Conagra Foods Stock Beneish M Score

CAG Stock  USD 27.42  0.25  0.92%   
This module uses fundamental data of ConAgra Foods to approximate the value of its Beneish M Score. ConAgra Foods M Score tells investors if the company management is likely to be manipulating earnings. The score is calculated using eight financial indicators that are adjusted by a specific multiplier. Please note, the M Score is a probabilistic model and cannot detect companies that manipulate their earnings with 100% accuracy. Check out ConAgra Foods Piotroski F Score and ConAgra Foods Altman Z Score analysis.
For more detail on how to invest in ConAgra Stock please use our How to Invest in ConAgra Foods guide.
  
At this time, ConAgra Foods' Interest Debt Per Share is most likely to increase slightly in the upcoming years. The ConAgra Foods' current Debt To Assets is estimated to increase to 0.44, while Net Debt is projected to decrease to roughly 4.8 B. At this time, ConAgra Foods' Days Sales Outstanding is most likely to slightly grow in the upcoming years. The ConAgra Foods' current PB Ratio is estimated to increase to 2.13, while Book Value Per Share is projected to decrease to 16.32.
At this time, it appears that ConAgra Foods is an unlikely manipulator. The earnings manipulation may begin if ConAgra Foods' top management creates an artificial sense of financial success, forcing the stock price to be traded at a high price-earnings multiple than it should be. In general, excessive earnings management by ConAgra Foods executives may lead to removing some of the operating profits from subsequent periods to inflate earnings in the following periods. This way, the manipulation of ConAgra Foods' earnings can lead to misrepresentations of actual financial condition, taking the otherwise loyal stakeholders on to the path of questionable ethical practices and plain fraud.
-2.48
Beneish M Score - Unlikely Manipulator
Elasticity of Receivables

0.96

Focus
Asset Quality

0.85

Focus
Expense Coverage

0.79

Focus
Gross Margin Strengs

1.01

Focus
Accruals Factor

0.79

Focus
Depreciation Resistance

0.95

Focus
Net Sales Growth

1.05

Focus
Financial Leverage Condition

0.93

Focus

ConAgra Foods Beneish M-Score Indicator Trends

The cure to earnings manipulation is the transparency of financial reporting. It will typically remove the temptation of the top executives to inflate earnings (i.e., to promote the idea of 'winning at any cost'). Because a healthy internal audit department can enhance transparency, the board should promote the auditors' access to all the record-keeping systems across the enterprise. For example, if ConAgra Foods' auditors report directly to the board (not management), the managers will be reluctant to manipulate simply due to the fear of punishment. On the other hand, the auditors will be free to investigate the ledgers properly because they know that the board has their back.
Current ValueLast YearChange From Last Year 10 Year Trend
Net Receivables875.2 M871.8 M
Slightly Up
Very volatile
Total Revenue12.7 B12.1 B
Sufficiently Up
Very volatile
Total Assets14.3 B20.9 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Current Assets3.3 B3.1 B
Sufficiently Up
Very volatile
Non Current Assets Total9.8 B17.7 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Property Plant Equipment2.3 B2.5 B
Moderately Down
Slightly volatile
Depreciation And Amortization386.9 M400.9 M
Sufficiently Down
Very volatile
Selling General Administrative2.1 B2.5 B
Fairly Down
Very volatile
Total Current Liabilities2.7 B3.2 B
Significantly Down
Slightly volatile
Non Current Liabilities Total5.9 B9.1 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Net Debt4.8 B8.6 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Short Term Debt644.9 MB
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Long Term DebtB7.5 B
Significantly Down
Slightly volatile
Total Cash From Operating Activities1.1 BB
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Long Term Investments629.9 M716.7 M
Fairly Down
Slightly volatile
Gross Profit Margin0.280.2784
Slightly Up
Slightly volatile

ConAgra Foods Beneish M-Score Driver Matrix

One of the toughest challenges investors face today is learning how to quickly synthesize historical financial statements and information provided by the company, SEC reporting, and various external parties in order to detect the potential manipulation of earnings. Understanding the correlation between ConAgra Foods' different financial indicators related to revenue, expenses, operating profit, and net earnings helps investors identify and prioritize their investing strategies towards ConAgra Foods in a much-optimized way. Analyzing correlations between earnings drivers directly associated with dollar figures is the most effective way to find ConAgra Foods' degree of accounting gimmicks and manipulations.

