McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: MKCAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

MKC AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global manufacturer and distributor of spices, seasonings, condiments, and flavor solutions. For FY2025, the company generated $6.84B in revenue with net income of $789.4M, supported by a 5-year revenue CAGR of 4.1%. While its trailing price-to-earnings ratio sits at 8.4x, the stock has declined 27.9% over the past year.

Market cap
$12.47B
Revenue (TTM)
$7.69B
P/E
8.4x
fwd 14.3x
1Y return
-27.9%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$54.85
18.3% vs last close

Bull case

  • McCormick trades at a trailing P/E of 8.4x and forward P/E of 14.3x, both below the S&P 500 Consumer Defensive peer medians of 23.5x and 15.3x.
  • Free cash flow reached $740.4M in FY2025, supporting a 4.14% dividend yield backed by 43 consecutive years of dividend payments.
  • Latest quarterly revenue expanded 17.4% year-over-year, while analysts project annual revenue to increase to $7.92B in FY2026 and $8.15B in FY2027.

Bear case

  • Quarterly earnings fell 57.1% year-over-year in the period ended August 31, 2026.
  • The stock has underperformed broader markets with a 1-year return of -27.9% and a 5-year return of -34.4%, versus S&P 500 gains of 16.8% and 83.0%.
  • Total debt of $4.25B significantly exceeds cash of $331.1M, contributing to a low current ratio of 0.66.

What McCormick does

McCormick & Company, Incorporated manufactures, markets, and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and flavor solutions. It operates through two segments: Consumer and Flavor Solutions. The Consumer segment offers spices, herbs, sauces, and dessert items under brands such as McCormick, French's, Frank's RedHot, Lawry's, Zatarain's, Stubb's, and Thai Kitchen to retail and e-commerce channels across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China, and Australia. The Flavor Solutions segment delivers custom seasoning blends, compound flavors, coating systems, and condiments directly and through distributors to multinational food manufacturers and foodservice operators globally.

Growth and profitability

McCormick grew annual revenue from $6.32B in FY2021 to $6.84B in FY2025, representing a 5-year compound annual growth rate of 4.1%. Net income increased from $755.3M in FY2021 to $789.4M in FY2025, while diluted earnings per share shifted from $3.05 to $3.00. Over this span, gross margin moved from 39.5% in FY2021 to 37.9% in FY2025, and operating margin closed FY2025 at 15.7%. For the trailing twelve months ended August 31, 2026, revenue stood at $7.69B with a profit margin of 19.4%. In the latest quarter, year-over-year revenue grew 17.4%, though quarterly earnings fell 57.1%.

MKC income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of August 31, 2026, McCormick held $331.1M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $4.25B, resulting in net debt of $3.92B. Shareholders' equity was $7.00B against total assets of $16.65B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61 and a current ratio of 0.66. In FY2025, the company generated $962.2M in operating cash flow and $740.4M in free cash flow. Capital allocation in FY2025 included $221.8M in capital expenditures, $483.0M paid in dividends, and $34.8M allocated to share buybacks.

MKC balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Trading at $46.35, McCormick carries a market capitalization of $12.47B and an enterprise value of $22.60B. Its trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 8.4x sits below the median of its S&P 500 Consumer Defensive peers at 23.5x, while its forward P/E of 14.3x compares to the peer median of 15.3x. McCormick's enterprise value-to-EBITDA ratio is 17.1x, above the peer median of 13.3x. Over the past year, the stock fell 27.9%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, and over five years it fell 34.4% compared to an 83.0% gain for the index.

MKC key metrics →

MKC dividend

McCormick pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $1.92 per share, offering a dividend yield of 4.14%. The payout ratio stands at 60.4%. McCormick has paid dividends for 43 consecutive years and generated a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 7.6%. Its last ex-dividend date was October 13, 2026.

MKC dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 4 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, and 8 Hold ratings, with no Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target of $54.85 represents an upside of 18.3% over the last close of $46.35. For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2026, analysts project revenue of $7.92B and EPS of $3.09. For the following fiscal year, 12 analysts estimate revenue of $8.15B and EPS of $3.22. McCormick exceeded earnings per share expectations in 3 of the last 4 quarters.

MKC forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • McCormick holds $3.92B in net debt alongside a current ratio of 0.66, which may restrict balance sheet flexibility.
  • Earnings volatility remains present, highlighted by a 57.1% year-over-year drop in quarterly earnings for the quarter ended August 31, 2026.
  • Annual revenue growth was modest in prior fiscal years, posting 0.9% in FY2024 and 1.7% in FY2025.
  • The stock trades 13.0% below its 200-day moving average and near its 52-week low of $43.25.

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 MKC AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of McCormick & Company, Incorporated (MKC). 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: MKC income statement, MKC balance sheet, MKC key metrics, MKC analyst forecast, MKC chart. See the MKC stock overview for the latest quote and news.

MKC AI stock analysis FAQ

What is McCormick's dividend yield and payment schedule?

McCormick pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annualized payout of $1.92 per share, representing a 4.14% dividend yield. The company has paid consecutive dividends for 43 years and maintains a payout ratio of 60.4%.

How much debt does McCormick carry?

As of August 31, 2026, McCormick had $4.25B in total debt and $331.1M in cash and short-term investments, which results in net debt of $3.92B. Its debt-to-equity ratio is 0.61.

What are analysts' price targets for MKC stock?

The mean analyst price target is $54.85, indicating an 18.3% potential upside from the closing price of $46.35. The stock has 7 Buy or Strong Buy ratings and 8 Hold ratings.

What was McCormick's revenue in FY2025?

McCormick reported revenue of $6.84B in FY2025, which reflected a 1.7% increase compared to $6.72B in FY2024.

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