logo
Campbell's Co. says sales rise as more Americans cook meals at home

Campbell's Co. says sales rise as more Americans cook meals at home

The Hill02-06-2025
The Campbell's Co. said Monday it saw stronger sales of broth and condensed soup in its latest quarter as more Americans cooked their meals at home.
'Consumers continue to cook at home and focus their spending on products that help them stretch their food budgets, and they're increasingly intentional about their discretionary snack purchases,' Campbell's President and CEO Mick Beekhuizen said during a conference call with investors.
Beekhuizen said Campbell's saw the highest level of meals cooked at home since early 2020 in its fiscal third quarter, which ended April 27. Campbell's noted sales of its broths rose 15% during the quarter while sales of its Rao's pasta sauces were up 2%.
But Campbell's said sales of its snacks, including Goldfish crackers and Cape Cod potato chips, fell 4% during the quarter.
Other big companies, including McDonald's, have also noted that Americans are increasingly eating at home as uncertainty over the economy grows. Grocery prices have also moderated. In 2024, prices for food eaten at home rose 1.2%, while prices for food away from home rose 4.1%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Snack makers like PepsiCo, which makes Frito Lay chips, and General Mills, which makes Bugles chips and Golden Grahams, have also noted lower demand for snacks in recent quarters.
Campbell's net sales rose 4% to $2.5 billion for the fiscal third quarter, which was in line with Wall Street's expectations, according to analysts polled by FactSet.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ivy League School Waives Tuition for Low-Income Students in Aid Expansion
Ivy League School Waives Tuition for Low-Income Students in Aid Expansion

Newsweek

time2 hours ago

  • Newsweek

Ivy League School Waives Tuition for Low-Income Students in Aid Expansion

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Princeton University, one of the "Big Three" Ivy League schools, has expanded its financial aid program as it welcomes the Class of 2029, which it says comprises the school's "largest-ever number of low-income students." Newsweek has reached out to Princeton University for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters Princeton's announcement comes after months of the Trump administration targeting colleges and universities, threatening to withdraw federal grants and pressuring them to meet its demands, all amid a broader affordability crisis with millions of Americans struggling to pay off trillions in student debt. Last month, with the passage of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," universities with very large endowments, such as Princeton, will face a new tiered tax on their endowment investment income, with rates up to 8 percent. What To Know In an August 7 press release, Princeton's office of communications said, "Most families with incomes up to $150,000 a year will now pay nothing for their student to attend Princeton, receiving aid to cover the total cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, food, books and personal expenses." For the 2025-26 school year, Princeton estimates the cost of attendance at about $91,000. That includes $65,210 for tuition, roughly $12,500 for housing, about $9,000 for food, just under $300 in fees, and a little over $4,000 for miscellaneous expenses such as books and personal costs. The cost of college has soared exponentially in recent decades, with Princeton's tuition climbing about 165 percent since 2000, when it was $24,630. Blair Arch is viewed on the Princeton University campus, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Princeton, N.J. Blair Arch is viewed on the Princeton University campus, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Princeton, N.J. Phelan M. Ebenhack via AP The announcement also noted that "most undergraduate families with incomes up to $250,000 will pay no tuition." It is not clear how the university will determine who will and won't pay tuition. Families with incomes up to $350,000 "will receive grant aid, including those at higher income levels with multiple children in college." The selective school said it is welcoming a first-year class with the "largest-ever number of lower-income students." Higher education has long struggled with opportunity, affordability, and access. Princeton noted that around 25 percent of the incoming class are eligible for federal Pell Grants, the highest in the University's history. The university estimates that the average aid package for the coming school year will be more than $80,000, with around 69 percent of the class qualifying for some aid. To do so, the university is drawing on its endowment, valued at about $34.1 billion and has averaged a 9.2 percent annual return over the past decade. According to analysis by the conservative think tank, American Enterprise Institute, Princeton could face a $217 million tax on its endowment next year. Universities may be able to reduce their endowment tax liability by expanding financial aid programs, which can lower the number of tuition-paying students counted under the law. What People Are Saying Princeton University Provost Jennifer Rexford said in the press release: "Through our increased investment in financial aid, we are making the transformative experience of a Princeton education more affordable for more students than ever." Nonresident AEI senior fellow Mark Schneider and research associate Christopher Robinson, wrote in a July 14 analysis: "The actual revenue generated by the endowment tax might differ from our estimates if universities alter their behavior. If some decide to expand student enrollment, that could lower their tax liability by reducing assets held per student. Taxable income would also be reduced if endowments adopt a variety of tax sheltering strategies, or if they decide that now is the time to realize capital losses on underperforming assets." What Happens Next The university's new financial aid program takes effect this school year, with classes starting in September, and first-year programming beginning later this month. Elsewhere, some top universities, such as Harvard, Yale, and Stamford are laying off staff and imposing hiring freezes, according to the Associated Press.

