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Protein has become America's latest obsession. Companies like General Mills and PepsiCo are capitalizing on it
Protein has become America's latest obsession. Companies like General Mills and PepsiCo are capitalizing on it

CNBC

time3 hours ago

  • Business
  • CNBC

Protein has become America's latest obsession. Companies like General Mills and PepsiCo are capitalizing on it

High-protein products are taking over the grocery aisle as brands like General Mills and PepsiCo are capitalizing on the trend. In fiscal 2024, General Mills generated more than $100 million in retail sales from its protein cereal lines, including Nature Valley Protein, Cheerios Protein and Ghost Protein. PepsiCo has protein product launches planned for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 and fiscal first quarter of 2026, according to its a recent earnings call. PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" last week that he believes the protein category will continue to grow. A 2025 Bain & Company survey found that 44% of U.S. respondents said they want to increase their protein intake, up from 34% from the same period in 2024. "Companies are going to try to differentiate themselves by creating a message that appeals to the customer and says, you know we have been offering this wonderful product for you. And what you didn't know is we've already been full of protein," said Stephen Zagor, adjunct assistant professor of business, specializing in food business at Columbia University. Kraft Heinz, for example, has fine-tuned the messaging around its existing product lines. "Now we're going to be highlighting the amount of protein that families can get from real food rather than from powders," said Kraft Heinz CEO Carlos Abrams-Rivera at the Deutsche Bank Consumer Conference last month. The Oscar Mayer parent company said it is rolling out new packaging for its cold cuts business. Its Lunchables brand is also now emphasizing that its products each have 12 grams of protein. But there is also a wave of new players jumping on the protein trend. David Protein Bars, created by the founders of RxBar and low-carb dessert brand Raize, was launched in September, and the company said it's on track to generate over $100 million in revenue during its first year in business. There's also been an increase in more nontraditional protein-heavy products, like ice cream. Protein Pints was founded in 2023 by Michael Meadow and Paul Reiss. The company said it recorded less than $100,000 in revenue in 2024 but is on track for more than $20 million in 2025. "We just surpassed over 10 units per store per week at Target for cookie dough, and it is surpassing our wildest expectations," said Reiss. "For context, 10 units per week is over double the category average. And keep in mind, our product is higher priced by almost $2 than the average ice cream." The conversation surrounding protein proliferates amongst fitness influencers on social media, as well as celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Patrick Schwarzenegger, who have started their own protein food companies called Khloud and Mosh, respectively. Developments in medical weight loss drugs are also helping to fuel the trend. Consumer research from food trend firm Mattson shows that people on anti-obesity medications are seeking out products that will help increase their protein intake. The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association found 46% of GLP-1 drug users reported high-protein content makes them more likely to purchase a frozen food product. But there are risks to competing in the protein category. Zagor said when companies alter the composition of a product to be higher protein, consumers will benchmark the taste, texture and price to what they know — and may be turned off by the change. "Once you start adding in claims on a food item that [say] we're now higher protein, it becomes a little bit of a different evaluation set for the customer," said Zagor. Meadows said this gives Protein Pints an advantage in the space because they are building the brand on the premise of being a high-protein product, rather than having to rebrand a product consumers already know. PepsiCo dismissed this concern when asked about this risk of diluting brand equity in its fiscal second quarter earnings call. "We've been very surprised, positively surprised, how consumers are seeing our brands expanding into those more functional spaces with credibility," said Laguarta. Some companies are backing their investments in protein with commissioned consumer research. Chobani, for example, said it found 85% of Americans want to increase their protein intake in 2025. A study paid for by beef stick company Chomps found that protein snacks are growing at three times the rate of the overall snacking industry, accounting for $24 billion in revenue in 2024. The mainstream adoption of high-protein diets is being felt firsthand from players like Barilla, which first rolled out its Protein+ pasta line back in 2005. This year, the company has expanded distribution of the product into BJ's and Walmart-owned Sam's Club. "It is definitely a line that we are excited about and heavily investing in," said Barilla Innovation Lead Cammie Slikker. "What we've seen in the last three years is demand like we haven't seen before." Watch the video to learn more about why so many companies are investing in the protein category.

