Gross margins have trended downward from a peak of 28.3% in 2024Q3 to 23.6% in 2026Q3, reflecting the company's struggle to maintain pricing power amidst declining top-line performance.
| Metric | TTM | May'25 | May'24 | May'23 | May'22 | May'21 | May'20 | May'19 | May'18 | May'17 | May'16 | May'15 | May'14 | May'13 | May'12 | May'11 | May'10 | May'09 | May'08 | May'07 | May'06 | May'05 | May'04 | May'03 | May'02 | May'01 | May'00 | May'99 | May'98 | May'97 | May'96 |
|---|
| Sales/Revenue | 11.18B | 11.61B | 12.05B | 12.28B | 11.54B | 11.18B | 11.05B | 9.54B | 7.94B | 7.83B | 8.66B | 9.03B | 11.84B | 13.47B | 13.33B | 12.39B | 12.01B | 12.43B | 11.56B | 10.53B | 10.25B | 11.38B | 10.93B | 16.53B | 22.34B | 25.06B | 25.53B | 24.84B | 24.54B | 24.45B | 23.9B |
| Revenue Growth % | -4.73% | -3.64% | -1.84% | 6.42% | 3.14% | 1.18% | 15.89% | 20.16% | 1.42% | -9.66% | -4.09% | -23.69% | -12.11% | 1.04% | 7.63% | 3.09% | -3.31% | 7.46% | 9.8% | 2.73% | -9.95% | 4.19% | -33.91% | -25.98% | -10.87% | -1.86% | 2.78% | 1.22% | 0.41% | 2.28% | -0.87% |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 8.48B | 8.61B | 8.72B | 9.01B | 8.7B | 8.01B | 7.98B | 6.89B | 5.59B | 5.48B | 6.23B | 6.74B | 8.91B | 10.1B | 10.53B | 9.48B | 8.95B | 9.64B | 8.85B | 7.84B | 7.71B | 8.55B | 8.14B | 13.15B | 18.77B | 21.29B | 22.18B | 21.54B | 20.96B | 20.31B | 19.99B |
| COGS % of Revenue | - | 74.14% | 72.34% | 73.41% | 75.39% | 71.58% | 72.23% | 72.19% | 70.38% | 70.05% | 71.96% | 74.58% | 75.27% | 75.02% | 79% | 76.57% | 74.52% | 77.61% | 76.53% | 74.43% | 75.21% | 75.11% | 74.47% | 79.51% | 84.06% | 84.95% | 86.87% | 86.7% | 85.41% | 83.1% | 83.65% |
| Gross Profit | 2.7B | 3B | 3.33B | 3.26B | 2.84B | 3.18B | 3.07B | 2.65B | 2.35B | 2.34B | 2.43B | 2.3B | 2.93B | 3.36B | 2.8B | 2.9B | 3.06B | 2.78B | 2.71B | 2.69B | 2.54B | 2.83B | 2.79B | 3.39B | 3.56B | 3.77B | 3.35B | 3.3B | 3.58B | 4.13B | 3.91B |
| Gross Margin % | 24.18% | 25.86% | 27.66% | 26.59% | 24.61% | 28.42% | 27.77% | 27.81% | 29.62% | 29.95% | 28.04% | 25.42% | 24.73% | 24.98% | 21% | 23.43% | 25.48% | 22.39% | 23.47% | 25.57% | 24.79% | 24.89% | 25.53% | 20.49% | 15.94% | 15.05% | 13.13% | 13.3% | 14.59% | 16.9% | 16.35% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | -9.9% | 2.1% | 15.01% | -10.71% | 3.57% | 15.7% | 12.82% | 0.33% | -3.52% | 5.79% | -21.56% | -13% | 20.22% | -3.57% | -5.18% | 10.04% | 2.5% | 0.78% | 5.97% | -10.31% | 1.57% | -17.64% | -4.86% | -5.61% | 12.55% | 1.45% | -7.76% | -13.28% | 5.71% | 5.42% |
| Operating Expenses | 1.33B | 1.64B | 2.48B | 2.19B | 1.49B | 1.4B | 1.62B | 1.47B | 1.4B | 1.47B | 2.02B | 1.38B | 1.78B | 2.07B | 1.98B | 1.5B | 1.82B | 1.68B | 1.76B | 1.77B | 1.84B | 1.72B | 1.7B | 1.9B | 1.97B | 2.27B | 2.11B | 1.91B | 2.26B | 2.81B | 2.69B |
| OpEx % of Revenue | - | 14.11% | 20.58% | 17.83% | 12.94% | 12.54% | 14.68% | 15.45% | 17.62% | 18.83% | 23.37% | 15.31% | 15.03% | 15.34% | 14.85% | 12.1% | 15.14% | 13.55% | 15.26% | 16.85% | 17.97% | 15.09% | 15.56% | 11.5% | 8.83% | 9.07% | 8.26% | 7.69% | 9.19% | 11.48% | 11.24% |
