ConAgra Beats on Earnings but Analyst Still Concerned Longer-Term

Shares of ConAgra Foods are climbing in Thursday trading after the company reported higher-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings, but Barclays analyst Andrew Lazar says he remains concerned. ConAgra reported adjusted earnings of 39 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate of 35 cents, according to Thomson Reuters. Despite a start to fiscal 2015 that ConAgra CEO Gary Rodkin said demonstrates improving fundamentals and better execution, Lazar said in a note, 'We remain concerned about ConAgra's longer-term growth prospects given what we view as a disadvantaged brand portfolio and a low margin private label business.'