Latest news with #cagefree
Bloomberg
28-07-2025
- General
- Bloomberg
More Expensive Cage-Free Eggs Are Booming in US, Despite Trump's Efforts
You'd be forgiven for thinking all egg-related news these days is bad. Bird flu has devastated farms across the US, driving up prices at the supermarket and even leading to a surcharge at Waffle House earlier this year. But there's something to celebrate in the world of eggs. We're fast approaching a major milestone: converting 50% of the US flock to cage-free. There are now more than 130 million cage-free laying hens in the US, almost five times as many as in 2012, making up about 46% of the country's entire egg-laying hen flock, according to the latest monthly report from the US Department of Agriculture. Even though the eggs cost more, Americans continue to reach for higher-welfare options at the grocery store. Some restaurant chains are even beating their own cage-free goals. This isn't chicken feed—it's real progress. Now the Trump administration is trying to stop it.
Wall Street Journal
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
California's Chickens Go to Court
Are California's cage-free chickens coming home to roost? The Justice Department this month filed a lawsuit challenging the state's cage-free egg mandate, which increases omelette prices in the state and scrambles interstate commerce. California's progressives complain about the state's high cost of living even as they enact policies that are the cause. A classic example is the state's farm animal-welfare regulations, which animal-rights groups deceptively sold to voters as protecting consumer health and safety even though they don't. First came a 2008 voter initiative (Prop. 2) followed by a 2010 law that taken together barred the sale of eggs from hens kept in housing that prevented them from 'fully extending his or her limbs' or 'turning around freely' for the majority of the day. In 2018 voters enacted Prop. 12, which imposed onerous minimum-floor spacing prescriptions for egg-laying hens. Farmers have either had to retrofit their facilities to comply with chickens' right to cage-free living or forgo selling eggs in California. Many have done the latter. Constricted supply and higher production costs for cage-free hens have increased egg prices in the state.
Washington Post
11-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Trump administration sues California over egg prices and blames animal welfare laws
The Trump administration is suing the state of California to block animal welfare laws that it says unconstitutionally helped send egg prices soaring. But a group that spearheaded the requirements pushed back, blaming bird flu for the hit to consumers' pocketbooks. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in California on Wednesday, challenges voter initiatives that passed in 2018 and 2008. They require that all eggs sold in California come from cage-free hens.
Globe and Mail
25-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CALM's Strategic Cage-Free Expansion Sets It for Solid Market Gains
Cal-Maine Foods CALM is moving ahead with its $60 million expansion plan, aimed at expanding capacity for 1.1 million cage-free layer hens and 250,000 pullets by end of 2025. This is part of CALM's multi-year strategy to capitalize on shifting consumer preference for cage-free eggs. With ten U.S. states enforcing cage-free egg production by 2030, around 73% of U.S non-organic laying hens will need to be transitioned to cage-free systems to meet demand. To address this evolving market, Cal-Maine has been strategically scaling its cage-free operations through a combination of organic investments and acquisitions. The company has been upgrading existing facilities and converting conventional housing to cage-free environments. Cal-Maine's inorganic growth efforts are equally significant. In 2022, it acquired the remaining 50% interest in Red River Valley Egg Farm, adding around 1.7 mm cage free layers. The acquisition of Fassio Egg Farms, Inc in September 2023 increased capacity by 1.2 million laying hens, primarily cage-free. The acquisition of ISE America, Inc. in late 2024 added an additional 1 million cage-free laying hens. Backed by its efforts, cage-free eggs now account for a larger share of CALM's product mix and represented approximately 29.5% of its total net shell egg sales in fiscal year 2024. While cage-free egg production is more expensive than for conventional eggs, it supports premium pricing, offering a long-term growth driver for Cal-Maine. Post Holdings Steps Up Cage-Free Investment Post Holdings, Inc. POST is also incurring additional operating and capital costs to procure cage-free eggs, modify existing layer hen facilities and construct new cage-free layer hen housing and comply with other farm animal initiatives. Post Holdings' investment plan for 2025 includes the completion of the Norwalk, IA, precooked egg facility expansion and continued cage-free egg facility expansion, for aggregate expenditures of $80-$90 million. Vital Farms' Pasteur-Raised Offerings Have an Edge The specialty egg (including pasture raised and free-range) market has witnessed a CAGR of 21.4% between 2020 and 2024 to reach $8.3 billion in retail sales in 2024. Vital Farms, Inc. VITL, the leading U.S. pasture-raised egg brand, is riding strong consumer demand, with customers willing to pay more for ethically sourced, transparent and sustainable food. Vital Farms continues to accelerate supply expansion. During the first quarter of 2025, Vital Farms added new family farms to its network, which now exceeds 450 family farmers. Vital Farms' internal capacity expansion plans also remain on track, with the construction of an additional egg washing and packing line at its Egg Central Station facility in Missouri slated for completion during the fourth quarter of 2025, as originally scheduled. CALM's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates Cal-Maine gained 68.1% in a year against the industry 's 9.2% decline. CALM is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.84X compared with the industry's 11.32X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Cal-Maine's fiscal 2025 earnings is $22.73 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 299.5%. The estimate for fiscal 2026 of $5.71 indicates a 74.9% decline. The chart below depicts the revision activity for CALM's earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026. CALM currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Only $1 to See All Zacks' Buys and Sells We're not kidding. Several years ago, we shocked our members by offering them 30-day access to all our picks for the total sum of only $1. No obligation to spend another cent. Thousands have taken advantage of this opportunity. Thousands did not - they thought there must be a catch. Yes, we do have a reason. We want you to get acquainted with our portfolio services like Surprise Trader, Stocks Under $10, Technology Innovators, and more, that closed 256 positions with double- and triple-digit gains in 2024 alone. See Stocks Now >> 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 Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM): Free Stock Analysis Report Post Holdings, Inc. (POST): Free Stock Analysis Report Vital Farms, Inc. (VITL): Free Stock Analysis Report
