(UTZ) Utz Brands - Overview
Sector: Consumer Defensive | Industry: Packaged Foods | Exchange: NYSE (USA) | Market Cap: 688m USD | Total Return: -41.3% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 14.7M
EPS Trend: 96.0%
Qual. Beats: -1
Rev. Trend: 7.5%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
High Debt/EBITDA (28.2) with thin interest coverage (-0.7)
Interest Coverage Ratio -0.7 is critical
Altman Z'' -0.65 < 1.0 - financial distress zone
Tailwinds
No distinct edge detected
Utz Brands, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer focusing on the branded salty snack category in the United States. Its product portfolio includes potato chips, pretzels, and cheese snacks distributed under flagship brands such as Utz, On The Border, and Zapp’s. The company utilizes a multi-channel distribution strategy involving direct-store-delivery (DSD) and direct-to-warehouse networks to reach retail outlets.
The packaged foods sector is characterized by high competition for shelf space and significant reliance on supply chain efficiency to manage volatile input costs. Utz operates within the Salty Snacks niche, a segment that historically exhibits defensive characteristics during economic downturns due to low price points and high consumer loyalty. Beyond its proprietary labels, the company generates revenue through private label manufacturing and third-party partnerships.
Investors can evaluate the companys valuation metrics and margin trends more deeply on ValueRay. Founded in 1921, Utz has transitioned from a regional producer to a national competitor through strategic acquisitions and brand scaling.
- Geographic expansion into Western and Southwestern U.S. markets drives incremental revenue growth
- Supply chain transformation and manufacturing consolidation improve long-term operating margins
- Commodity price volatility for potatoes and cooking oils impacts cost of goods sold
- Market share gains in the salty snack category through strategic brand acquisitions
- Transition from third-party distributors to direct-store-delivery enhances retail execution and volume.
| Net Income: -8.40m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: 0.02 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 2.89 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 3.10% < 20% (prev 5.86%; Δ -2.76% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.04 > 3% & CFO 120.2m > Net Income -8.40m |
| Net Debt (964.5m) to EBITDA (34.2m): 28.24 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 1.14 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (88.3m) vs 12m ago 0.93% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 22.31% > 18% (prev 0.35%; Δ 2.20k% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 52.04% > 50% (prev 50.91%; Δ 1.13% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: -0.68 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 34.2m / Interest Expense TTM 76.3m) |
| A: 0.02 (Total Current Assets 359.9m - Total Current Liabilities 315.0m) / Total Assets 2.79b |
| B: -0.12 (Retained Earnings -334.4m / Total Assets 2.79b) |
| C: -0.02 (EBIT TTM -52.0m / Avg Total Assets 2.78b) |
| D: -0.23 (Book Value of Equity -329.7m / Total Liabilities 1.45b) |
| Altman-Z'' = -0.65 = B |
| DSRI: 0.90 (Receivables 128.2m/139.3m, Revenue 1.45b/1.41b) |
| GMI: 1.56 (GM 22.31% / 34.88%) |
| AQI: 0.99 (AQ_t 0.73 / AQ_t-1 0.74) |
| SGI: 1.02 (Revenue 1.45b / 1.41b) |
| TATA: -0.05 (NI -8.40m - CFO 120.2m) / TA 2.79b) |
| Beneish M = -2.63 (Cap -4..+1) = A |
As of May 27, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 7.48 with a total of 1,750,317 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by +1.91%,
over one month by -4.10%,
over three months by -19.50% and
over the past year by -41.25%.
Utz Brands has received a consensus analysts rating of 4.10. Therefore, it is recommended to buy UTZ.
- StrongBuy: 4
- Buy: 3
- Hold: 3
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 0
| Analysts Target Price | 12.1 | 62.3% |
P/E Forward = 10.0301
P/S = 0.4751
P/B = 0.9696
Revenue TTM = 1.45b USD
EBIT TTM = -52.0m USD
EBITDA TTM = 34.2m USD
Long Term Debt = 825.1m USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 36.4m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 1.04b USD (corrected: LT Debt 825.1m + ST Debt 36.4m) + Leases 176.7m
Net Debt = 964.5m USD (calculated: Debt 1.04b - CCE 73.7m)
Enterprise Value = 1.65b USD (687.9m + Debt 1.04b - CCE 73.7m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = -0.68 (Ebit TTM -52.0m / Interest Expense TTM 76.3m)
EV/FCF = 38.96x (Enterprise Value 1.65b / FCF TTM 42.4m)
FCF Yield = 2.57% (FCF TTM 42.4m / Enterprise Value 1.65b)
FCF Margin = 2.93% (FCF TTM 42.4m / Revenue TTM 1.45b)
Net Margin = -0.58% (Net Income TTM -8.40m / Revenue TTM 1.45b)
Gross Margin = 22.31% ((Revenue TTM 1.45b - Cost of Revenue TTM 1.12b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 25.44% (prev -6.60%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.59 (Enterprise Value 1.65b / Total Assets 2.79b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 7.35% (Interest Expense 76.3m / Debt 1.04b)
Taxrate = 21.0% (US default 21%)
NOPAT = -41.1m (EBIT -52.0m * (1 - 21.00%)) [loss with tax shield]
Current Ratio = 1.14 (Total Current Assets 359.9m / Total Current Liabilities 315.0m)
Debt / Equity = 1.46 (Debt 1.04b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 709.5m)
Debt / EBITDA = 28.24 (Net Debt 964.5m / EBITDA 34.2m)
Debt / FCF = 22.74 (Net Debt 964.5m / FCF TTM 42.4m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 719.9m (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = -0.30% (Net Income -8.40m / Total Assets 2.79b)
RoE = -0.80% (Net Income TTM -8.40m / Total Stockholder Equity 1.05b)
RoCE = -2.77% (EBIT -52.0m / Capital Employed (Equity 1.05b + L.T.Debt 825.1m))
RoIC = -1.64% (negative operating profit) (NOPAT -41.1m / Invested Capital 2.51b)
WACC = 5.84% (E(687.9m)/V(1.73b) * Re(5.89%) + D(1.04b)/V(1.73b) * Rd(7.35%) * (1-Tc(0.21)))
Discount Rate = 5.89% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 82.22 | Cagr: 3.85%
[DCF] Terminal Value 75.44% ; FCFF base≈42.4m ; Y1≈42.6m ; Y5≈45.1m
[DCF] Fair Price = N/A (negative equity: EV 701.7m - Net Debt 964.5m = -262.8m; debt exceeds intrinsic value)
EPS Correlation: 96.02 | EPS CAGR: 17.70% | SUE: -1.39 | # QB: -1
Revenue Correlation: 7.50 | Revenue CAGR: 0.07% | SUE: -0.15 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=0.18 | Chg30d=-1.50% | Revisions=-43% | Analysts=10
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=0.23 | Chg30d=-0.35% | Revisions=-33% | Analysts=10
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=0.78 | Chg30d=+0.48% | Revisions=+14% | GrowthEPS=-5.4% | GrowthRev=+4.0%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=0.84 | Chg30d=-0.51% | Revisions=-20% | GrowthEPS=+8.4% | GrowthRev=+1.1%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: -43%