Daily Stock Opinions and Ratings

Opinions

Robert McWhirter Maple Leaf Foods MFI-T TOP PICK Jul 07, 2025

It is the leading protein company in Canada. It is spinning out the bacon division which should increase the profit margins. Chicken sales are picking up. Free cash flow per share is up over 100%. Its free cash flow/capital is 8 times greater than the typical TSX stock. Its P/E for 2025 is 17.
Buy 6 Hold 1 Sell 0

(Analysts’ price target is $33.36)

Robert McWhirter

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$28.750

Stock price when the opinion was issued

food processing

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BUY ON WEAKNESS

He has a $24.78 model price -- about 20% downward price risk. He is recommending going into the US. He would need to see a sizable pullback in price to consider buying.

BUY

A solid long term hold. You might need to have patience, as they are investing their cashflow into plant based alternative foods that have good long term potential. However, short-term it does not lead to the profitability investors are looking for. Long term dynamics look good once they realize their investment benefits. A defensive stock since people need to eat regardless of the pandemic.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

Billy Kawasaki’s Insights - Billy’s most-liked answers from 5i Research. The stock has shown some weakness recently, but there has been no negative news. The stock is still up year to date and ahead of the tsx average. Unlock Premium - Try 5i Free

TOP PICK

Meat segment has been doing well. Plant segment is a new and emerging area, and is #2 in NA. Trades at a significant discount to peers. Could easily be worth more than $40 a share. Yield is 2.62%. (Analysts’ price target is $35.19)

DON'T BUY

Market didn't like its earnings, and so it's down today. Stumbling. Right sector, but not producing results fast enough for investors. Took on huge debt to expand. Sometimes it's better not to buy a company at the beginning of huge capex. Stay away right now.

PAST TOP PICK

(A Top Pick Mar 17/20, Down 6%) Plant-based area has earned a lot of attention. Unfairly penalized for the slower ramp up of meat alternatives. Trades at only 7x EBITDA, without the plant-based component. If the plant-based sector was spun out, share price would easily be over $40. Be patient, a ton of value, core business is strong.

BUY

Holds it in high regard. Divested and modernized. Expansion into non-meat protein. Earnings are cyclically depressed. Not a barn burner of a growth stock. GDP-esque growth rate. Put in your RRSP. Will do well in the long-term.

DON'T BUY

Meat processing business that relied on M&A in the past. Experiencing additional costs with inflation etc. People trading down to lower cost proteins. Does not own shares. Plant based protein business also suffering.

DON'T BUY

She's anticipating economic weakness, hesitant even on the consumer staples space. Consumers in Canada have seen a lot of price increases in the last 24 months; spending same $$, but taking home less. Questions ability to continue to pass on those price increases.

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