{"id":58641,"date":"2026-02-17T08:08:30","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T08:08:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:08:30","slug":"general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/","title":{"rendered":"General Mills Slashes 2026 Outlook as Investors Eye $6,200 Gold; Stellantis Faces $17B Reliability Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/#General_Mills_Issues_Earnings_Warning_for_2026\" >General Mills Issues Earnings Warning for 2026<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/#Investors_Bet_on_%22Eye-Popping%22_Gold_Targets\" >Investors Bet on &quot;Eye-Popping&quot; Gold Targets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/#Stellantis_and_the_17_Billion_Reliability_Burden\" >Stellantis and the $17 Billion Reliability Burden<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/#Pfizer_and_Qualcomm_Secure_Key_Victories\" >Pfizer and Qualcomm Secure Key Victories<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/general-mills-slashes-2026-outlook-as-investors-eye-6200-gold-stellantis-faces-17b-reliability-crisis\/58641\/#Geopolitical_Flashpoints_Russia_and_Iran\" >Geopolitical Flashpoints: Russia and Iran<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>General Mills (<a href=\"\/stock\/GIS\">GIS<\/a>) significantly lowered its fiscal 2026 guidance<\/strong>, now projecting organic net sales to decline <strong>1.5% to 2%<\/strong> amid a &quot;volatile operating environment.&quot;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bank of America\u2019s February fund manager survey<\/strong> reveals that investors expect <a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/metal\/gold\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"gold price today\">gold prices<\/a> to peak at a weighted average of <strong>$6,200 per ounce<\/strong>, with nearly one in five seeing prices topping <strong>$7,000<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stellantis (<a href=\"\/stock\/STLA\">STLA<\/a>) is grappling with a $17 billion reliability crisis<\/strong> affecting its Jeep brand, according to a Bloomberg report detailing mounting costs and consumer dissatisfaction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pfizer (<a href=\"\/stock\/PFE\">PFE<\/a>) reported successful Phase 3 trial results<\/strong> for its Braftovi regimen, showing significant improvement in progression-free survival for patients with a specific form of metastatic colorectal cancer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Geopolitical tensions escalated<\/strong> as Ukrainian drones struck a strategic Russian oil terminal in Krasnodar, while nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran continued in Geneva.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"General_Mills_Issues_Earnings_Warning_for_2026\"><\/span>General Mills Issues Earnings Warning for 2026<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>General Mills (<a href=\"\/stock\/GIS\">GIS<\/a>) surprised markets on Tuesday by slashing its financial outlook for fiscal 2026, citing a <strong>challenging consumer environment<\/strong> and weak volume recovery. The company now expects <strong>organic net sales to fall between 1.5% and 2%<\/strong>, a sharp reversal from its previous forecast of -1% to +1% growth.<\/p>\n<p>The downward revision extended to profitability, with <strong>adjusted diluted EPS now expected to drop 16% to 20%<\/strong> in constant currency, compared to the prior estimate of a 10% to 15% decline. Despite the gloomier forecast, CEO Jeff Harmening noted that the company expects a <strong>25% increase in net sales from new products<\/strong> as it pivots toward &quot;bold flavors&quot; and &quot;better-for-you&quot; innovations to recapture market share.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Investors_Bet_on_%22Eye-Popping%22_Gold_Targets\"><\/span>Investors Bet on &quot;Eye-Popping&quot; Gold Targets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sentiment in the precious metals market has reached a fever pitch, according to the latest <strong>Bank of America Global Fund Manager Survey<\/strong>. Investors now see gold peaking at <strong>$6,200 per ounce<\/strong> on a weighted-average basis, reflecting deep-seated concerns over currency risks and geopolitical instability.<\/p>\n<p>While <strong>20% of surveyed managers<\/strong> believe gold has already reached its zenith, a more bullish <strong>19% of respondents<\/strong> anticipate prices climbing above the <strong>$7,000 mark<\/strong>. This optimism is supported by <em>aggressive central bank purchasing<\/em> and a tightening balance of global supply, which have kept the metal near record highs throughout early 2026.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stellantis_and_the_17_Billion_Reliability_Burden\"><\/span>Stellantis and the $17 Billion Reliability Burden<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Stellantis (<a href=\"\/stock\/STLA\">STLA<\/a>), the parent company of Jeep, is facing a massive <strong>$17 billion reliability problem<\/strong>, according to a Bloomberg analysis. The figure highlights the staggering financial and brand-equity costs associated with quality issues that have plagued the automaker&#39;s North American lineup.<\/p>\n<p>The report suggests that these reliability woes are a primary driver of the company&#39;s recent <em>market share erosion<\/em> and high inventory levels. This crisis adds further pressure to the &quot;troubled giant&quot; as it seeks a new permanent CEO following the high-profile resignation of Carlos Tavares late last year.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pfizer_and_Qualcomm_Secure_Key_Victories\"><\/span>Pfizer and Qualcomm Secure Key Victories<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the healthcare sector, Pfizer (<a href=\"\/stock\/PFE\">PFE<\/a>) announced that its <strong>Braftovi (encorafenib) regimen<\/strong> achieved a statistically significant improvement in <strong>progression-free survival (PFS)<\/strong> during the BREAKWATER trial. The treatment targets patients with <strong>BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer<\/strong>, a population that historically faces a poor prognosis.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, Qualcomm (<a href=\"\/stock\/QCOM\">QCOM<\/a>) saw a major legal cloud lift as a <strong>UK lawsuit alleging inflated chip royalties<\/strong> was withdrawn. The case, which was brought on behalf of <strong>29 million smartphone owners<\/strong>, had claimed that Qualcomm&#39;s licensing practices caused consumers to overpay for Apple and Samsung devices.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Geopolitical_Flashpoints_Russia_and_Iran\"><\/span>Geopolitical Flashpoints: Russia and Iran<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Energy markets are monitoring the aftermath of a <strong>Ukrainian drone strike on the Ilsky oil terminal<\/strong> in Russia\u2019s Krasnodar region. The facility, which processes over <strong>6 million tons of oil annually<\/strong>, is a critical logistical hub for Russian military operations in the Black Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, in Geneva, <strong>Iranian and U.S. officials<\/strong> are engaged in a second round of serious negotiations regarding the nuclear file and the lifting of economic sanctions. While Iranian officials stated that &quot;economic and legal experts&quot; have joined the talks, the <strong>Trump administration<\/strong> continues to apply military pressure, leaving the final outcome of the diplomacy uncertain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways General Mills (GIS) significantly lowered its fiscal 2026 guidance, now projecting organic net sales to decline 1.5% to 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