Hormel Foods Corp vs McCormick & Company, Incorporated — how do they compare? Hormel Foods Corp trades at $24.2 (market cap $13.59B), while McCormick & Company, Incorporated trades at $53.1 (market cap $14.27B). The key difference: Hormel Foods Corp and McCormick & Company, Incorporated are close in size by market cap, and Hormel Foods Corp pays the higher dividend (4.74%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HRL | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.59B | $14.27B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $29.25 | $72.26 |
52-Week Low | $19.74 | $45.60 |
Enterprise Value | $15.59B | $18.87B |
Dividend Yield | 4.74% | 3.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at $25.02, down 0.32% on the day, with a neutral technical signal and bearish moving averages. The company shows mixed fundamentals with a P/E of 29.44 and net income margin of 3.82%, though it has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent developments include the appointment of John Ghingo as CEO and the sale of its Brazilian CERATTI business, signaling strategic focus.
Outlook remains cautious with analyst consensus at Hold and a $26.33 price target. Key opportunities include defensive dividend income and operational improvements, while risks involve margin pressure and consumer spending challenges. The stock offers steady income but faces growth headwinds in the current environment.
MKC trades at $52.96, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $59.67 suggesting 13% upside. The company reported Q2 2026 results that beat expectations, driven by the McCormick de Mexico acquisition and margin expansion, with revenue growth of 16.7% year-over-year. The pending $65 billion merger with Unilever's food business represents a transformative opportunity, though integration risks remain.
The outlook is positive, supported by strong profitability metrics, including a 21.91% net income margin and 25.7% ROE, alongside a reasonable valuation with a P/E of 8.81. Key risks include execution of the Unilever deal, competitive pressures in the consumer segment, and potential macroeconomic headwinds affecting consumer spending.
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 →In its 130-year history, McCormick has grown to become the leading global manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of spices, herbs, extracts, seasonings, and other flavorings. Beyond end consumers, McCormick's customer base also includes top quick-service restaurants, retail grocery chains, and other packaged food and beverage manufacturers, with about 30% of sales generated beyond its home turf to include 150 other countries and territories. In addition to its namesake brand, the firm's portfolio includes Old Bay, Zatarain's, Thai Kitchen, Frank's RedHot, French's, and the recently acquired Cholula brand.
Read more on MKC →