| Selling, General & Admin | 1.37B | 1.54B | 1.49B | 1.43B | 1.49B | 1.4B | 1.62B | 1.47B | 1.4B | 1.47B | 2.02B | 1.38B | 1.78B | 2.07B | 1.98B | 1.5B | 1.82B | 1.68B | 1.76B | 1.77B | 1.84B | 1.72B | 1.7B | 1.9B | 1.97B | 2.27B | 2.11B | 1.91B | 1.87B | 2.38B | 2.28B |
| SG&A % of Revenue | - | 13.24% | 12.34% | 11.66% | 12.94% | 12.54% | 14.68% | 15.45% | 17.62% | 18.83% | 23.37% | 15.31% | 15.03% | 15.34% | 14.85% | 12.1% | 15.14% | 13.55% | 15.26% | 16.85% | 17.97% | 15.09% | 15.56% | 11.5% | 8.83% | 9.07% | 8.26% | 7.69% | 7.61% | 9.74% | 9.53% |
| Research & Development | 60.8M | 60.8M | 61.4M | 57.7M | 53.4M | 51.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R&D % of Revenue | - | 0.52% | 0.51% | 0.47% | 0.46% | 0.46% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Operating Expenses | -2M | 40.8M | 931.7M | 699.9M | -53.4M | -51.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 389M | 426.2M | 407.9M |
| Operating Income | 1.37B | 1.36B | 852.8M | 1.08B | 1.35B | 1.78B | 1.45B | 1.18B | 953.1M | 869.8M | 404.6M | 912.8M | 1.15B | 1.3B | 818.7M | 1.4B | 1.24B | 1.1B | 949.8M | 918.9M | 698.9M | 1.12B | 1.09B | 1.49B | 1.59B | 1.5B | 1.24B | 1.39B | 1.33B | 1.32B | 1.22B |
| Operating Margin % | 12.28% | 11.75% | 7.08% | 8.76% | 11.67% | 15.88% | 13.09% | 12.37% | 12.01% | 11.11% | 4.67% | 10.1% | 9.7% | 9.64% | 6.14% | 11.33% | 10.34% | 8.84% | 8.21% | 8.73% | 6.82% | 9.8% | 9.98% | 8.99% | 7.11% | 5.98% | 4.87% | 5.61% | 5.4% | 5.41% | 5.11% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 60.01% | -20.69% | -20.11% | -24.22% | 22.74% | 22.68% | 23.76% | 9.58% | 114.98% | -55.67% | -20.52% | -11.59% | 58.67% | -41.67% | 13.03% | 13.06% | 15.65% | 3.36% | 31.48% | -37.35% | 2.36% | -26.67% | -6.43% | 6.03% | 20.47% | -10.73% | 5.04% | 0.23% | 8.34% | 10.97% |
| EBITDA | 1.76B | 1.75B | 1.25B | 1.45B | 1.72B | 2.16B | 1.84B | 1.51B | 1.21B | 1.14B | 683.1M | 1.2B | 1.5B | 1.72B | 1.19B | 1.76B | 1.57B | 1.41B | 1.25B | 1.25B | 999.2M | 1.4B | 1.36B | 1.86B | 2.13B | 2.04B | 1.78B | 1.89B | 1.78B | 1.75B | 1.63B |
| EBITDA Margin % | 15.76% | 15.11% | 10.4% | 11.77% | 14.92% | 19.35% | 16.61% | 15.86% | 15.24% | 14.54% | 7.88% | 13.25% | 12.7% | 12.75% | 8.92% | 14.25% | 13.03% | 11.31% | 10.77% | 11.91% | 9.75% | 12.32% | 12.44% | 11.22% | 9.51% | 8.13% | 6.97% | 7.62% | 7.26% | 7.16% | 6.82% |
| EBITDA Growth % | 91.77% | 39.97% | -13.25% | -16.05% | -20.45% | 17.86% | 21.38% | 25% | 6.35% | 66.56% | -42.95% | -20.34% | -12.49% | 44.38% | -32.58% | 12.68% | 11.37% | 12.85% | -0.66% | 25.52% | -28.76% | 3.15% | -26.71% | -12.7% | 4.35% | 14.41% | -5.95% | 6.16% | 1.92% | 7.38% | 10.35% |
| D&A (Non-Cash Add-back) | 389M | 390.2M | 400.9M | 369.9M | 375.4M | 387.7M | 388.9M | 333M | 257M | 268M | 278.5M | 284.6M | 354.6M | 418.6M | 370.9M | 360.9M | 324.1M | 307.6M | 296.1M | 335.3M | 300.3M | 286.9M | 269.8M | 368.9M | 536.6M | 538.4M | 536.5M | 499.8M | 456.8M | 426.2M | 407.9M |
| EBIT | 548.2M | 1.58B | 1.05B | 1.32B | 1.56B | 1.83B | 1.46B | 1.22B | 1.04B | 928.7M | 405.8M | 913.8M | 1.15B | 1.3B | 822.7M | 1.45B | 1.33B | 1.1B | 949.8M | 918.9M | 698.9M | 1.12B | 1.09B | 1.49B | 1.59B | 1.5B | 1.24B | 1.39B | 1.33B | 1.32B | 1.22B |
