STKL
Consumer DefensiveSunOpta Inc. · Packaged Foods · $770M
What is SunOpta Inc.?
SunOpta Inc. is a small-cap consumer food company focused on plant-based and fruit-based products. Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, it serves retail, foodservice, and industrial customers across North America and internationally.
SunOpta operates two core segments. The Plant-Based Foods and Beverages segment produces beverages and ingredients using almond, oat, soy, coconut, hemp, and other bases, along with broths, teas, and nutritional drinks. The Fruit-Based Foods and Beverages segment offers individually quick frozen fruits for retail and foodservice, plus fruit snacks such as bars, twists, and bite-sized products. Revenue comes from branded food companies, food manufacturers, and foodservice distributors.
Originally founded in 1973 under the name Stake Technology Ltd., SunOpta adopted its current name in October 2003.
- Plant-based beverages using almond, oat, soy, and coconut bases
- Broths, teas, and nutritional beverages for retail and foodservice
- Individually quick frozen fruits including strawberries, blueberries, and mangos
- Fruit snacks: bars, twists, ropes, and bite-sized formats
- Sunflower seeds and kernels for food and feed applications
Is STKL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates STKL as Below Average overall.
Among the five pillars, Growth and Valuation both register as Neutral, suggesting the company's expansion trajectory and current pricing are neither a clear headwind nor a standout advantage relative to peers.
Quality, Moat, and Risk all score Weak — pointing to challenges around business durability, competitive differentiation, and financial resilience that investors should weigh carefully.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does STKL pay dividends?
No — SunOpta Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.
SunOpta does not currently pay a dividend. As a small-cap company operating in competitive food categories, management appears to prioritize reinvesting available capital into operations and growth initiatives rather than returning cash to shareholders through distributions. Income-focused investors should factor this into their assessment.
When does STKL report earnings?
SunOpta reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
The company's Neutral Growth pillar suggests revenue trends are neither accelerating sharply nor declining materially. Weak Quality and Risk scores, however, indicate that translating top-line activity into durable profitability remains a challenge.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit SunOpta's investor relations page directly.
STKL Price History
-48.2% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in SunOpta Inc.?
Based on SunOpta Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
STKL Long-term Outlook
SunOpta's Neutral Growth pillar reflects a business navigating a competitive plant-based and fruit-based food landscape without a clear acceleration catalyst in the near term. The Weak Risk pillar suggests the path forward carries meaningful execution and financial risk. Valuation is Neutral, meaning the stock is not obviously cheap enough to offset those concerns on its own. Investors considering a longer-term position should monitor whether operational improvements can lift the Quality and Moat scores over time.
Growth drivers
- Continued consumer demand for plant-based and clean-label food products
- Expansion of foodservice and private-label manufacturing relationships
- Potential operational efficiencies across the two business segments
Key risks
- Weak competitive moat in commoditized food and beverage categories
- Financial resilience concerns reflected in the Weak Risk pillar
- Margin pressure from input costs and competitive pricing dynamics
STKL vs Peers
SunOpta competes in the broader packaged food space alongside several other small-cap consumer staples companies.
Utz focuses on salty snack brands with a more established retail distribution network than SunOpta's plant-based and fruit-based model.
Sanfilippo specializes in nut-based snacks and ingredients, competing with SunOpta's sunflower and plant-based ingredient offerings.
Seneca is a large-scale canned and frozen vegetable processor, overlapping with SunOpta's frozen fruit segment in the retail and foodservice channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SunOpta do?
SunOpta manufactures plant-based beverages and ingredients — using bases like oat, almond, and soy — alongside individually quick frozen fruits and fruit snacks. It sells to retailers, foodservice distributors, branded food companies, and industrial food manufacturers worldwide.
Does STKL pay dividends?
No, SunOpta does not currently pay a dividend. The company reinvests available capital into its operations rather than distributing cash to shareholders. Investors seeking regular income should note this before considering the stock.
When does STKL report earnings?
SunOpta follows a standard quarterly earnings schedule. Specific dates are not covered by our data source, so check the company's investor relations page or a financial calendar for the most current schedule.
Is STKL a good stock to buy?
The UQS Score rates STKL as Below Average. Weak scores across Quality, Moat, and Risk pillars highlight real concerns about business durability and financial resilience. Growth and Valuation are Neutral, offering limited offset. The complete pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is STKL overvalued?
SunOpta's Valuation pillar is rated Neutral, suggesting the stock is neither obviously expensive nor a clear bargain relative to its fundamentals. Given the Weak Quality and Risk scores, a Neutral valuation does not necessarily represent a margin of safety.
How does STKL compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like Utz Brands, John B. Sanfilippo, and Seneca Foods, SunOpta occupies a narrower niche in plant-based and frozen fruit categories. Its Below Average UQS Score suggests it currently trails stronger-rated peers on quality and competitive durability metrics.
What is STKL's market cap bracket?
SunOpta is classified as a small-cap company. This means it carries higher volatility and liquidity risk than large- or mega-cap peers, and its financial resources for competing against larger food conglomerates are more limited.
Who founded SunOpta?
The company traces its roots to 1973 under the name Stake Technology Ltd. It rebranded as SunOpta Inc. in October 2003. Detailed founding history is publicly available through the company's corporate disclosures and investor relations materials.
Is STKL a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, STKL's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality, Moat, and Risk pillars — suggests the business has not yet demonstrated the durability and competitive strength typically associated with high-conviction long-term holdings. Monitoring pillar trends over time is advisable.
What is the main competitive advantage of SunOpta?
SunOpta's positioning in plant-based and clean-label food categories aligns with long-term consumer trends. However, its Weak Moat pillar indicates this positioning has not yet translated into a durable competitive advantage that clearly separates it from rivals in the sector.
What sector does STKL belong to?
SunOpta operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, which typically includes food, beverage, and household staples companies. While the sector is generally considered lower-risk, STKL's Weak Risk pillar shows that sector membership alone does not guarantee financial stability.
Is STKL a growth stock or value stock?
With a Neutral Growth pillar and a Neutral Valuation pillar, STKL does not fit cleanly into either category. It lacks the strong expansion trajectory of a growth stock and does not offer the clear discount typically associated with a value opportunity.
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Pro Analysis
STKL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2026 | 30.9 | 27.6 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.4 | 54.1 | -0.1 |
| May 8, 2026 | 31.0 | 5.9 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 38.3 | 60.3 | +0.1 |
| Apr 28, 2026 | 30.9 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 54.7 | -0.3 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 56.4 | 0.0 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 56.6 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 56.4 | +0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 31.1 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 56.3 | -0.1 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 56.9 | 0.0 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 57.0 | 0.0 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 31.2 | 27.3 | 15.0 | 55.1 | 7.3 | 56.9 | — |
STKL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 27.6/100 (25%)SunOpta Inc. currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 55.1/100 (20%)SunOpta Inc. demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 7.4/100 (15%)SunOpta Inc. presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 54.4/100 (15%)SunOpta Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 15/100 (25%)SunOpta Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for STKL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the STKL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for SunOpta Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses SunOpta Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether SunOpta Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.