Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: CALMAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

CALM AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM) is a major US producer and distributor of shell eggs, including specialty and private label varieties. Results fluctuate sharply with market egg prices, evidenced by revenue falling 31.7% in FY2026 to $2.91B and quarterly revenue dropping 41.5% in the period ended August 31, 2026. Despite earnings volatility, the company carries $767.6M in cash and short-term investments with a current ratio of 7.70.

Market cap
$2.97B
Revenue (TTM)
$2.53B
P/E
51.7x
fwd 19.8x
1Y return
-28.7%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$68.33
7.4% vs last close

Bull case

  • Liquidity remains solid with $767.6M in cash and short-term investments and a current ratio of 7.70 as of August 31, 2026.
  • The company demonstrated peak cash generation during strong pricing cycles, producing $1.07B in free cash flow in FY2025.
  • Shares offer a forward dividend yield of 3.85% backed by 6 consecutive years of payouts.

Bear case

  • Earnings are projected to decline sharply, with analysts forecasting a full-year EPS of -$2.98 for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2027.
  • Operating performance deteriorated in the latest quarter ended August 31, 2026, with quarterly revenue falling 41.5% and quarterly earnings dropping 89.8%.
  • The stock has lagged broader benchmarks, posting a 1-year return of -28.7% compared to 16.8% for the S&P 500.

What Cal-Maine Foods does

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. produces, grades, packages, markets, and distributes shell eggs across the southwestern, southeastern, mid-western, and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Founded in 1957 and based in Ridgeland, Mississippi, the company offers conventional shell eggs as well as specialty products, such as nutritionally enhanced, cage-free, organic, and brown eggs. Its product portfolio includes brand names like Egg-Land's Best, Land O' Lakes, Farmhouse Eggs, and 4-Grain, alongside private labels. Customers include national and regional grocery store chains, club stores, independent supermarkets, foodservice distributors, and direct consumers of egg products.

Growth and profitability

Cal-Maine Foods delivered a 5-year revenue CAGR of 16.6% from FY2021 to FY2026, though annual results reflect significant commodity cyclicality. In FY2025, revenue reached $4.26B with net income of $1.22B and a net margin of 28.6%. In FY2026, revenue fell 31.7% to $2.91B, operating margin contracted to 12.0%, and net income fell to $316.7M, yielding EPS of $6.44. TTM revenue stands at $2.53B with a TTM profit margin of 2.3% and a TTM operating margin of -15.1%. For the latest quarter ended August 31, 2026, revenue fell 41.5% year-over-year and quarterly earnings declined 89.8%.

CALM income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of August 31, 2026, Cal-Maine Foods held $767.6M in cash and short-term investments, with total assets of $3.01B and shareholders' equity of $2.57B. The company maintains a current ratio of 7.70. In FY2026, it generated $483.0M in operating cash flow and $331.8M in free cash flow. Capital expenditures were $151.2M. Cash returned to shareholders included $131.1M in share buybacks and $231.6M in dividends paid, contributing to a 5-year share count change of -4.7%.

CALM balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

CALM trades at a trailing P/E of 51.7x and a forward P/E of 19.8x, compared to medians of 18.6x and 14.3x for its US-listed Consumer Defensive peers. Its price-to-sales ratio is 1.2x versus the peer median of 0.7x, while its EV/EBITDA stands at 5.3x compared to the peer median of 11.7x. Over the past year, CALM shares returned -28.7%, underperforming the SPY return of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock generated a 134.7% return compared to 83.0% for the SPY.

CALM key metrics →

CALM dividend

Cal-Maine Foods pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annual payout of $2.45 per share, representing a dividend yield of 3.85%. Dividends have been paid for 6 consecutive years, and the payout ratio stands at 2.1%. The last ex-dividend date was April 29, 2026, and the company distributed $231.6M in total dividends during FY2026.

CALM dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 4 Hold ratings, with 0 Strong Buy, Buy, Sell, or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $68.33, which is 7.4% above the last close of $63.65. For the fiscal year ending May 31, 2027, the consensus estimate calls for an EPS of -$2.98 on revenue of $2.32B. For the following fiscal year, 2 analysts project EPS of $1.01 and revenue of $2.61B. Cal-Maine beat EPS estimates in 2 of the last 4 quarters.

CALM forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Operating margin turned negative to -15.1% over the trailing twelve months, reflecting severe margin volatility in shell egg production.
  • Short interest represents 14.2% of the float, pointing to elevated skepticism among market participants.
  • The stock traded 19.4% below its 200-day average at $63.65, just above its 52-week low of $61.88.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this CALM AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: CALM income statement, CALM balance sheet, CALM key metrics, CALM analyst forecast, CALM chart. See the CALM stock overview for the latest quote and news.

CALM AI stock analysis FAQ

What dividend does Cal-Maine Foods pay?

Cal-Maine Foods pays a forward annual dividend of $2.45 per share, which equates to a dividend yield of 3.85%. Dividends are distributed quarterly and have been paid for 6 consecutive years.

What are analysts forecasting for CALM earnings?

For the fiscal year ending May 31, 2027, analysts estimate an EPS of -$2.98 on revenue of $2.32B. For the next fiscal year, 2 analysts project EPS will recover to $1.01 on revenue of $2.61B.

How strong is Cal-Maine Foods' balance sheet?

As of August 31, 2026, the company held $767.6M in cash and short-term investments with total shareholders' equity of $2.57B and a current ratio of 7.70.

What is the consensus analyst rating and price target for CALM?

The stock has 4 Hold ratings and no Buy or Sell ratings. The mean price target is $68.33, which is 7.4% above its October 16, 2026 closing price of $63.65.

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