Verizon scrambles to keep angry customers after cutting discounts
Verizon scrambles to keep angry customers after cutting discounts

Miami Herald

time4 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Verizon scrambles to keep angry customers after cutting discounts

Last week, Verizon (VZ) ignited uproar from customers after it pulled the plug on several beloved discounts at a time when phone bills are creeping up in price. Several Verizon customers took to social media to flag that they received emails from the phone carrier warning them that their loyalty discounts will be removed from their accounts next month. These discounts, which usually ranged between $10 and $40, were renewable and were provided to keep customers from switching providers. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Many customers were livid about the change; some even threatened to cut ties with the company. It is no surprise that customers were upset, since higher prices for phone services are becoming a growing reality. Related: Verizon revokes generous offers, angering customers According to a recent report from Doxo, the average amount of money 94% of Americans spent on phone bills per month last year is $121, a 2% increase from what they spent monthly in 2023. The move from Verizon comes after it issued several price hikes for its phone plans. In March last year, Verizon increased the prices of its 5G Start, 5G Play More, 5G Get More, and 5G Do More plans by an extra $4 a month. Then, in January this year, it raised the monthly prices for myPlan and New Verizon Plan accounts due to "rising operational costs." Image source: Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images Amid the backlash over the upcoming removal of loyalty discounts, Verizon customers recently took to social media to flag that the company is trying to make amends. According to a recent Reddit post, a Verizon customer revealed that the company randomly sent them a pop-up through the My Verizon app offering them $20 off per phone line for 12 months. "Just got a pop up from my Verizon app saying for a limited time every active phone line on your account is eligible for a $20/mo discount for 12 months," wrote the customer in the post. "Tap to reach a rep. Too bad I'll be leaving very soon." Related: Verizon discontinues free customer perk from phone plans In the comment section under the post, other Verizon customers said that they received the same offer after they requested a transfer pin (a code given to customers planning to leave and join another phone carrier) through the My Verizon app. "I got offered $20 per month for 1 year as I am trying to port my number away. Still leaving though," wrote one customer in the comment section. "I got that same offer 2 minutes after I requested a transfer pin. We're still leaving because (of) various reasons, including getting first responder speed/discount, but it may be a tactic for people to try as it definitely was for them trying to keep our service," wrote another customer. The influx of customers planning to leave the company comes after a Reddit post earlier this month sparked speculation that Verizon plans to increase prices and remove several discounts on Sept. 1. It stated that Verizon was planning to raise its device activation fees from $35 to $40, which the company later confirmed on its website. However, the change appears to be immediate. The post also said that the phone carrier will be increasing the monthly price of its tablet plan by $5. Some customers have flagged on social media that they recently received an email about this change. More Telecom News: Verizon's push to make switching harder for customers hits a snagT-Mobile announces generous offer for conflicted customersAmazon pulls the plug on a free service for customers In addition, Verizon's monthly Administrative and Telco Recovery fee will allegedly increase from $3.50 to $3.78 per line for voice customers and from $1.60 to $3.97 per line for customers with data-only plans. To add fuel to the fire, Verizon also announced a week ago that customers on its 5G Get More and 5G Play More plans will no longer have access to free Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass subscriptions, starting Sept. 22. The last thing Verizon needs is more customers pulling the plug on phone service. In the second quarter of this year, Verizon lost about 51,000 postpaid phone customers. Also, its wireless postpaid phone churn (the number of customers who cut phone service) remained flat at 0.9% compared to the previous quarter. During an earnings call on July 21, Verizon Chief Financial Officer Tony Skiadas said that the company is doubling down on improving its customers' "loyalty and retention" by providing them with more personalized support and value. "We have taken a series of actions to address our elevated churn," said Skiadas. "On June 24th, we launched initiatives designed to improve the customer experience, including leveraging AI for more personalized support. In addition, we continue to enhance our value proposition and build customer loyalty through the best value guarantee. We provide exclusive access to the best events and experiences, and our Refresh app helps customers maximize the value of their plans." Related: T-Mobile boots customers off yearslong offers without asking The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway predicts major mortgage rate changes for 2026
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway predicts major mortgage rate changes for 2026

