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Ajinomoto Co (AJNMY) AI Stock Analysis

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AJNMY

Ajinomoto Co

(Other OTC:AJNMY)

Select Model
Rating:62Neutral
Price Target:$33.00â–²(24.81% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:02/08/26

The score is held back primarily by rich valuation (high P/E with a modest yield). Financial performance is steady overall—good revenue and gross margin trends, moderate leverage, and positive free cash flow—but weaker cash conversion and some net margin pressure reduce confidence. Technically, the trend is positive, yet overbought momentum indicators suggest higher near-term downside risk.

Positive Factors
Revenue growth and improving gross marginSustained top-line growth with a rising gross margin indicates durable pricing power and favorable product mix. That combination supports reinvestment in R&D and manufacturing, underpins higher-margin specialty sales, and helps the company weather input cost swings over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Weaker cash conversionFCF materially below net income signals earnings quality and working-capital variability, limiting internally generated funds for dividends, capex, or M&A. Persistent cash conversion gaps raise risk that profitable reported results won’t consistently translate to free cash for strategic initiatives.

Ajinomoto Co (AJNMY) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-20%0%20%40%60%80%AJNMY+12.48%SPY+14.55%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$15.25B
Dividend Yield
0.83%
Average Volume (3M)
51.62K
Price to Earnings (P/E)
56.1
Beta (1Y)
0.59
Revenue Growth
4.22%
EPS Growth
112.51%
Country
US
Employees
34,862
Sector
Consumer Defensive
Sector Strength
62
Industry
Packaged Foods

Ajinomoto Co Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Ajinomoto Co., Inc. engages in the seasonings and foods, frozen foods, and healthcare and other businesses in Japan and internationally. Its Seasonings and Foods segment offers sauces and seasonings products under the AJI-NO-MOTO, HON-DASHI, Cook Do,...

How the Company Makes Money

Ajinomoto makes money primarily by manufacturing and selling branded consumer foods and seasonings and by supplying specialty ingredients and amino-acid–based materials to business customers. 1) Branded consumer foods and seasonings (B2C revenue): A...

Ajinomoto Co Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2026(Q4-2025)|% Change Since:-15.35%|Next Earnings Date:Feb 10, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentNeutral

The earnings call highlighted record sales and profits, strong performance in overseas markets, and positive shareholder returns. However, these positives were offset by challenges in the Japan Frozen Foods segment, impacts from structural reforms, and shipment delays in the Bio-Pharma Services. Despite the lowlights, the overall outlook for FY 2025 remains optimistic, with significant growth expected in key business areas.

Positive Updates

Record Sales and Business Profit
Ajinomoto achieved new records in both sales and business profits for FY 2024, with sales reaching JPY 1.530 trillion, a 6% increase year-on-year, and business profit hitting JPY 159.3 billion, a 7.9% increase year-on-year.

Negative Updates

Profit Decrease in Certain Segments
Profit attributable to owners of the parent company decreased significantly due to structural reform expenses and impairment losses related to the sale of subsidiaries and plants.

Company Guidance

The Ajinomoto earnings call provided comprehensive guidance for the fiscal year 2025, highlighting significant metrics and strategic initiatives. Sales and business profit for FY 2024 reached unprecedented levels, with sales at JPY 1.530 trillion, a 6% increase year-on-year, and business profit at JPY 159.3 billion, a 7.9% rise. Despite structural reform expenses impacting profit attributable to owners, the FY 2025 forecast projects further growth, with sales expected to reach JPY 1.618 trillion, a 5.7% increase, and business profit anticipated to hit JPY 180 billion, a 13% rise. The company plans to enhance shareholder returns by increasing dividends and repurchasing shares. Additionally, Ajinomoto aims to achieve a 19% ROE, excluding the Forge acquisition impact, surpassing its initial target. The call also outlined strategic focus areas, including premium product launches and operational improvements in frozen foods, along with a significant increase in profit from Bio-Pharma Services and Ingredients.

Ajinomoto Co Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Income statement strength (78) from strong TTM revenue growth and slightly better gross margin is tempered by net margin compression versus prior years. Balance sheet is solid (72) with moderate leverage, though leverage has risen versus FY2023. Cash flow is the main drag (63) due to mixed cash conversion (FCF only a bit over half of net income) despite positive OCF/FCF.

Income Statement

78Positive

Balance Sheet

72Positive

Cash Flow

63Positive
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMMar 2026Mar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.53T1.53T1.44T1.36T1.15T1.07T
Gross Profit561.29B550.76B511.45B470.39B425.90B406.22B
EBITDA197.73B209.22B219.41B202.42B188.15B168.89B
Net Income71.62B70.27B87.12B94.06B75.72B59.42B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.77T1.72T1.77T1.51T1.46T1.43T
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments156.01B182.77B194.19B145.09B169.26B193.69B
Total Debt514.46B455.35B491.68B288.56B313.91B350.42B
Total Liabilities976.05B907.86B890.43B688.77B717.32B763.44B
Stockholders Equity726.43B746.80B814.69B768.68B686.91B620.26B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow128.49B114.81B96.05B44.59B64.86B79.61B
Operating Cash Flow223.36B209.90B168.07B117.64B145.58B165.65B
Investing Cash Flow-62.78B-77.38B-132.43B-30.09B-61.57B-66.25B
Financing Cash Flow-192.49B-137.68B-6.75B-111.06B-123.06B-60.39B

Ajinomoto Co Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price26.44

Price Trends

50DMA31.87Negative
100DMA32.79Negative
200DMA31.42Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-1.62Positive
RSI23.98Positive
STOCH0.01Positive

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AJNMY, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 26.44 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 30.74, below the 50-day MA of 31.87, and below the 200-day MA of 31.42, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.62 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 23.98 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 0.01 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for AJNMY.

Ajinomoto Co Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)

Financial Indicators

AJNMY against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
MKCMKC77Outperform$12.64B8.4622.32%4.09%13.23%91.32%
INGRINGR63Neutral$5.86B10.5912.58%3.49%-0.98%-12.90%
Sector *62Neutral$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
AJNMYAJNMY62Neutral$24.77B56.0710.67%0.83%4.22%112.51%
HRLHRL58Neutral$12.16B35.064.33%5.30%0.73%-54.64%
KHCKHC58Neutral$29.73B-8.60-8.91%6.37%-1.53%21.36%
GISGIS48Neutral$18.35B-20.80-10.69%7.11%-4.49%-131.46%

* Consumer Defensive Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-20%0%20%40%AJNMYGISHRLMKCINGRKHCDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
AJNMY and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
AJNMYAjinomoto Co Inc (Adr)26.441.947.93%
GISGeneral Mills Inc34.32-9.62-21.89%
HRLHormel Foods Corp22.090.984.65%
MKCMcCormick & Company Inc46.96-15.36-24.65%
INGRIngredion94.14-9.47-9.14%
KHCKraft Heinz Co25.112.199.55%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Feb 08, 2026