Bear of the Day: General Mills (GIS)

General Mills GIS is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores.

Its principal product categories include ready-to-eat cereals, convenient meals, snacks, yogurt, super-premium ice creams, baking mixes and ingredients, and more. Analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company’s outlook, landing it into a Zack Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

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GIS Shares Face Continued Pressure

GIS shares have faced consistent selling pressure over the last year, down 26% compared to the S&P 500’s impressive 18% gain. YTD performance is slightly improved but still worse relative to the general market, down nearly 3% in 2026 so far.

Quarterly results haven’t been enough to keep sentiment positive, with shares seeing an initial post-earnings boost following the latest print before heading back lower.  

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Net sales were down 7% year-over-year in its latest period, driven by lower volumes and an unfavorable price mix. The company’s profitability has also taken a notable hit, with its gross margin falling 210 basis points to 34.8% alongside a 32% YoY decline in operating profit throughout the above-mentioned quarter.

The profitability hit is certainly notable, helping explain the poor share performance and downward revisions. The company’s next release is slated for mid-March, with sales revisions also showing a similarly bearish nature as the EPS outlook.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line

Negative earnings estimate revisions paint a challenging picture for the company’s shares in the near term.

General Mills GIS is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that analysts have taken a bearish stance on the company’s earnings outlook.

For those seeking strong stocks, the best idea would be to focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) – these stocks sport a notably stronger earnings outlook paired with the potential to deliver explosive gains in the near term.