Beyond Meat, the renowned maker of plant-based meat alternatives, experienced a significant drop in its stock value during premarket trading. This decline came on the heels of the company’s recent financial results, which were adversely affected by a slowdown in demand.
In the second quarter, Beyond reported sales of $102.1 million, representing a 30.5% decrease from the same period last year. This figure fell short of market expectations. The company also registered a loss of 83 cents per share, slightly narrower than what Wall Street had predicted. Moreover, Beyond Meat revised its full-year revenue outlook downward, citing various factors such as softer demand and the impact of high inflation.
Shareholders responded unfavorably to the news, causing Beyond’s shares to plummet by 15% to $13.04. The overall sentiment among analysts was also less than optimistic.
According to a recent report titled ‘Quarter and Outlook Undercooked’, written by William Blair analysts, the plant-based meat category has faced challenges in acquiring and retaining new consumers. This could be partly due to consumers’ health perceptions regarding such products. Consequently, William Blair analysts rate Beyond’s shares as Market Perform.
Mizuho analysts, who have assigned a Neutral rating to Beyond shares with a price target of $12, echoed similar concerns in their report. They expressed growing skepticism regarding the company’s ability to drive revenue growth through its own initiatives. Additionally, they believe that investments in brand-building are likely to prove larger than anticipated.