Miami Herald

time4 hours ago

  • Miami Herald

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway predicts major mortgage rate changes for 2026

The housing market has faced persistent headwinds over the past few years. When skyrocketing inflation and recession fears doubled mortgage rates from 3.5% to nearly 7% in 2022, it marked an end to the Covid-era housing boom. Years later, mortgage rates have remained stubbornly high while home prices surge, keeping the housing market gridlocked. Purchasing a home has become unattainable for many first-time homebuyers, while high rates and low demand have discouraged sellers from listing their homes. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE daily newsletter Although it may take longer than expected to recover, many housing experts now believe that mortgage rates will decline next year, leading to a modest market recovery in 2026. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices recently released its real estate market forecast for Q4 2025, and the firm expects the housing market to soften. However, the market will likely face the same changes through the remainder of 2025. Many homebuyers have stayed on the sidelines, waiting for housing market conditions to improve before buying a home. Elevated mortgage rates, the rising cost of living, and saving for a down payment have continued to delay homeownership for many potential buyers. As a result, housing sales have been muted this year - even during the typically busy spring and summer seasons. Although mortgage rates are unlikely to fall notably this year, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices expects overall market conditions to improve modestly next year. More on homebuying: The White House will take surprising approach to curb mortgage ratesHousing expert reveals surprising ways to reduce your mortgage rateDave Ramsey predicts major mortgage rate changes are coming soonWarren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sounds the alarm on the 2025 housing market "While forecasts suggest a softening housing market, most economists believe that home prices are unlikely to fall dramatically," the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices blog noted. "Instead, they expect prices to continue rising - just at a slower pace. Slightly lower rates might encourage buyers to act, especially if more sellers list homes to beat any potential price correction. That could increase inventory and put downward pressure on prices." Related: White House advisor clashes with Fed on mortgage rates, housing market Despite initial projections of mortgage rates inching toward 6% in 2025, rates will still hover between 6.5% and 7% by the end of this year. While there is hope for improvement in 2026, it will likely be moderate. "As for the forecast for Q4 2025, most housing experts agree that meaningful relief may not arrive until 2026 or later, as mortgage interest rates are unlikely to decline significantly." Lack of affordable housing inventory has plagued the market for years, feeding into the current market gridlock. Homebuyers are competing for a limited number of houses within an affordable range, pricing out many Americans in the process. However, conditions are improving, as Redfin recorded sustained inventory growth in May, with sellers outnumbering buyers by nearly 500,000. "Lack of supply was among the reasons why housing is so expensive, so with more homes for sale, will housing prices come down? There's a good chance they will, but not uniformly across the U.S.," the blog continued. While the projected slowed home price growth will likely stimulate the housing market, it may produce lopsided growth. "Still, a major issue remains: the lack of affordable homes, especially for first-time and lower-income buyers. According to NAR, in Q1 2025 only 1 in 5 listings were affordable to households earning $75,000 - compared to half of all listings before the pandemic. To restore affordability, the U.S. would need to add over 400,000 listings priced at $255,000 or below - and even that may fall short of what's needed." There is clear demand for mid-range, affordable homes, but tariff-fueled price hikes on building materials may make it difficult to achieve. Related: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway predicts major housing market shift soon The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store