MKC
McCormick & CompanyNYSEConsumer StaplesPackaged FoodsSnapshot 2026-05-08
As of May 8, 2026, MKC has a composite score of 18.9 and a signal label of "mild favorable." This score is driven by high confidence at 80.9 and strengths in management (57.2) and quality (61.5). The analysis is provisional, reflecting various macroeconomic factors, including labor and inflation trends.
Price
Daily closes from AlphaVantage. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
Factor signals
Read top-to-bottom: thesis (is this a strong company over a 1–3 year hold), watch flags (has something changed worth re-reading), and position context (how violent might the path be). Each pill is a parallel diagnostic — never aggregated into a single score.
Thesis
— is this a strong company over a 1–3 year hold?Why this rank
- Direction share1.00
- Slope (norm)-0.02
- Bonus0.00
Why this rank
Trailing four: 2025-Q1, 2025-Q2, 2025-Q3, 2026-Q1
Why this rank
Watch
— has something changed worth re-reading?Why this setup
EPS estimate $0.72 → $0.70 (-2.6% / 30d). 0 raised, 8 cut, 11 covering analysts.
0 upgrades, 0 downgrades / 30d. 53% of analysts rate Buy.
0 positive, 1 negative / 30d. See F4 management tile for the event list.
F4 · Management deep-dive — recent events, stated priorities, guidance track record
Recent 8-K events
13 material events in the last 24 months — top 5 listed below.
Stated priorities
3 priorityies extracted from earnings transcripts (as of 2026-05-08).
- 1.Integrate Unilever foods businessgrowthmixed55% progress
3/31: “CEO: 'We remain on track to achieve our 2026 outlook and remain committed to our vision of being a global flavor leader.'”
Why this status
Newly stated in 2026-Q1. The integration of the Unilever foods business is a key focus for McCormick, as evidenced by the CEO's commitment to achieving the 2026 outlook. However, specific financial impacts from the integration are not detailed in the current quarter's financials, indicating limited substantive delivery so far.
- 2.Secure financing for Unilever transactioncapital allocationmixed30% progress
5/1: “Material event: 'McCormick entered into a Term Loan Agreement in connection with the financing of McCormick's pending combination with the foods business of Unilever PLC.'”
Why this status
Newly stated in 2026-Q1. McCormick has taken steps to secure financing for the Unilever transaction by entering into a Term Loan Agreement. This indicates progress in capital allocation, but the financial impact of this transaction is not yet reflected in the financials, suggesting limited progress in terms of financial delivery.
- 3.Drive organic sales growthgrowthmixed65% progress
3/31: “CEO: 'Organic sales growth was 1.2%.'”
Why this status
Newly stated in 2026-Q1. McCormick achieved an organic sales growth of 1.2% in the first quarter, driven primarily by pricing. This indicates some progress in driving organic growth, but the growth rate remains modest, suggesting room for further improvement.
Guidance track record
Insufficient guidance history for this ticker.
Position context
— how violent might the path be while I hold it?Why this risk level
Recent vol — 30d annualized 36%; 252d 28%.
Drawdown — Max 1y −36%. Bad day move −3%.
Beta to sector ETF (XLP) — 1.12 over 1y.
Liquidity — score 100/100.
Sub-scores — vol 54/100, drawdown 27/100, beta 88/100, earnings vol —.
via XLP
Tailwind = sector leading the S&P 500; headwind = trailing. Both can be constructive — historically, headwind regimes have averaged stronger forward returns than tailwind.
Context label only — describes the market state (e.g. real bear vs narrative panic, healthy uptrend vs late-stage froth). It is not a per-ticker buy/sell signal and does not predict factor performance.
Not investment advice. As of 2026-05-08.
What changed
The most important moves since the prior daily snapshot.
- No material changes since the prior snapshot.
No material changes since the prior snapshot.
as of 2026-05-08
Management scorecard
How management runs the business — capital, margins, balance sheet, and how reliably they guide and deliver.
What management is focused on
Priorities management has stated in recent disclosures, with status and evidence drawn from earnings calls, filings, and press releases.
- #1
Integrate Unilever foods business
GrowthNew since 2026-05-04Focus on the integration of the recently acquired Unilever foods business to drive growth.
On track →MixedNewly stated in 2026-Q1. The integration of the Unilever foods business is a key focus for McCormick, as evidenced by the CEO's commitment to achieving the 2026 outlook. However, specific financial impacts from the integration are not detailed in the current quarter's financials, indicating limited substantive delivery so far.
55%CEO/CFO:“CEO: 'We remain on track to achieve our 2026 outlook and remain committed to our vision of being a global flavor leader.'”Press releaseSource dated 2026-03-31Stated 1 of last 8 quartersFirst seen 2026-05-04Show history (1)
- 2026-Q1Press release
“CEO: 'We remain on track to achieve our 2026 outlook...'”
