Morningstar

Heinz-Kraft Deal Strengthens Competitive Advantages

The deal, which would make Kraft-Heinz the third-largest food and beverage firm in North America, stands to enhance Kraft's narrow moat, writes Morningstar's Erin Lash.

Securities In This Article
Coca-Cola Co
(KO)
Nestle SA ADR
(NSRGY)
PepsiCo Inc
(PEP)

We're placing our fair value estimate for narrow-moat

Our initial take is that the deal stands to enhance Kraft's narrow economic moat, which is derived from the firm's solid brand intangible asset and economies of scale on its home turf. As a combined firm, Kraft-Heinz would leapfrog

Morningstar Premium Members gain exclusive access to our full Kraft Report, including fair value estimates, consider buying/selling prices, bull and bear breakdowns, and risk analyses. Not a Premium Member? Get this and other reports immediately when you try Morningstar Premium free for 14 days.

More in Stocks

Our Top Pick for Investing in US Renewable Energy

Utility-scale solar and battery storage installations are poised to set records in 2024.
Brett Castelli

How to Measure a Stock’s Uncertainty

Morningstar’s Uncertainty Rating helps investors understand the risks associated with an investment and how that may influence a decision to buy.
Emelia Fredlick

How to Determine Whether a Stock Is Cheap, Expensive, or Fairly Valued

The Morningstar Rating for stocks gauges how a stock’s price compares with what our analysts think it’s worth.
Emelia Fredlick

About the Author

Erin Lash, CFA

Sector Director
More from Author

Erin Lash, CFA, is a sector director, AM Consumer, for Morningstar*. In addition to leading the sector team, she covers packaged food and household and personal care companies. Beyond managing a team of nine analysts and associates covering an array of consumer firms, Lash also conducts fundamental analysis of 13 multi-billion-dollar market capitalization firms in the packaged food and household and personal care space.

Before joining Morningstar in 2006, Lash spent four years as an investment analyst covering retail, transportation, and technology firms for State Farm Insurance. In this capacity, Lash analyzed financial statements, business strategy, and fundamentals of owned companies and potential investments, presenting her recommendations based on this analysis to State Farm portfolio managers for ownership consideration.

Lash holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bradley University’s Foster College of Business. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration, with concentrations in accounting and finance, from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Lash has completed the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation. She ranked second in the food and tobacco industry in The Wall Street Journal’s annual “Best on the Street” analysts survey in 2013, the last year the survey was conducted.

* Morningstar Research Services LLC (“Morningstar”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc

Sponsor Center