Carnival and General Mills have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day
Carnival and General Mills have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day

Globe and Mail

time3 hours ago

  • Business
  • Globe and Mail

Carnival and General Mills have been highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day

For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – July 22, 2025 – Zacks Equity Research shares Carnival Corp. CCL as the Bull of the Day and General Mills Inc. GIS as the Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on PayPal Holdings PYPL, Block, Inc. XYZ and Coinbase Global COIN. Here is a synopsis of all five stocks. Bull of the Day: Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock Carnival Corp. operates a cruise and vacation company. Carnival and its affiliates operate the largest and most profitable cruise operator in the world, responsible for carrying nearly half of the global cruise guests. CCL operates in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia under brands, like AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Seabourn. The company's diverse array of services accommodates vacation guests of various ages, backgrounds, and interests. Carnival Cruises Sees Record Bookings in 2025, Expects Strong 2026 Because Carnival has the strongest brand recognition in the Cruise industry and a market-leading position, it can generate a cost advantage and a higher return on investment than its smaller competitors. In addition, thanks to the combination of improved operational execution across its brands and robust consumer travel demand, the company is recording record-setting bookings in 2025. Zacks Consensus Analyst Estimates suggest that CCL will grow 2025 earnings per share by a strong 39.44%. Meanwhile, bookings for 2026 are tracking in line with the record levels seen this year. Beyond these record bookings, Carnival is charging its highest prices ever, and the company has expanded its booking window further than ever, providing deeper visibility into the future and setting the company up for sustained long-term growth potential. CCL Blows Away Analyst Expectations Savvy investors understand that Wall Street is a game of expectations. Though CCL has been producing robust earnings for several quarters, Wall Street analysts have yet to catch on. For instance, CCL has delivered positive EPS surprises in eleven consecutive quarters and has beaten expectations by an average of 169.85% over the past four. CCL Marketing Campaigns & Fleet Expansion Carnival's strategic investment in marketing is yielding significant returns. Over the past five years, website searches to Carnival's website spiked 60%, helping to attract new and returning guests and maintain market share gains. Meanwhile, Carnival is using its cash hoard to expand its destination footprint worldwide. Cruise Industry Firing on All Cylinders On Wall Street, 'birds of a feather, flock together.' The cruise line industry remains strong, as evidenced by the strong performance by competitors like Viking HoldingsandRoyal Caribbean Group. CCL: Relative Strength and Technical Breakout CCL shares exhibit relative strength, up 21% in 2025, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index. Currently, CCL is breaking out of a five-month base structure – a bullish omen. Bottom Line With record bookings extending into 2026, consistent outperformance of analysts' expectations, and a proactive approach to fleet expansion and destination development, CCL is well-positioned for long-term growth. Bear of the Day: Based in Minneapolis, MN, Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) stock General Mills Inc. is one of the largest food producers worldwide, selling its products through supermarkets and retail stores. Its principal product categories include ready-to-eat cereals, convenient meals, and snacks (including grain, fruit, savory snacks, nutrition bars, and frozen foods). Additionally, the company sells ice cream and baking mix ingredients. GIS has also entered the pet food market with its 2018 acquisition of Blue Buffalo and its acquisition of Tyson Foods'pet treat business in 2021. MAHA Movement May Pressure General Mills The 'Mahe America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement, spearheaded by US Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., could have a significant impact on General Mills' business. Kennedy has long been a proponent of raising awareness about ultra-processed foods (like those produced by General Mills) and eliminating artificial dyes. Thus far, the primary impact of the MAHA campaign on GIS is that the company has committed to removing all artificial dyes from its US product lines by 2027. However, the commitment will require more than simply removing artificial dyes. If General Mills wants to keep its customer base, it will need to spend millions in research and development efforts to discover natural replacements that mimic the color, taste, and texture of its popular products like 'Lucky Charms' cereal. Meanwhile, Kennedy has not yet fully focused crosshairs on ultra-processed foods. Government pressure on this front could lead to more costs in the future for GIS. Either way, the movement is already