NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2025, 5:15 p.m. ET — Market closed
Kraft Heinz shares are heading into the final trading days of 2025 with investors still focused on one dominant catalyst: the packaged-food giant’s CEO transition and its planned breakup into two standalone public companies. U.S. stock markets are closed today for the weekend, so the most recent read on The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ: KHC) is Friday’s close—when KHC finished around $24.13, up about 0.46% on the session. [1]
That move came as Wall Street itself went into “catch your breath” mode in thin post-holiday trading. On Friday, the major U.S. indexes ended nearly flat to slightly lower, snapping a short winning streak but still posting gains on the week as investors navigated light year-end liquidity and the so-called “Santa Claus rally” window. [2]
With the market closed, here’s what’s new on Kraft Heinz over the last 24–48 hours, what the latest filings and forecasts suggest, and what investors may want to track before the next session.
Kraft Heinz stock price: where KHC stands heading into Monday
KHC ended Friday’s regular session at roughly $24.13, with intraday trading in the high-$23s to low-$24s and volume near 9.1 million shares, according to historical price/volume data for the session. [3]
Zooming out, Kraft Heinz has remained well below its 2025 highs. MarketWatch data earlier this week pegged KHC about 28% below a $33.35 52-week high reached in March 2025, underscoring that the stock’s biggest debate isn’t day-to-day volatility—it’s whether the restructuring roadmap can finally reset growth and valuation. [4]
What’s “new” in the last 24–48 hours
Even without a fresh corporate press release this weekend, a few timely items are shaping the near-term conversation around KHC:
1) The broader market backdrop remains a year-end, low-liquidity tape.
Reuters described Friday’s post-Christmas session as light-volume and catalyst-thin, with investors watching whether seasonal strength extends into early January. That matters for a slower-moving consumer staples name like Kraft Heinz, because price action can get noisier when liquidity is thin. [5]
2) Institutional/positioning headlines are still trickling in.
A MarketBeat filing recap published Friday highlighted Swedbank AB increasing its Kraft Heinz holdings during the third quarter (based on reported filings), a reminder that incremental institutional positioning updates can keep appearing even when company-specific news is quiet. [6]
3) The “restructuring + succession” narrative is still dominating near-term analysis.
A Simply Wall St write-up published within the past couple of days framed the investment case around the CEO succession and planned breakup, pointing investors to key “rewards” and “warning signs” tied to execution risk and fundamentals. [7]
The main driver: CEO transition + planned breakup into two companies
The core Kraft Heinz story into year-end is straightforward: a major leadership handoff is imminent, and the corporate structure is slated to change.
Kraft Heinz has named Steve Cahillane as Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2026, and said that after the planned separation he is expected to lead the sauces-and-spreads-focused business (referred to in company materials as Global Taste Elevation Co.). The company also stated that Carlos Abrams-Rivera will step down as CEO on Jan. 1 and serve as an advisor through March 6, 2026, and that John T. Cahill is set to become board chair as part of the transition. [8]
On the breakup itself, Kraft Heinz has communicated that it expects the separation to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary conditions and approvals. [9]
Reuters reporting has added an important market angle: some analysts have viewed the split as potentially setting the table for a future transaction involving the sauces/condiments unit, while also emphasizing that investor skepticism remains around strategic fit and execution. [10]
What real experts are saying
Because the breakup is complex—and because Kraft Heinz’s long-term underperformance has left investors sensitive to “story” changes—Wall Street commentary has focused on buyers, valuation, and execution credibility.
- Michael Ashley Schulman, chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors, told Reuters that the CEO choice signaled a desire to reduce execution risk and make the sauces unit look more “investor-ready.” [11]
- Jefferies analyst Scott Marks said in a note that the move “further” fueled speculation around the sauces unit as a potential deal target, according to Reuters. [12]
- Max Gumport, a senior analyst at BNP Paribas, wrote he struggled to see logical buyers for Kraft Heinz’s businesses after the split, Reuters reported—an example of why some investors view the separation as a necessary but not sufficient step for rerating. [13]
Cahillane himself told Reuters he endorsed the split and signaled openness to improving the plan after listening to feedback, while acknowledging the company’s lagging valuation versus peers. [14]
What SEC filings reveal about incentives and insider selling plans
For investors, the restructuring story isn’t just strategy—it’s also governance and incentives. Recent SEC documents lay out what the incoming CEO is being paid to accomplish.
