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CAG vs MKC
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Conagra Brands (CAG) vs. McCormick & Company (MKC) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Conagra Brands (CAG) and McCormick & Company (MKC) operate in the packaged foods segment of the consumer staples sector, with CAG facing near-term earnings pressure ahead of its July 15, 2026 fiscal Q4 report while MKC recently delivered a strong quarterly beat.
- Recent market activity shows both stocks trading below 52-week highs amid broader sector challenges including consumer demand softness, though MKC has posted comparatively stronger year-to-date total return in available data.
- CAG contends with expected year-over-year EPS contraction and cost inflation, whereas MKC benefited from sales growth exceeding 16% in its most recent reported quarter and reaffirmed full-year guidance.
- Market capitalization places MKC in the large-cap category (approximately $14 billion) versus CAG’s mid-cap positioning (approximately $6.6 billion), reflecting differences in scale and valuation multiples.
- Sector exposure to flavorings and seasonings gives MKC potential pricing power advantages, while CAG’s broader portfolio emphasizes cost-saving initiatives and new product development amid weak consumer spending.
- Relative performance highlights trade-offs between stability in established brands and exposure to near-term earnings catalysts or headwinds.
Introduction
Conagra Brands (CAG) and McCormick & Company (MKC) represent two established players in the packaged foods industry, making their comparison relevant for investors and traders seeking exposure to consumer staples. Both companies navigate similar macroeconomic pressures such as inflation, shifting consumer preferences, and demand variability. This analysis examines their business models, recent stock behavior, and relative positioning to assist those evaluating sector allocation, portfolio diversification, or tactical trading opportunities in the current environment.
CAG Overview and Recent Performance
Conagra Brands (CAG) produces and markets a wide range of branded and private-label food products, including frozen meals, snacks, and condiments. In recent weeks, the stock has exhibited volatility within a 52-week range of roughly $12.53 to $20.32, closing near $13.83 on July 10, 2026. Sentiment has been influenced by anticipation of the company’s fiscal 2026 fourth-quarter earnings release scheduled for July 15, with analysts forecasting an approximate 17.9% year-over-year decline in earnings per share. Broader market activity reflects ongoing challenges from subdued consumer demand and input cost pressures, prompting management focus on productivity improvements and portfolio optimization. Year-to-date and one-year returns have lagged broader indices, underscoring relative underperformance amid these headwinds.
MKC Overview and Recent Performance
McCormick & Company (MKC) specializes in spices, seasonings, and flavorings for consumer and industrial markets worldwide. Recent market activity shows the stock trading around $52.45 as of July 10, 2026, within a 52-week range of approximately $44.82 to $73.84. Performance has been supported by the company’s second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, which featured net sales growth of 16.7% year-over-year and an adjusted earnings-per-share beat, leading to reaffirmed full-year guidance. Sentiment in recent weeks reflects investor attention to pricing dynamics and innovation momentum, with the stock demonstrating resilience relative to some peers despite sector-wide pressures. Year-to-date returns have varied across reporting periods but generally outpaced CAG in available comparative data.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Business models differ in focus: Conagra Brands (CAG) emphasizes a broad portfolio of everyday staples with emphasis on cost efficiencies, while McCormick & Company (MKC) centers on flavor innovation and global seasoning leadership, potentially offering greater pricing flexibility. Growth drivers for CAG include new product launches and operational streamlining amid soft demand, whereas MKC benefits from volume recovery and margin expansion signals in recent quarters. Recent momentum favors MKC following its earnings outperformance, contrasting with CAG’s upcoming report that carries expectations of contraction. Risk factors include CAG’s higher sensitivity to consumer spending cycles and MKC’s exposure to commodity volatility in spices. Sector exposure remains aligned within packaged foods, yet market sentiment reflects MKC’s relatively stronger positioning in flavor demand trends versus CAG’s cost-focused narrative. Valuation multiples and market capitalization further differentiate the two, with MKC commanding a larger scale.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable factors including earnings consistency, recent sales momentum, and relative stability in trend positioning, Tickeron’s AI models would currently assign a probabilistic edge to McCormick & Company (MKC) over Conagra Brands (CAG). MKC’s demonstrated ability to exceed expectations and reaffirm guidance provides a clearer near-term catalyst profile, while CAG faces more pronounced earnings uncertainty. This assessment remains conditional on evolving market data and does not constitute investment advice.
Disclaimer
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To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is CAG is a Hold and MKC is a Buy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CAG’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileMKC’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- CAG’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- MKC’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CAG’s TA Score shows that 8 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MKC’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CAG’s TA Score: 8 bullish, 2 bearish.
- MKC’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
CAG (@Food: Major Diversified) experienced а +3.92% price change this week, while MKC (@Food: Major Diversified) price change was +3.80% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Major Diversified industry was -1.73%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -7.03%, and the average quarterly price growth was -11.26%.
Reported Earning Dates
CAG is expected to report earnings on Jul 15, 2026.
MKC is expected to report earnings on Oct 06, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food: Major Diversified (-1.73% weekly)Companies in this industry usually make a diverse range of agricultural and/or processed food. Some prominent names in this segment are Mondelez International, which makes chocolates, biscuits, cookies etc. The Kraft Heinz Company specializes in ketchups, sauces, fruit drink pouches and many more. General Mills, Inc. sells flour and cereal. Kellogg is famous for its snacks and breakfast cereal. And so on down the line. As more and more consumers are looking for healthier options in food in recent years, several legacy food companies have responded by revamping brands to include organic and no-added-sugar versions, and/or acquiring healthy food firms, and even streamlining operations.
| CAG | MKC | CAG / MKC | |
| Capitalization | 6.86B | 14.4B | 48% |
| EBITDA | 938M | 1.39B | 67% |
| Gain YTD | -13.453 | -19.659 | 68% |
| P/E Ratio | 10.12 | 8.94 | 113% |
| Revenue | 11.2B | 7.39B | 152% |
| Total Cash | 55.1M | 331M | 17% |
| Total Debt | 7.33B | 4.93B | 149% |
CAG | MKC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 50 | 34 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 5 Undervalued | 17 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 92 | 37 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 60 | 60 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 97 | 97 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | n/a | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
CAG's Valuation (5) in the Food Major Diversified industry is in the same range as MKC (17) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that CAG’s stock grew similarly to MKC’s over the last 12 months.
CAG's Profit vs Risk Rating (100) in the Food Major Diversified industry is in the same range as MKC (100) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that CAG’s stock grew similarly to MKC’s over the last 12 months.
MKC's SMR Rating (37) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is somewhat better than the same rating for CAG (92) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MKC’s stock grew somewhat faster than CAG’s over the last 12 months.
MKC's Price Growth Rating (60) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as CAG (60) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MKC’s stock grew similarly to CAG’s over the last 12 months.
MKC's P/E Growth Rating (97) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as CAG (97) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MKC’s stock grew similarly to CAG’s over the last 12 months.
| CAG | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 56% | 1 day ago 59% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 39% | 1 day ago 60% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 42% | 1 day ago 57% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 40% | 1 day ago 51% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 62% | 1 day ago 56% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 52% | 1 day ago 55% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 12 days ago 47% | 1 day ago 52% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 60% | 5 days ago 57% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 67% | 1 day ago 50% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 50% | 1 day ago 62% |
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CAG and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CAG has been closely correlated with GIS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 78% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if CAG jumps, then GIS could also see price increases.