If you thought food stocks were safe bets during cost of living crises…think again!
Nick Sundich, May 30, 2023
As inflation rises, investors are looking for companies that’ll be immune from falls in consumer demand and you’d be forgiven for thinking food stocks were up there. But you might be wrong, at least in respect to some of them.
Do you need solid trading & investment ideas on ASX?
Stocks Down Under Concierge gives you timely BUY and SELL alerts on ASX-listed stocks!
With price targets, buy ranges, stop loss levels and Sell alerts too.
GET A 3-MONTH FREE TRIAL TO CONCIERGE TODAY
People won’t pay a premium
Yes people need food. But they are keen for a bargain. Recent research from the Australia Bureau of Statistics found that even a 1% increase in certain food prices can lead to a 4-7% fall in demand, dependant on the good. Conversely, in the study’s own words,’ when a price is discounted, expenditure increases by many, many factors from its typical level’.
And some food stocks may suffer
Maggie Beer (ASX:MBH) is one of those food stocks that expects its consumers to pay a premium. This company unveiled a trading update in which it revealed revenues and earnings would decline due to macroeconomic factors (read: cost of living) as well as higher costs. Indeed, it admitted that sales on Mother’s Day (typically a busy period) were disappointing.
It is anticipating $70-$75m group revenue compared to $75.2m in FY22. And EBITDA would be $3.5-$4.5m compared to $11.3m the year before. Ouch. The share declined more than 3% on the news.
But not all food stocks will suffer
It was a rosier picture for Pure Foods Tasmania (ASX:PFT). It sells premium food, but a frozen range that is stocked in Woolworths and Coles.
Without being specific, it told shareholders sales were growing weekly and that the Daly Potato Co. range would be in 800 stores by 1Q FY24. As a result, it anticipated 50% higher revenues in FY24 compared to FY23. The shares jumped 20% on the back of this news!
Stocks Down Under Concierge gives you timely BUY and SELL alerts on ASX-listed stocks!
With price targets, buy ranges, stop loss levels and Sell alerts too.
GET A 3-MONTH FREE TRIAL TO CONCIERGE TODAY
There’s no credit card needed – the trial will expire automatically.
Blog Categories
Get Our Top 5 ASX Stocks for FY25
Recent Posts
Mark the Pitt Street Research Semiconductor Conference 2025 in your calendars!
The Pitt Street Research Semiconductor Conference 2025 is coming up! Pitt Street Research in partnership with Bell Potter are thrilled…
Here’s How to Use AI to Pick Stocks and Whether or Not It is a Good Strategy
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more widespread, investors are asking how to use AI to pick stocks. We will cover…
Appen shares have plunged 90% from their peak! Is there any end to the bloodbath in sight?
There are few ASX shares that have seen such a fall from grace as Appen shares since 2020. In those…