** Shares of packaged and food company Campbell's CPB.O down 1.2% at $28.39
** BofA downgrades stock to "marketweight" from "overweight," citing long period of earnings softness and puzzling new merger and acquisition activities
** Brokerage believes acquisition of 49% stake in La Regina will enhance margins and expand innovation, but the timing is "inopportune" given CPB's strained balance sheet
** Says snack category consumption remains pressured, and sees co leaning on promotions and innovation to stabilize the segment in second half of the year as tariff inflation eases
** 2 of 21 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 14 "hold", 5 brokerages rate the stock "sell" or higher; median PT is $30 - data compiled by LSEG
** As of last close, stock down 31% YTD
(Reporting by Koyena Das from Bengaluru)
((Koyena.das@thomsonreuters.com))
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