** Shares of Froot Loops maker WK Kellogg KLG.N down ~2%
at $15.73 premarket
** Brokerage BofA Global Research downgrades to
"underperform" from "neutral" citing weaker category and
industry trends
** Lowers price objective to $17 from $24, notes volume
trends in the packaged food industry "have yet to show any
meaningful improvement"
** Expects industry trends to remain sluggish for KLG over
the next 12 months "unless a more full-scale promotional/price
investment reset is contemplated"
** Lackluster volume recovery could lead KLG to have to
reinvest more heavily, which stunts margin expansion in the
short run to help stabilize volumes - Peter Galbo analyst with
BofA Global Research
** Six of nine brokerages rate the stock "hold" and three
"sell"; their median PT is $22.50 - LSEG
** Up to last close, stock rose nearly 23% YTD
(Reporting by Anuja Bharat Mistry in Bengaluru)
((AnujaBharat.Mistry@thomsonreuters.com;))