Procter & Gamble’s latest results have put fresh attention on how higher costs and softer volumes can affect even the largest consumer goods companies. Revenue came in at $21.2b, slightly below expectations, and management flagged a $1b after tax cost headwind and an estimated 8% drag on 2027 earnings guidance. For you as an investor, that kind of update can shift attention toward businesses that focus on private label and value products. This article looks at three stocks that appear exposed to the same forces behind the P&G news and explains why that might matter to your portfolio.

McBride (LSE:MCB)

Overview: McBride is a UK based manufacturer of private label and value household and personal care products, supplying major retailers and brand owners in the UK, Europe and Asia Pacific with laundry detergents, dishwashing products, surface cleaners, insecticides and hygiene products under both retailer labels and its own brands such as Surcare and Oven Pride.

Operations: McBride generates most of its revenue from Liquids at £529.7m, Unit Dosing at £226.5m, Powders at £86.4m, Aerosols at £64.1m and £23.6m from Asia Pacific.

Market Cap: £277.2m

McBride sits at the heart of the shift toward value and store brands that retailers are leaning into as consumers react to price increases from large branded groups like P&G. The stock combines exposure to this trend in private label volumes with double digit earnings growth forecasts and a P/E that is below both peers and the wider household products sector. That opportunity comes with real trade offs, including high debt, thinner margins and recent earnings volatility as input costs move around. For investors prepared to do the extra homework, the mix of potential upside, operational improvement efforts and clear risk flags means McBride may merit closer examination as part of this screener.

McBride’s mix of value focused products, earnings growth forecasts and a lower P/E hints at a story the market may not be fully pricing in yet. Before you decide how it fits into your portfolio, review the 4 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Utz Brands (UTZ)

Overview: Utz Brands is a US snack food company that manufactures and markets a wide range of salty snacks, including potato and tortilla chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, party mixes, pork skins and popcorn. These are sold under brands such as Utz, On The Border, Zapp’s and Boulder Canyon through retail, foodservice, distributors and direct to consumer channels.

Operations: Utz Brands generates about US$1.4b in revenue from manufacturing, distributing, marketing and selling snack food products in the United States.

Market Cap: US$2.0b

Utz Brands sits at an intersection of value snacking and branded indulgence, which may appeal to consumers trading down from premium household staples after P&G’s cautious outlook on costs and volumes. The stock has an agreed all cash take private deal at US$14.25 per share that has already lifted the price. However, the underlying business still raises questions around funding risk, its current loss making status and the pace of margin improvement from productivity projects. At the same time, forecasts for a switch to profitability and earnings growth, together with Utz’s exposure to private label and better for you snacks, provide an alternative way to think about how value focused food companies might fit into a portfolio without relying solely on mega cap staples.

Utz Brands’ take private deal price is set. However, the real story may lie in how profitability, funding needs and margin recovery fit together. Get the full picture in the analysis report for Utz Brands

United Natural Foods (UNFI)

Overview: United Natural Foods is a major distributor of natural, organic, specialty and conventional groceries across the US and Canada, supplying retailers with everything from fresh produce and frozen foods to wellness, personal care and private label brands.

Operations: United Natural Foods generates most of its revenue from the Natural segment at US$16.9b, followed by Conventional at US$13.3b, Retail at US$2.2b and intersegment eliminations of US$1.1b.

Market Cap: US$3.1b

United Natural Foods gives investors exposure to two forces at once: retailers are leaning harder into private label and value offerings as branded giants like Procter & Gamble report higher costs and softer volumes, and shoppers continue to seek organic and specialty products. UNFI sits in the middle of that shift, with a large distribution footprint, its own portfolio of store brands and ongoing work to improve margins through supply chain and technology upgrades. The stock screens as relatively inexpensive on sales and cash flow, yet carries meaningful risks related to high funding needs, a history of losses and rising IT and cybersecurity spending. The interaction of these factors is what makes UNFI a notable candidate in this screener rather than a straightforward case in either direction.

United Natural Foods sits at a crossroads where private label growth and funding pressure meet, which many investors may be underestimating. See how the moving pieces fit together in the analysis report for United Natural Foods

The three stocks in this article are just a starting point, and the full screener has identified 8 more companies in the Private Label and Value Consumer Goods Stocks screener that share similarly compelling private label and value oriented stories. Use Simply Wall St to analyze and filter for the specific catalysts, funding profiles and business narratives discussed here so you can identify the highest conviction ideas for your watchlist.

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If Utz Brands or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.