** Shares of packaged and food company Campbell's CPB.O down 1.2% at $28.39

** BofA downgrades stock to "marketweight" from "overweight," citing long period of earnings softness and puzzling new merger and acquisition activities

** Brokerage believes acquisition of 49% stake in La Regina will enhance margins and expand innovation, but the timing is "inopportune" given CPB's strained balance sheet

** Says snack category consumption remains pressured, and sees co leaning on promotions and innovation to stabilize the segment in second half of the year as tariff inflation eases

** 2 of 21 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 14 "hold", 5 brokerages rate the stock "sell" or higher; median PT is $30 - data compiled by LSEG

** As of last close, stock down 31% YTD

(Reporting by Koyena Das from Bengaluru)

((Koyena.das@thomsonreuters.com))