By Nate Wolf

Shares of J.M. Smucker jumped Thursday after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings, providing a glimmer of hope in a downtrodden packaged-food category.

The company, which owns brands like Jif peanut butter and Folgers coffee, posted adjusted earnings of $2.38 a share for its fiscal third quarter, ahead of Wall Street's forecast of $2.27. Net sales totaled $2.34 billion, up 7% from last year and above analysts' consensus call for $2.32 billion, according to FactSet.

Smucker stock jumped 7.1% Thursday. On a morning when many market observers expected Nvidia's earnings beat to boost the technology sector, Smucker was the S&P 500's top performer in the premarket session.

Shares were up 9% this year through Wednesday's close as Wall Street rotated out of riskier growth stocks and into consumer staples. But the company has struggled to attract investors in recent years amid sluggish growth in the packaged-food category. An ill-fated purchase of Twinkies in 2023 hasn't helped.

Smucker's coffee business -- its largest segment -- was the major growth driver in the third quarter. Coffee sales rose 23% from last year, though profit declined.

The company reiterated its earnings guidance for fiscal 2026, but it now expects year-over-year sales growth of 3.5% to 4%, down at the high end from a previous range of 3.5% to 4.5%. The adjustment came after a fire at one of Smucker's manufacturing facilities, the company said.

Write to Nate Wolf at nate.wolf@barrons.com

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February 26, 2026 08:49 ET (13:49 GMT)

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