Orrville, Ohio-based The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM) manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products. Valued at $13.1 billion by market cap, the company's principal products include peanut butter, shortening and oils, fruit spreads, canned milk, baking mixes and ready-to-spread frostings, flour and baking ingredients, juices and beverages, and more.
Shares of this leading consumer packaged goods company have underperformed the broader market over the past year. SJM has gained 8.9% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 19.5%. However, in 2026, SJM’s stock rose 25.8%, surpassing the SPX’s 11.6% rise on a YTD basis.
Narrowing the focus, SJM’s outperformance is apparent compared to the First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 2.7% over the past year. Moreover, SJM’s gains on a YTD basis outshine the ETF’s 11.8% returns over the same time frame.
SJM has delivered a mixed performance over the past year, as strong top-line momentum and a recent share price rebound have been counterbalanced by bottom-line pressures and strategic integration hurdles. While its net sales expanded, driven by price increases, strong demand for core brands like Uncrustables and Jif, and steady free cash flow, the company faced profitability headwinds from rising commodity costs, elevated interest expense, and noncash goodwill impairment charges tied to its Sweet Baked Snacks segment.
For the current fiscal year, ending in April 2027, analysts expect SJM’s EPS to grow 9% to $9.97 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimate in two of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on two other occasions.
Among the 18 analysts covering SJM stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on nine “Strong Buy” ratings, two “Moderate Buys,” and seven “Holds.”
The configuration has been relatively stable over the past three months.
On Aug. 20, David Palmer from Evercore Inc. (EVR) maintained a “Buy” rating on SJM, with a price target of $125, implying a potential upside of 1.6% from current levels.
The mean price target of $128.06 represents a 4.1% premium to SJM’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $140 suggests an upside potential of 13.8%.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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