- #2
Secure financing for Unilever transaction
Capital allocationNew since 2026-05-04Ensure adequate financing is secured for the Unilever transaction to support strategic growth.
Behind →MixedNewly stated in 2026-Q1. McCormick has taken steps to secure financing for the Unilever transaction by entering into a Term Loan Agreement. This indicates progress in capital allocation, but the financial impact of this transaction is not yet reflected in the financials, suggesting limited progress in terms of financial delivery.
30%CEO/CFO:“Material event: 'McCormick entered into a Term Loan Agreement in connection with the financing of McCormick's pending combination with the foods business of Unilever PLC.'”Multiple sourcesSource dated 2026-05-01Stated 1 of last 8 quartersFirst seen 2026-05-04Show history (1)
- 2026-Q1Multiple sources
“Material event: 'McCormick entered into a Term Loan Agreement...'”
- #3
Drive organic sales growth
GrowthFocus on organic sales growth through pricing and volume/mix improvements.
MixedNewly stated in 2026-Q1. McCormick achieved an organic sales growth of 1.2% in the first quarter, driven primarily by pricing. This indicates some progress in driving organic growth, but the growth rate remains modest, suggesting room for further improvement.
65%CEO/CFO:“CEO: 'Organic sales growth was 1.2%.'”Press releaseSource dated 2026-03-31Stated 1 of last 8 quartersFirst seen 2026-03-31Show history (1)
- 2026-Q1Press release
“CEO: 'Organic sales growth was 1.2%.'”
How this stock is priced
Two ways to read price: against peers in the same business, and against the company's own history.
Roughly priced in line with peers.
Cheaper than its own typical valuation.
P/E over the last 5 years
71 monthly pointsHow this compares
A side-by-side read on composite, valuation, and risk versus peers.
| Stock | Composite | Valuation | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
MKC McCormick & Company | +19 | fair | moderate |
WMT Walmart | -9.3 | expensive | low |
COST Costco | +3.9 | expensive | moderate |
PG Procter & Gamble | +15 | fair | low |
KO Coca-Cola Company (The) | +14 | full | low |
Risk — how this stock moves
What a normal day looks like, what a bad day looks like, and the worst the last year has thrown at it.
What could change this view
Conditional scenarios — if X happens, the score would shift by about Y points. These are not predictions.
- If consumer_staples sector trend rises from +0.05 into 'improving' (>= +0.20)+5.0 pts
- If inflation state reverses from -0.34 (negative) to +0.34 (positive)+3.4 pts
- If next-quarter guidance is cut (currently RAISED as of 2021-07-01)-16 pts
- If labor state reverses from -0.31 (negative) to +0.31 (positive)-6.2 pts
- If consumer_staples sector trend falls from +0.05 into 'weakening' (<= -0.20)-5.0 pts
Material updates
Recent SEC 8-K filings ranked by likely impact, confidence, and recency.
- 2026-05-017d agoItem 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. Term Loan Agreement On April 28, 2026, McCormick & Company, Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (“McCormick”), entered into a Term Loan Agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”), by and among McCormick, the lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), in connection with the financing of McCormick’s pending combination with the foods business of Unilever PLC, a public limited company registered in Engla…
capital allocationneutralscore 56 - 2026-05-017d agoItem 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. The information set forth in
capital allocationnegativescore 44 - 2026-05-017d agoItem 8.01
Other Events. As previously disclosed, in connection with the Merger Agreement, McCormick entered into a commitment letter on March 31, 2026 (the “Bridge Commitment Letter”) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. (collectively, the “Commitment Parties”), pursuant to which the Commitment Parties agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to provide a senior unsecured 364-day bridge term loan credit facility (the “B…
capital allocationneutralscore 44 - 2026-04-1721d agoItem 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On April 15, 2026, McCormick & Company, Incorporated (the “Company”), announced that Andrew Foust, President Americas, has been appointed to the role of Chief Integration Officer to lead the integration related to the Company’s recently announced combination with the foods business of Unilever PLC (the “Transaction”). Mr. Foust will continue as an…
executive changeneutralscore 35 - 2026-04-061mo agoItem 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. On March 31, 2026, McCormick & Company, Incorporated, a Maryland corporation (“McCormick”), entered into definitive agreements with Unilever PLC, a public limited company registered in England and Wales (“Unilever”), Unilever Alpha HoldCo B.V., a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands and registered with the Dutch Commercial Register (Handelsregiste…
capital allocationneutralscore 31
Score history
The composite score, snapshot by snapshot. The dotted line at zero separates leaning-positive from leaning-negative.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.