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United Natural Foods (UNFI)
NYSE:UNFI
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United Natural Foods (UNFI) AI Stock Analysis

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UNFI

United Natural Foods

(NYSE:UNFI)

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Neutral 53 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:53Neutral
Price Target:
$43.00
▲(2.31% Upside)
United Natural Foods' overall stock score reflects significant financial challenges and valuation concerns, offset by strong technical momentum and positive earnings call guidance. The company's ability to improve cash flow and reduce debt provides some optimism, but operational and segment-specific issues remain.
Positive Factors
Free Cash Flow Improvement
Improved free cash flow enhances financial flexibility, allowing UNFI to invest in growth opportunities and reduce debt, strengthening its balance sheet over the long term.
Natural Segment Growth
Growth in the Natural segment indicates strong market demand and positions UNFI to capitalize on consumer trends towards healthier, organic products, supporting long-term revenue expansion.
Strategic Plan Execution
Successful execution of its strategic plan demonstrates UNFI's ability to meet targets, enhancing investor confidence and setting a foundation for sustained operational improvements.
Negative Factors
High Debt Levels
High debt levels can limit UNFI's financial flexibility and increase risk, potentially impacting its ability to invest in growth and weather economic downturns.
Cyber Incident Impact
The cyber incident highlights vulnerabilities in UNFI's operations, potentially undermining customer trust and leading to increased costs for security enhancements.
Conventional Segment Decline
Declining sales in the Conventional segment suggest challenges in maintaining market share, which could affect overall revenue growth if not addressed.

United Natural Foods (UNFI) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

United Natural Foods Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUnited Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is a leading distributor of natural, organic, and specialty food products in the United States and Canada. The company operates in two primary segments: wholesale distribution and retail, serving a diverse range of customers including independent grocery stores, conventional supermarket chains, and natural food retailers. UNFI offers an extensive portfolio of products, including fresh produce, grocery items, meat, dairy, and health and wellness products, as well as a variety of private-label brands.
How the Company Makes MoneyUNFI generates revenue primarily through its wholesale distribution segment by selling a wide array of natural and organic food products to retailers and food service operations. Key revenue streams include the sale of grocery items, perishables, and bulk products. The company also benefits from its private-label brands, which typically offer higher margins compared to third-party products. Additionally, UNFI has established significant partnerships with various food manufacturers and suppliers, enhancing its product offerings and market reach. The company's scale allows it to negotiate favorable terms and leverage logistics efficiencies, contributing to its overall profitability.

United Natural Foods Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Sep 30, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Dec 03, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a mixed outlook with strong performance in free cash flow and debt reduction, successful execution of the strategic plan, and growth in the Natural segment. However, the company faced challenges from a cyber incident impacting sales and adjusted EBITDA, and a decline in the Conventional segment. Overall, the highlights and lowlights appear balanced.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Free Cash Flow and Debt Reduction
UNFI generated strong free cash flow, enabling a reduction in net debt to around $1.8 billion, the lowest since fiscal 2018. Net leverage decreased by 0.7 turns compared to the previous year.
Successful Execution of Strategic Plan
UNFI's fiscal 2025 results were in line with outlook ranges for net sales and adjusted EBITDA, and above the outlook for free cash flow. The company is building momentum in year 2 of its strategic plan.
Natural Segment Growth
The Natural segment experienced 9% growth on a comparable 13-week basis, outperforming the market due to secular tailwinds and increasing customer adoption of natural products.
Improved Fiscal 2026 Outlook
UNFI updated its fiscal 2026 outlook, expecting net sales growth in the low single digits and adjusted EBITDA growth in the low double-digit range. The company also expects to generate around $300 million in free cash flow.
Negative Updates
Cyber Incident Impact
A cyber incident in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 resulted in an estimated $400 million in lost sales and approximately $50 million impact on adjusted EBITDA.
Conventional Segment Decline
Conventional segment sales declined by 6% due to the loss of a large new customer addition and a transition out of the Allentown distribution center.
Gross Margin Pressure
The gross margin rate in the fourth quarter decreased to 13.4% from 13.7% in the previous year, partly due to the cyber incident which drove elevated shrink.
Company Guidance
During the call, UNFI provided guidance for fiscal 2026, projecting net sales between $31.6 billion and $32 billion, reflecting low single-digit growth compared to prior expectations of flat sales for fiscal 2027. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to range from $630 million to $700 million, with margins expanding by approximately 35 basis points compared to fiscal 2025. The company anticipates generating around $300 million in free cash flow, nearly double its previous expectation, and plans to reduce net leverage to approximately 2.5x by year-end. Additionally, UNFI expects adjusted earnings per share to range from $1.50 to $2.30, marking a significant increase from the previous fiscal year. The company’s strategic focus includes optimizing capital investments, enhancing capabilities in merchandising and technology, and advancing its lean operating approach to drive efficiency and profitability.

