Hormel Foods Corp vs Microchip Technology Inc. — how do they compare? Hormel Foods Corp trades at $24.26 (market cap $13.37B), while Microchip Technology Inc. trades at $80.51 (market cap $43.99B). The key difference: Microchip Technology Inc. is far larger — about 3.3× Hormel Foods Corp's market cap, and Hormel Foods Corp pays the higher dividend (4.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HRL | MCHP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.37B | $43.99B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $29.25 | $102.97 |
52-Week Low | $19.74 | $49.02 |
Enterprise Value | $15.37B | $49.12B |
Dividend Yield | 4.81% | 2.25% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at $24.705, down 1.26% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and neutral oscillators. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $0.40, beating expectations, but net income margin declined to 3.82% in 2025. Recent news includes the appointment of John Ghingo as CEO and the sale of its Brazilian CERATTI business, signaling strategic refocusing.
Outlook is mixed: strong dividend yield and consistent earnings beats support income investors, but margin pressures and bearish technicals pose near-term risks. Analyst consensus is 'Hold' with a $26.33 price target, suggesting limited upside. Macroeconomic headwinds in consumer staples may challenge growth.
Microchip Technology (MCHP) trades at $80.45, down 1.15% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. Recent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $0.57 versus $0.505 expected (Zacks Investment Research, 2026-08-07), highlight robust demand recovery and data center growth. The company maintains solid profitability with a 60.19% gross margin but faces high valuation multiples like a P/E of 119.15.
The outlook is positive driven by AI and data center expansion, with a consensus price target of $104.00 (MarketBeat, 2026-08-07). Risks include elevated debt levels and sensitivity to semiconductor cycles. Upside potential exists if execution continues to exceed expectations amid broadening demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Hormel Foods is a protein-focused branded food company. Its brands include its namesake Hormel, Spam, Jennie-O, Dinty Moore, Applegate, Wholly Guacamole, and Skippy. The vast majority of the company's revenue is U.S.-based: 64% U.S. retail, 28% U.S. food service, and 8% international. By product type, in fiscal 2021, 23% of revenue was shelf-stable foods, 18% was poultry (branded and commodity), 55% was other perishable food, and 3% was other, primarily nutritional products. The company holds the number-one market position in shelf-stable meat, shelf-stable ready meals, pepperoni, natural/organic deli meat, and guacamole and the number-two position in turkey, bacon, chilled ready meals, and peanut butter.
Read more on HRL →Microchip became an independent company in 1989 when it was spun off from General Instrument. More than half of revenue comes from MCUs, which are used in a wide array of electronic devices from remote controls to garage door openers to power windows in autos. The company's strength lies in lower-end 8-bit MCUs that are suitable for a wider range of less technologically advanced devices, but the firm has expanded its presence in higher-end MCUs and analog chips as well.
Read more on MCHP →