raising awareness about the danger of these foods and influencing US citizens to eat healthier. GIS Demand Stagnates In addition to the many consumers making healthier choices, General Mills is battling prolonged value-seeking consumer behaviors. Both earnings and net sales declined year-over-year for General Mills, as more consumers opted for less expensive private-label brands. To make matters worse, Zacks Consensus Analyst Estimates suggest that earnings growth is likely remain negative through 2026, and remain stagnant into 2027. General Mills Faces Stiff Competition Beyond the consumer changes and uncertain macroeconomic backdrop, GIS faces stiff competition from food brands like Kraft Heinz, Conagra Brandsand Mondelez International. GIS: Poor Stock Performance Slow-growth, packaged food companies like General Mills are optimal as safe-haven stocks. However, with the US stock market in a robust bull market, GIS is dramatically underperforming the S&P 500 Index and is likely to continue to do so into the future. Bottom Line General Mills faces intense headwinds from evolving consumer preferences amid the 'Make America Healthy Again Movement.' To regain momentum, GIS will need to spend millions in R&D to adapt its product portfolio. Additional content: PayPal Holdings has steadily deepened its crypto involvement since 2020, now offering major tokens and stablecoin services. In April 2025, it added Chainlink (LINK) and Solana (SOL) to its PayPal and Venmo platforms, broadening user access to diverse blockchain ecosystems. This expansion reinforces its strategy to become a go-to gateway for tokenized finance. Central to PayPal's crypto ambition is PayPal USD ('PYUSD'), launched in August 2023. Recently, PayPal announced that it is expanding PYUSD to Layer-2 blockchains, beginning with Arbitrum. This deployment offers developers a low-cost, high-speed option for PYUSD integration, pairing the stablecoin's trusted backing with Arbitrum's efficient transaction capabilities. In June, PayPal announced plans to expand its stablecoin, PYUSD, to the Stellar blockchain, pending approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services. Stellar is recognized for enabling fast transactions, minimal fees and practical applications in everyday financial use. This move would enhance PYUSD's payment capabilities by offering a cost-efficient, fast alternative to Ethereum and Solana, enabling broader use in commerce, micro-financing, and global transactions through improved integration and scalability. A strategic tie up with Coinbase in April 2025 allows fee-free PYUSD purchases, 1:1 redemption, and co-exploration of new use cases for PYUSD in DeFi and onchain platforms. This alliance brings PYUSD directly into the exchange ecosystem, enhancing consumer, merchant and institutional adoption, especially as Coinbase waives fees. Earlier, PayPal also rolled out crypto for business accounts, enabling merchants to buy, hold, sell and transfer crypto assets directly via the platform. How Are Block and Coinbase Global Expanding in This Space? Block, Inc. is set to join the S&P 500, marking another milestone in crypto's push into the financial mainstream. Block has integrated Bitcoin through its Cash App, enabling peer to peer transactions and investing. It invested heavily in BTC treasury holdings and rolled out Bitcoin lending pilot programs. Its Square Crypto initiative focuses on Bitcoin developer grants and Lightning Network adoption to boost Bitcoin's payment utility. Coinbase Global, the largest U.S. crypto exchange, offers trading, staking, custodial services and launched its Payments platform, including stablecoin support. It waived fees for PYUSD, expanded institutional services and invests in Layer 2 scaling (like Base) to bolster real world crypto use. PYPL's Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates Shares of PayPal have declined 13.1% year to date, underperforming both the broader industry as well as the S&P 500 Index. From a valuation standpoint, PayPal shares are trading cheap, as suggested by the Value Score of A. In terms of forward 12-month P/E, PYPL stock is trading at 13.70X compared with the Zacks Financial Transaction Services industry's 21.96X. PayPal's estimate revisions reflect a positive trend. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter and full-year 2025 and full-year 2026 EPS has been revised upward over the past week. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS suggests 9.46% growth year over year, while the same for 2026 calls for 11.46% growth year over year. At present, PayPal carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks? Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year. Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double" Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest. This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%. Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Carnival Corporation (CCL): Free Stock Analysis Report General Mills, Inc. (GIS): Free Stock Analysis Report PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL): Free Stock Analysis Report Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN): Free Stock Analysis Report Block, Inc. (XYZ): Free Stock Analysis Report

