Dividend cut has set it up for future gains

Article Excerpt

Foodmaker Kraft Heinz shocked investors in 2019 when it cut the dividend by 36.5% due to slowing consumer demand for its traditional brands. Since then, the company has sold off slower-selling brands and cut its debt. That has helped it shift to healthier products, which should fuel its future growth and dividend increases. KRAFT HEINZ CO. $39 is a buy. The company (Nasdaq symbol KHC, Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.2 billion; Market cap: $46.8 billion; Dividend yield: 4.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.kraftheinzcompany.com) is a leading producer of processed foods. Its top brands include Velveeta and Philadelphia cream cheeses, Oscar Mayer hot dogs, and Ore-Ida potatoes. Kraft cut the quarterly dividend by 36.5% with the March 2019 payment, to $0.40 a share from $0.63. The new annual rate of $1.60 nonetheless provides a high 4.1% yield. That cut was due to declining sales of its older brands as consumers continued their shift to healthier options. To take advantage of that trend, Kraft continues…