| Net Interest Income | -382.7M | -414M | -430.5M | -409.6M | -379.9M | -420.4M | -487.1M | -391.4M | -158.7M | -195.5M | -295.8M | -328.2M | -377.5M | -276.2M | -204M | -177.5M | -160.4M | -186M | -253.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Income | 7.5M | 2.5M | 5.7M | 3.9M | 2.1M | 1.9M | 3.1M | 6.8M | 3.8M | 3.7M | 1.2M | 1M | 2.3M | 2.9M | 4M | 42.2M | 85.2M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Expense | 390.3M | 416.7M | 436.2M | 413.5M | 382M | 422.3M | 490.2M | 398.2M | 162.5M | 199.2M | 297M | 329.2M | 379.8M | 279.1M | 208M | 219.7M | 245.6M | 186M | 253.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Income/Expense | -1.22B | -208.4M | -242.6M | -173.4M | -167.3M | -281.5M | -404M | -280.5M | 19M | -69.1M | -229.7M | -248.8M | -345M | -238.7M | -159.1M | -151.1M | -138.3M | -162M | -203.6M | -191.1M | -300K | -153.2M | -231.4M | -228.5M | -365.9M | -403M | -626M | -757.4M | -300.7M | -279.2M | -812.7M |
| Pretax Income | 156.6M | 1.16B | 610.2M | 901.9M | 1.18B | 1.49B | 1.04B | 899.1M | 972.1M | 800.7M | 174.9M | 664M | 803.5M | 1.06B | 659.6M | 1.25B | 1.1B | 936.4M | 746.2M | 727.8M | 698.6M | 962.4M | 858.5M | 1.26B | 1.22B | 1.1B | 617.6M | 635.6M | 1.03B | 1.04B | 408.6M |
| Pretax Margin % | 1.4% | 9.96% | 5.06% | 7.35% | 10.22% | 13.36% | 9.44% | 9.43% | 12.25% | 10.23% | 2.02% | 7.35% | 6.79% | 7.87% | 4.95% | 10.11% | 9.18% | 7.54% | 6.45% | 6.91% | 6.81% | 8.45% | 7.86% | 7.61% | 5.47% | 4.37% | 2.42% | 2.56% | 4.18% | 4.27% | 1.71% |
| Income Tax | 199.9M | 3.7M | 262.5M | 218.7M | 290.5M | 193.8M | 201.3M | 218.8M | 174.6M | 254.7M | 46.4M | 212.7M | 178.3M | 361.9M | 191.7M | 421.6M | 360.9M | 318.6M | 227.3M | 245.5M | 235M | 403.7M | 319.3M | 445.7M | 460.2M | 412.8M | 235.3M | 305.4M | 393.2M | 406.1M | 219.7M |
| Effective Tax Rate % | 127.65% | 0.32% | 43.02% | 24.25% | 24.65% | 12.97% | 19.3% | 24.34% | 17.96% | 31.81% | 26.53% | 32.03% | 22.19% | 34.13% | 29.06% | 33.66% | 32.71% | 34.02% | 30.46% | 33.73% | 33.64% | 41.95% | 37.19% | 35.43% | 37.64% | 37.69% | 38.1% | 48.05% | 38.34% | 38.9% | 53.77% |
| Net Income | -43.3M | 1.15B | 347.2M | 683.6M | 888.2M | 1.3B | 840.1M | 678.3M | 808.4M | 639.3M | -677M | -252.6M | 303.1M | 773.9M | 467.9M | 817.6M | 725.8M | 978.4M | 930.6M | 764.6M | 533.8M | 641.5M | 811.3M | 763.8M | 783M | 638.6M | 382.3M | 330.2M | 617.5M | 637.9M | 188.9M |
| Net Margin % | -0.39% | 9.92% | 2.88% | 5.57% | 7.7% | 11.61% | 7.6% | 7.11% | 10.18% | 8.17% | -7.81% | -2.8% | 2.56% | 5.75% | 3.51% | 6.6% | 6.04% | 7.87% | 8.05% | 7.26% | 5.21% | 5.64% | 7.43% | 4.62% | 3.51% | 2.55% | 1.5% | 1.33% | 2.52% | 2.61% | 0.79% |
| Net Income Growth % | -113.16% | 231.91% | -49.21% | -23.04% | -31.61% | 54.6% | 23.85% | -16.09% | 26.45% | 194.43% | -168.01% | -183.34% | -60.83% | 65.4% | -42.77% | 12.65% | -25.82% | 5.14% | 21.71% | 43.24% | -16.79% | -20.93% | 6.22% | -2.45% | 22.61% | 67.04% | 15.78% | -46.53% | -3.2% | 237.69% | -61.88% |
| Net Income (Continuing) | -43.3M | 1.15B | 347.7M | 683.2M | 888.2M | 1.3B | 841.8M | 680.3M | 797.5M | 546M | 128.5M | 451.3M | 625.2M | 698.4M | 467.9M | 830.9M | 742.6M | 617.8M | 518.9M | 482.3M | 463.6M | 558.7M | 539.2M | 812.1M | 762.4M | 682.4M | 382.3M | 330.2M | 632.3M | 637.9M | 188.9M |