Cahillane’s CEO offer terms (from the SEC exhibit):
Kraft Heinz’s filed employment offer letter shows a $1.4 million base salary, a 225% bonus target, and a long-term incentive target with $9 million notional annual value, plus a one-time equity award with a $11 million target value (subject to board approval and vesting/performance conditions described in the filing). [15]
Abrams-Rivera transition/severance arrangement:
A separate exhibit outlines the outgoing CEO’s transition period and severance-related provisions, including continued employment as a senior advisor through early March 2026 and other terms in the agreement. [16]
Form 144: proposed sale tied to a Patricio trust
A Form 144 filing dated Dec. 17, 2025, shows a notice of a proposed sale of 250,000 shares with an aggregate market value listed at $6.17 million, filed by the Miguel Nuno de Mata Patricio Revocable Trust. Form 144 filings are notices of intent/proposed sales under Rule 144—not confirmation that the sale has occurred. [17]
Dividend check: Kraft Heinz just hit a key income date
Kraft Heinz remains a high-yield name in consumer staples, and the dividend calendar matters—especially for investors comparing KHC to other defensive stocks.
The company announced its board declared a $0.40 per share quarterly dividend payable Dec. 26, 2025, to shareholders of record as of Nov. 28, 2025. [18]
Based on a $0.40 quarterly payout (or $1.60 annualized) and the stock’s recent ~$24 level, the forward yield screens in the mid-6% range on some dividend data services. [19]
Analyst forecasts: where Wall Street sees KHC over the next 12 months
Consensus expectations remain cautious, with many forecasts clustering around “hold” style positioning while awaiting proof that the split and operational improvements translate into durable growth.
MarketBeat’s compiled analyst targets show an average price target around $26.63, with a $24 low and $31 high—implying potential upside from current levels but not a unanimous “re-rating” call. [20]
Meanwhile, Reuters has pointed to valuation skepticism and peer comparisons: in its coverage of the CEO appointment, Reuters cited LSEG data showing Kraft Heinz’s forward P/E well below several large consumer peers—one reason bulls talk about “cheapness,” and bears talk about a “value trap” until organic growth improves. [21]
Earnings watch: next big catalyst window
The next major scheduled fundamental checkpoint is earnings. MarketBeat estimates Kraft Heinz’s next report as Feb. 11, 2026 (before market opens) based on historical reporting patterns, though companies can always confirm/update dates. [22]
From a fundamentals standpoint, investors are still working through the company’s most recent guidance reset. Reuters reported that Kraft Heinz lowered full-year targets in late October, including expectations for organic net sales decline and updated earnings-per-share guidance—context that continues to shape “base case” models heading into 2026. [23]
If you’re investing in KHC, what to know before the next session
Because the market is closed today, the practical setup for KHC is about Monday positioning—and what could change sentiment quickly in thin year-end trading.
1) Know the clock: next open and holiday schedule
U.S. stock markets run core hours 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET on regular trading days. [24]
For year-end planning, Nasdaq’s published calendar shows Christmas Day closed and Dec. 24 early close already in the rearview mirror, with the next major closure being New Year’s Day (Jan. 1, 2026). [25]
That means Cahillane’s official start date (Jan. 1) lands on a market holiday, and the first regular session of 2026 becomes the market’s first chance to “trade the new CEO era” in real time. [26]
2) Watch for restructuring updates that reduce uncertainty
Investors are still waiting for finer details on how brands, debt, and overhead will be allocated between the two planned companies, and what separation costs will look like. The more clarity Kraft Heinz provides, the easier it is for analysts to underwrite target multiples for each “new” business.
3) Keep an eye on filings and insider activity headlines
Form 144 notices, executive transition agreements, and future compensation disclosures can all feed short-term headlines—particularly in a stock where governance and strategic direction are central to the thesis. [27]
4) Expect headline-driven volatility in thin year-end trading
Reuters emphasized the low-catalyst, low-volume setup into year-end—and that can amplify moves on even modest company-specific headlines (or sector rotation) in the final sessions of the year. [28]
Kraft Heinz stock is ending 2025 with a familiar split-screen: a high dividend and low valuation metrics on one side, and an execution-heavy turnaround plus a complex separation on the other. Monday’s session may not bring new corporate announcements—but with year-end liquidity thin and the leadership transition days away, KHC remains a ticker where incremental headlines can matter more than usual. [29]
References
1. stockanalysis.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. stockanalysis.com, 4. www.marketwatch.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.marketbeat.com, 7. simplywall.st, 8. news.kraftheinzcompany.com, 9. www.sec.gov, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.sec.gov, 16. www.sec.gov, 17. www.sec.gov, 18. news.kraftheinzcompany.com, 19. www.dividend.com, 20. www.marketbeat.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.marketbeat.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.nyse.com, 25. www.nasdaq.com, 26. news.kraftheinzcompany.com, 27. www.sec.gov, 28. www.reuters.com, 29. www.reuters.com