Emburse Unifies Travel and Expense into a Single Intelligent Workflow in Mobile App
Emburse Unifies Travel and Expense into a Single Intelligent Workflow in Mobile App

Business Wire

timea day ago

  • Business
  • Business Wire

Emburse Unifies Travel and Expense into a Single Intelligent Workflow in Mobile App

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Emburse, the company defining Expense Intelligence through AI-powered travel and spend orchestration, today announced a new advancement to simplify, control, and elevate the travel and expense (T&E) experience for business travelers and organizations. The launch of integrated itinerary management in the Emburse Enterprise mobile app allows business travelers to manage their trips and submit expenses seamlessly—all within a single, intuitive mobile interface. This milestone signals a pivotal moment in Emburse's journey toward a unified, intelligent T&E experience. By embedding travel itinerary details directly in the same mobile app used for expense submission, Emburse is eliminating the need for multiple apps, creating a frictionless workflow that benefits both employees and finance teams. 'This is travel simplicity at its best,' said Paul Nagy, Chief Product Officer of Emburse. 'By unifying travel itinerary information and expenses in one app, we're making life simpler for business travelers and giving finance teams the real-time visibility they need for predictive spend orchestration within their organization.' Empowering Travelers with Real-Time Visibility and Simplicity Travelers today juggle gate changes, hotel details, receipts, and reporting—often while navigating tight flight connections or balancing luggage and work tasks. With Emburse's integrated itinerary management, users can easily view their personalized trip and expense tasks in one convenient and user-friendly app, including check-in times, booking confirmations, and policy-aligned expense actions. Whether it's scanning a receipt after buying a coffee near the gate or submitting a hotel charge while checking out, travelers can be empowered to act in the moment. Having the tools they need right at their fingertips helps ensure faster, more accurate, and more compliant expense submissions. "Emburse makes travel simple, seamless, and not time-consuming so our employees can focus on their main job – manufacturing, selling, and marketing our products,' said Rex Heineman, Global Travel & Expense Manager, General Mills. Giving Finance Teams Predictive Control and Expense Intelligence For finance leaders, the benefits go beyond convenience. Real-time expense activity creates actionable intelligence for finance leaders—transforming expense data into predictive signals. This launch is part of Emburse's AI-first platform strategy: embedding intelligence at the point of transaction to deliver control, compliance, and insight before spend happens. This real-time visibility is the foundation of Emburse's evolving vision: turning reactive expense reporting into proactive, predictive control. 'Millions of dollars are spent during business travel, but lack of real-time action and visibility leads to expense inaccuracies and spend leakage,' continued Nagy. 'This launch is more than an enhanced feature—it's part of an intelligent infrastructure that helps finance teams see, guide, and impact travel spend before it even happens.' A Unified Experience and A Preview of What's Ahead The evolution of the Emburse Enterprise app marks a bold step in our Expense Intelligence roadmap—advancing from manual expense tracking to intelligent, real-time orchestration of enterprise spend. This is fintech-level transformation applied to operational finance, and where organizations are empowered to optimize every stage of the travel journey, from booking to reimbursement. Additional integrations with Emburse Enterprise will be rolled out in the coming months, including Emburse Book, enhanced capabilities with Emburse Go, and Emburse Reshop, to deliver a truly end-to-end T&E experience. Availability Integrated itinerary management will be available globally on August 1, 2025, in Emburse Enterprise. To learn more, click here. About Emburse Emburse delivers Expense Intelligence—transforming reactive expense management into forward-thinking financial confidence. Expense Intelligence harnesses AI to orchestrate corporate spend across travel booking, procurement, reimbursements, and payments, embedding dynamic policy controls and predictive insights directly into workflows. This real-time approach empowers organizations with the agility to adapt, control risks, and strategically optimize spend. Trusted globally by more than 12 million finance leaders, travel managers, and professionals, Emburse serves over 20,000 organizations in 120 countries—including Global 2000 enterprises, SMBs, public sector agencies, and nonprofits. By proactively managing and accurately validating spend, Emburse ensures robust financial governance, enhanced compliance, and unsurpassed visibility into spend behaviors—all while dramatically streamlining the process for every employee. At Emburse, Expense Intelligence is more than a feature—it's a framework for transformation, reshaping the role of finance teams from administrators to strategic drivers of organizational success. For more information, visit or follow our social channels at @emburse.

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