15 Best Dividend Leaders to Buy Right Now

7. The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45

On March 11, Bernstein upgraded The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) to Outperform from Market Perform. It also raised its price target on the stock to $145 from $121. The firm pointed to continued deflation in green coffee costs and the arrival of activist Elliott Management as reasons for the upgrade. The analyst said Elliott could push for portfolio changes and productivity improvements at Smucker. Bernstein also noted that green coffee prices have dropped sharply, falling from record levels above $4 per pound in 2025 to below $3.

During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Mark Smucker said the company had recently begun engaging with Elliott Investment Management and described the discussions as constructive. He said the two sides had already held several meetings and suggested that Elliott appeared to recognize what many investors already see in The J.M. Smucker Company, a business built on strong brands and solid fundamentals.

Smucker said the conversations reflected alignment on several priorities. These include improving operations, restoring profitability, driving organic growth, maintaining disciplined capital allocation, and continuing to evolve the board. He pointed to the recent appointments of Bruce Chung and David Singer as examples of that board refreshment.

The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE:SJM) manufactures and markets branded food and beverage products worldwide. Its portfolio includes a range of brands that are sold primarily through retail outlets across North America.