United Natural Foods Financial Statement Overview

Summary
United Natural Foods faces significant financial challenges, with declining revenue and profitability metrics. The high leverage and negative return on equity highlight financial risks. However, improvements in cash flow provide some stability, suggesting potential for recovery if operational issues are addressed.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
United Natural Foods has experienced declining revenue growth, with a negative growth rate in the most recent year. The gross profit margin has slightly decreased over the years, and the company is currently operating at a net loss, reflected in the negative net profit margin. EBIT and EBITDA margins have also turned negative, indicating operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
40
Negative
The company has a high debt-to-equity ratio, which has increased over time, indicating a reliance on debt financing. Return on equity has turned negative, reflecting the net losses. The equity ratio is relatively low, suggesting potential financial risk.
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
Despite the challenges in profitability, United Natural Foods has shown improvement in free cash flow growth, with a significant positive change in the latest year. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is positive, indicating some cash flow stability, although the free cash flow to net income ratio is volatile.
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue31.78B31.78B30.98B30.27B28.93B26.95B
Gross Profit4.22B4.22B4.20B4.13B4.18B3.94B
EBITDA225.00M-31.00M356.00M502.00M684.00M599.00M
Net Income-118.00M-118.00M-112.00M24.00M248.00M149.00M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.59B7.59B7.53B7.39B7.63B7.53B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments44.00M44.00M40.00M37.00M44.00M41.00M
Total Debt3.45B3.45B3.55B3.27B3.38B3.43B
Total Liabilities6.04B6.04B5.89B5.65B5.84B6.01B
Stockholders Equity1.55B1.55B1.64B1.74B1.79B1.51B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow288.00M470.00M-92.00M301.00M80.00M304.00M
Operating Cash Flow470.00M470.00M253.00M624.00M331.00M614.00M
Investing Cash Flow-218.00M-218.00M-342.00M-339.00M-49.00M-237.00M
Financing Cash Flow-248.00M-248.00M92.00M-292.00M-279.00M-384.00M

United Natural Foods Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price42.03
Price Trends
50DMA
31.03
Positive
100DMA
28.26
Positive
200DMA
28.16
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.58
Negative
RSI
78.38
Negative
STOCH
75.51
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For UNFI, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 42.03 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 36.14, above the 50-day MA of 31.03, and above the 200-day MA of 28.16, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.58 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 78.38 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 75.51 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for UNFI.

United Natural Foods Risk Analysis

United Natural Foods disclosed 25 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. United Natural Foods reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

United Natural Foods Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
66
Neutral
$829.77M21.407.12%25.34%66.91%
64
Neutral
$1.44B17.906.03%1.84%-6.66%-21.70%
63
Neutral
$2.33B35.5613.64%7.90%68.05%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
58
Neutral
$910.78M2,245.98-2.08%3.26%1.54%-134.75%
57
Neutral
$441.87M28.246.58%3.20%-5.33%
53
Neutral
$2.50B-7.39%2.60%-3.23%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
UNFI
United Natural Foods
42.03
21.22
101.97%
CVGW
Calavo Growers
24.99
-2.14
-7.89%
SPTN
SpartanNash Co
26.90
5.67
26.71%
ANDE
The Andersons
42.48
-4.89
-10.32%
CHEF
The Chefs' Warehouse
57.99
17.60
43.58%
AVO
Mission Produce
11.95
-0.19
-1.57%

United Natural Foods Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
United Natural Foods CEO Andre Persaud to Step Down
Neutral
Jul 21, 2025

United Natural Foods, Inc. announced that Andre Persaud will step down as President and CEO of Retail effective July 25, 2025, as part of the company’s strategy to accelerate its retail business. Persaud’s departure qualifies as a termination that entitles him to severance benefits under the Severance Agreement, which includes restrictive covenants and a release of claims against the company. His equity awards will vest on a prorated basis as outlined in the company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.

The most recent analyst rating on (UNFI) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United Natural Foods stock, see the UNFI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
United Natural Foods Revises Fiscal 2025 Outlook
Positive
Jul 16, 2025

On July 16, 2025, United Natural Foods, Inc. provided a business update, revising its full-year outlook for fiscal 2025 due to strong performance in the first three quarters and the impact of a previously disclosed cyber incident. The company reported a 5.5% increase in net sales, a $44 million improvement in net loss, and a 16% rise in adjusted EBITDA. Despite the cyber incident’s estimated impact on fiscal 2025 net sales by $350 to $400 million and net income by $50 to $60 million, UNFI remains confident in achieving its long-term financial targets ahead of schedule. The company expects to reduce net leverage to nearly 2.5x by the end of fiscal 2026, a year earlier than initially projected.

The most recent analyst rating on (UNFI) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United Natural Foods stock, see the UNFI Stock Forecast page.

Regulatory Filings and Compliance
United Natural Foods Issues Clarification on Form 8-K
Neutral
Jun 10, 2025

United Natural Foods has issued a Current Report on Form 8-K, clarifying that the information provided is not considered ‘filed’ under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This announcement ensures that the details shared are not subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, impacting how stakeholders should interpret the information.

The most recent analyst rating on (UNFI) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United Natural Foods stock, see the UNFI Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
United Natural Foods Faces IT Security Breach
Negative
Jun 9, 2025

On June 5, 2025, United Natural Foods, Inc. discovered unauthorized activity on its IT systems, leading to temporary disruptions in fulfilling and distributing customer orders. The company has implemented containment measures and workarounds to mitigate the impact, with ongoing efforts to restore systems and assess the incident’s scope with the help of cybersecurity professionals and law enforcement.

The most recent analyst rating on (UNFI) stock is a Hold with a $21.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on United Natural Foods stock, see the UNFI Stock Forecast page.

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: Oct 09, 2025