Analysts predict greater potential for US Foods and Performance Food as separate entities rather than as a merged company.
Merger Termination: US Foods and Performance Food Group have decided to halt their merger pursuit due to regulatory risks and insufficient economic justification, leading to positive stock performance for both companies.
Analyst Insights: Analysts from BTIG and Guggenheim view the merger termination as beneficial, allowing both companies to refocus on their individual strategies and operational strengths, with expectations of margin expansion and market share growth.
Stock Performance: Following the merger announcement, US Foods shares rose by 12% and Performance Food Group shares increased by 2%, reflecting investor approval of the decision.
Future Outlook: Analysts do not foresee significant transformational acquisitions for either company in the near future, although potential interest in Chef's Warehouse and Shamrock Foods has been noted.
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- Analyst Rating Changes: Top Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings on several companies, indicating a shift in market sentiment that could influence investor decisions and market trends.
- Overview of Updates: While specific upgrades and downgrades are not detailed, the overall rating changes reflect analysts' sensitivity to market sentiment, potentially prompting investors to reassess their stock holdings.
- Investor Focus: For those considering buying DLTR stock, analysts' opinions will serve as a crucial reference point, likely impacting their investment decisions and the stock's market performance.
- Market Dynamics Impact: Changes in analyst ratings not only affect individual stock performance but may also create ripple effects on overall market sentiment and trends, necessitating close attention from investors to these developments.
- Stock Market Decline: U.S. stock indexes experienced a decline on Thursday, with the overall market dropping by 2.03%.
- Sector Performance: The S&P 500 index fell by 1.57%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased by 1.34%.
- Earnings Beat: US Foods reported an adjusted diluted EPS of $1.04 for Q4, surpassing the $1.00 estimate, while net income surged 178.8% to $184 million, demonstrating robust performance despite a challenging economic backdrop.
- Sales Growth: Q4 net sales rose 3.3% to $9.8 billion, although missing the $9.913 billion estimate, the overall sales increase indicates sustained demand in the independent restaurant and healthcare sectors.
- Cash Flow and Buybacks: Operating cash flow for fiscal 2025 was $1.37 billion, with net debt at $5.2 billion, and the company repurchased 4.2 million shares, reflecting confidence in future prospects and commitment to shareholder value.
- Outlook: US Foods projects adjusted diluted EPS growth of 18% to 24% for fiscal 2026, with sales expected to reach between $41 billion and $41.789 billion, showcasing an optimistic outlook for future growth.
- Strong Performance: US Foods achieved over $1.9 billion in adjusted EBITDA and an adjusted EPS of $3.98 for fiscal 2025, exceeding the long-range plan set during the June 2024 Investor Day, reflecting robust growth in independent restaurants, healthcare, and hospitality sectors.
- Market Share Gains: The independent restaurant case volume grew by 4.1% in Q4, marking the company's 19th consecutive quarter of market share gains, indicating a sustained competitive advantage in a challenging market environment.
- Strategic Investments: The company invested over $150 million in technological advancements, enhancing the AI-driven ordering system on the MOXe platform, while the small truck delivery service Pronto generated over $1 billion in sales, with plans for further market expansion.
- Future Outlook: US Foods expects net sales growth of 4% to 6% in fiscal 2026 and adjusted EBITDA growth of 9% to 13%, with management expressing confidence in achieving 2027 goals despite short-term challenges related to weather disruptions.
- Revenue Growth: US Foods Holding Corp. reported a 3.2% year-over-year revenue increase to $9.8 billion, slightly missing the $9.9 billion consensus estimate, indicating stable growth amidst competitive pressures.
- Volume Increase: Total case volume rose 0.8% year-over-year, driven by a 4.1% increase in independent restaurant case volume, alongside 2.9% and 3.1% growth in healthcare and hospitality volumes, respectively, although chain volume decreased by 3.4%, reflecting diverse market demand.
- Profitability Improvement: Adjusted gross profit increased by 3.6% to $1.7 billion, with a gross margin of 17.6%, showcasing the company's success in cost control and efficiency enhancement.
- Positive Outlook: US Foods anticipates full-year net sales growth of 4% to 6% and adjusted EBITDA growth of 9% to 13%, with adjusted diluted EPS growth expected at 18% to 24%, reflecting strong confidence in future performance.
- Earnings Highlights: US Foods reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.04, beating expectations by $0.03, indicating stable profitability; however, revenue of $9.8 billion, growing only 3.2% year-over-year, missed estimates, which may affect market confidence.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: The company’s adjusted EBITDA increased by 11.1% to $490 million, demonstrating significant progress in cost control and operational efficiency, thereby strengthening the foundation for future profitability.
- Case Volume Changes: Total case volume saw a slight increase of 0.8%, while independent restaurant case volume rose by 4.1%, reflecting sustained demand in the foodservice market, particularly strong performance in the independent restaurant sector.
- Fiscal Year 2026 Outlook: US Foods projects net sales growth of 4% to 6%, adjusted EBITDA growth of 9% to 13%, and adjusted diluted EPS growth of 18% to 24% for FY 2026, with guidance including the impact of a 53rd week, indicating confidence in future performance.