| Discontinued Operations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.9M | 14.3M | 102M | -794.4M | -692.1M | -310.1M | 87.7M | 6.5M | -11.5M | -19.3M | 361.2M | 411.7M | 282.3M | 70.2M | 82.8M | 285.2M | -52.2M | 22.6M | 100K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 70.9M | 70.5M | 74.5M | 79.6M | 74.6M | 79.1M | 80.4M | 87M | 81.2M | 84M | 96.7M | 98.6M | 96.5M | 7M | 5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 525M | 525M | 525M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -0.09 | 2.41 | 0.72 | 1.42 | 1.84 | 2.66 | 1.72 | 1.52 | 1.98 | 1.46 | -1.57 | -0.60 | 0.70 | 1.85 | 1.12 | 1.88 | 1.62 | 2.15 | 1.90 | 1.51 | 1.03 | 1.23 | 1.53 | 1.44 | 1.47 | 1.25 | 0.80 | 0.65 | 1.32 | 1.34 | 0.39 |
| EPS Growth % | -114.71% | 234.72% | -49.3% | -22.83% | -30.83% | 54.65% | 13.16% | -23.23% | 35.62% | 192.99% | -161.67% | -185.71% | -62.16% | 65.18% | -40.43% | 16.05% | -24.65% | 13.16% | 25.83% | 46.6% | -16.26% | -19.61% | 6.25% | -2.04% | 17.6% | 56.25% | 23.08% | -50.76% | -1.49% | 243.59% | -62.5% |
| EPS (Basic) | - | 2.41 | 0.73 | 1.43 | 1.85 | 2.67 | 1.72 | 1.53 | 2.00 | 1.48 | -1.57 | -0.60 | 0.72 | 1.88 | 1.13 | 1.90 | 1.63 | 2.16 | 1.91 | 1.52 | 1.03 | 1.24 | 1.54 | 1.44 | 1.48 | 1.25 | 0.80 | 0.66 | 1.35 | 1.36 | 0.40 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 478.9M | 478.3M | 480M | 480.7M | 482.2M | 487.8M | 488.6M | 445.6M | 407.4M | 436M | 438.5M | 426.1M | 427.5M | 417.6M | 418.3M | 434.3M | 447.1M | 455.4M | 490.9M | 506.36M | 518.25M | 521.54M | 530.7M | 530.7M | 528M | 514.3M | 478.6M | 477.87M | 461.05M | 452.21M | 450.75M |
| Basic Shares Outstanding | 478.9M | 478.3M | 478.6M | 478.9M | 480.3M | 485.8M | 487.3M | 444M | 403.9M | 431.9M | 434.4M | 426.1M | 421.3M | 410.8M | 412.9M | 429.7M | 443.6M | 452.9M | 487.5M | 503.03M | 518.25M | 517.34M | 527.2M | 528.6M | 525.8M | 511.6M | 475.7M | 471.58M | 450.88M | 452.21M | 450.75M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | - | 58.07% | 189.89% | 91.25% | 65.5% | 36.54% | 49.23% | 52.51% | 42.34% | 64.91% | - | - | 138.87% | 51.78% | 83.05% | 45.8% | 47.77% | 35.59% | 38.93% | 47.96% | 105.9% | 85.78% | 66.15% | 66.67% | 61.67% | 70.84% | 98.09% | 94.61% | 42.62% | 36.04% | 114.08% |
Persistent volume elasticity headwinds
As reported in recent financial filings, Conagra Brands has experienced a consistent pattern of revenue decline, with the most recent quarter showing a 1.9% contraction, following a 6.8% drop in 2026Q2, suggesting that the company is struggling to maintain top-line growth in a price-sensitive consumer environment.
The persistent negative growth trajectory indicates that previous pricing actions may have reached a ceiling, leading to volume erosion that the company has yet to offset. Investors should monitor whether this trend reflects a structural shift in consumer preference toward private label alternatives rather than temporary cyclical weakness.
Based on the provided income statement data, Conagra's gross margin has trended downward from a peak of 28.3% in 2024Q3 to 23.6% in 2026Q3, highlighting the difficulty of managing input cost volatility while simultaneously attempting to defend market share against lower-cost retail competitors.
