General Mills, Inc. (GIS)

General Mills' stock price has been impacted by several events in the past six months. The completion of the sale of its Canadian Yogurt business in January 2025 led to a slight slip in the stock price. In March 2025, the company cut its annual sales and profit forecasts for fiscal 2025, leading to a drop in shares. The Q4 fiscal 2025 earnings report in June 2025 presented mixed results, with a projected decline in fiscal 2026 adjusted operating income and EPS causing the stock to slip.

Demand for General Mills' products exhibits some seasonality depending on the product category. Refrigerated dough and frozen baked goods typically experience higher demand during the fourth calendar quarter, while Progresso soup sees increased demand during the fall and winter months. Häagen-Dazs ice cream demand peaks in the summer. The company is also navigating a broader trend of prolonged value-seeking consumer behaviors, which has led to stagnating demand and a shift towards less expensive private-label brands.

General Mills, Inc. is a global packaged food company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, operating within the Consumer Defensive sector and Packaged Foods industry. The company manufactures and markets branded consumer foods, with a diverse portfolio of over 100 recognizable brands. Its business encompasses food products sold through retail stores, convenience stores, and foodservice distributors. Core business segments include North America Retail, International, Pet, and North America Foodservice. Major product categories include cereals, snacks, meals and baking products, dairy products, pet food, ice cream, and other items.

General Mills operates in over 100 countries across six continents, with a strong focus on the North American market, which accounts for 81% of its fiscal 2025 revenue. Its international operations extend to Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Latin America.

General Mills' brand reputation has been influenced by its response to growing concerns about food ingredients. The company faced an investigation by the Texas Attorney General's office in May 2025 concerning alleged deceptive marketing of cereals containing petroleum-based food colorings. In response, General Mills committed in June 2025 to remove all artificial dyes from its U.S. product lines by the end of 2027.

General Mills' ownership is primarily dominated by institutional investors, holding approximately 82.76% of the company's stock. General Mills insiders own 1.69%, and retail investors hold 15.54%. The largest individual institutional shareholder is Vanguard Group Inc, holding 12.68% of the company's shares.