roughly 150 countries and territories. Valued at $14.9 billion by market cap, the company supplies its products under McCormick, French’s, Frank’s RedHot, Cholula Hot Sauce, and OLD BAY brands in the Americas.

McCormick’s stock has been losing flavor on Wall Street, significantly trailing both the broader market and its industry peers. MKC has declined 18.2% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 20.2%. Moreover, in 2026, MKC stock is down 17.1%, trailing the index’s 12.6% rise. 

Its struggles are also evident against the First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 3.1% over the past year and 11.7% on a YTD basis. 

On June 25, McCormick delivered a strong Q2 2026 earnings report, and investors responded enthusiastically, sending its shares 5.6% higher in the next trading session. Net sales jumped 16.7% year over year to $1.94 billion, including a 2.7% tailwind from currency, while organic sales grew 1.7%, primarily driven by higher prices. The McCormick de Mexico acquisition contributed significantly to reported growth, helping Consumer segment sales climb 22.8% to $1.14 billion, while Flavor Solutions sales increased 8.9% to $794 million. 

Profitability was another bright spot, with adjusted operating income climbing 30.1% to $336.40 million, and adjusted EPS rising 15.9% to $0.80, comfortably beating Wall Street expectations. 

For fiscal 2026, ending in November, analysts expect MKC’s EPS to grow 2.7% to $3.08 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on one other occasion.

Among the 14 analysts covering MKC stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on seven “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” and six “Holds.”

On June 26, Bernstein reiterated its “Outperform” rating on McCormick but cut its price target to $68 from $77, reflecting a more cautious valuation outlook despite maintaining a bullish stance on the stock. 

The mean price target of $61.83 represents a 9.5% premium to MKC’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $75 suggests an upside potential of 14.5%.