The erosion of gross margins suggests that the company lacks the pricing power necessary to fully pass through inflationary pressures without triggering significant volume elasticity. This margin compression warrants further investigation into whether the current cost structure is optimized for the current, lower-volume reality of the frozen food segment.
According to the quarterly income statements, operating income has demonstrated high volatility, swinging from a loss of $556.1M in 2024Q4 to a profit of $280.1M in 2026Q3, which indicates that the company is currently failing to achieve meaningful operating leverage as revenue continues to decline.
The inability to scale operating income alongside gross profit suggests that fixed costs, particularly those associated with cold-chain logistics, remain a heavy burden. This lack of efficiency implies that management may need to pursue more aggressive cost-rationalization programs to protect bottom-line profitability in the coming quarters.
As evidenced by the erratic net income figures, including a $663.6M loss in 2026Q2 and a $466.8M profit in 2025Q1, the quality of reported earnings appears compromised by significant non-operating items and periodic restructuring charges that obscure the underlying operational performance of the core business.
The frequent swings in net income suggest that investors should focus on normalized operating metrics rather than headline EPS, which is heavily influenced by one-time charges. The recurring nature of these adjustments implies that what management labels as 'one-time' may actually be a persistent feature of the company's current operational model.
Based on the reported figures, the persistent revenue decline of -3.64% on average over the last ten quarters suggests that the market's defensive thesis for Conagra may be flawed, as consumers increasingly trade down to private label brands in the face of sustained price increases.
Short-sellers would likely focus on the potential for further margin compression if the company is forced to increase trade promotion spending to defend its shelf space. This risk is compounded by the high capital intensity of the frozen category, which limits the company's flexibility to pivot away from its current, struggling product mix.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CAG stock.
For fiscal year 2025, Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) reported total revenue of $11.61B. This represents a 51.4% decline compared to $23.90B in 1996.
Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) is profitable, generating $1.15B in net income for the fiscal year ending 2025 with a net profit margin of 9.9%.
Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) reported an operating income of $1.36B, resulting in an operating profit margin of 11.8%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
Conagra Brands, Inc. (CAG) generated $3.00B in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 25.9%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.