About ConAgra Foods Beneish M Score

M-Score is one of many grading techniques for value stocks. It was developed by Professor M. Daniel Beneish of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and published in 1999 under the paper titled The Detection of Earnings Manipulation. The Beneish score is a multi-factor model that utilizes financial identifiers to compile eight variables used to classify whether a company has manipulated its reported earnings. The variables are built from the officially filed financial statements to create a final score call 'M Score.' The score helps to identify companies that are likely to manipulate their profits if they show deteriorating gross margins, operating expenses, and leverage against growing revenue.

Other Operating Expenses

11.81 Billion

At this time, ConAgra Foods' Other Operating Expenses is most likely to decrease significantly in the upcoming years.

ConAgra Foods Earnings Manipulation Drivers

Although earnings manipulation is typically not the result of intentional misconduct by the c-level executives, it is still a widespread practice by the senior management of public companies such as ConAgra Foods. It is usually done by a series of misrepresentations of various accounting rules and operating activities across multiple financial cycles. The best way to spot the manipulation is to examine the historical financial statement to find inconsistencies in earning reports to find trends in assets or liabilities that are not sustainable in the future.
201920202021202220232024 (projected)
Net Receivables860.8M793.9M867.4M965.4M871.8M875.2M
Total Revenue11.1B11.2B11.5B12.3B12.1B12.7B
Total Assets22.3B22.2B22.4B22.1B20.9B14.3B
Total Current Assets2.9B2.7B3.0B3.4B3.1B3.3B
Net Debt9.2B8.9B8.9B9.1B8.6B4.8B
Short Term Debt846.6M730.5M891.6M2.3B1.0B644.9M
Long Term Debt8.9B8.3B8.1B7.1B7.5B6.0B
Operating Income1.5B1.8B1.4B1.1B852.8M1.1B
Investments7M2.7M5.9M(354.9M)(375M)(356.3M)

ConAgra Foods ESG Sustainability

Some studies have found that companies with high sustainability scores are getting higher valuations than competitors with lower social-engagement activities. While most ESG disclosures are voluntary and do not directly affect the long term financial condition, ConAgra Foods' sustainability indicators can be used to identify proper investment strategies using environmental, social, and governance scores that are crucial to ConAgra Foods' managers, analysts, and investors.
Environmental
Governance
Social

About ConAgra Foods Fundamental Analysis

The Macroaxis Fundamental Analysis modules help investors analyze ConAgra Foods's financials across various querterly and yearly statements, indicators and fundamental ratios. We help investors to determine the real value of ConAgra Foods using virtually all public information available. We use both quantitative as well as qualitative analysis to arrive at the intrinsic value of ConAgra Foods based on its fundamental data. In general, a quantitative approach, as applied to this company, focuses on analyzing financial statements comparatively, whereas a qaualitative method uses data that is important to a company's growth but cannot be measured and presented in a numerical way.
Please read more on our fundamental analysis page.

Currently Active Assets on Macroaxis

When determining whether ConAgra Foods is a strong investment it is important to analyze ConAgra Foods' competitive position within its industry, examining market share, product or service uniqueness, and competitive advantages. Beyond financials and market position, potential investors should also consider broader economic conditions, industry trends, and any regulatory or geopolitical factors that may impact ConAgra Foods' future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding ConAgra Stock, refer to the following important reports:
Check out ConAgra Foods Piotroski F Score and ConAgra Foods Altman Z Score analysis.
For more detail on how to invest in ConAgra Stock please use our How to Invest in ConAgra Foods guide.
You can also try the Bond Analysis module to evaluate and analyze corporate bonds as a potential investment for your portfolios..
Is Packaged Foods & Meats space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of ConAgra Foods. If investors know ConAgra will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about ConAgra Foods listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
0.451
Dividend Share
1.4
Earnings Share
1.02
Revenue Per Share
24.944
Quarterly Revenue Growth
(0.04)
The market value of ConAgra Foods is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of ConAgra that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of ConAgra Foods' value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is ConAgra Foods' true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because ConAgra Foods' market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect ConAgra Foods' underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
Please note, there is a significant difference between ConAgra Foods' value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if ConAgra Foods is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, ConAgra Foods' price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.