Hormel Foods Corp vs McCormick & Company, Incorporated — how do they compare? Hormel Foods Corp trades at $25.26 (market cap $13.91B), while McCormick & Company, Incorporated trades at $52 (market cap $14.04B). 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 (4.63%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HRL | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.91B | $14.04B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $29.52 | $72.81 |
52-Week Low | $19.74 | $45.60 |
Enterprise Value | $15.91B | $18.65B |
Dividend Yield | 4.63% | 3.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at $25.31, down 0.33% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook and consistent earnings beats. The stock shows a P/E of 29.87 and net income margin of 3.82%, supported by a recent dividend of $0.29. Revenue for 2025 was $12.11B, though net income declined to $478.20M. Analysts maintain a mixed consensus with a $26.33 price target, while the company focuses on portfolio streamlining, such as the sale of its Ceratti business in Brazil (PRNewsWire, 2026-06-29).
HRL offers a stable dividend yield and is near multi-year lows, presenting a value opportunity amid sector weakness. Risks include margin pressure from input costs and competitive threats in the consumer staples space. Institutional sentiment is cautious with 57% hold ratings, but technical indicators suggest potential upside if earnings momentum continues.
MKC trades at $52.26, up 1.08% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The stock shows strong profitability with a 21.91% net income margin and a low P/E of 8.6, suggesting potential undervaluation. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations, and the pending Unilever Foods deal is a key strategic focus. Cash flow from operations remains robust at $962.2 million for 2025, though net cash flow was negative $90.2 million due to financing activities.
The outlook is mixed; analyst consensus is a buy with a $59.67 price target, implying 14% upside, but technicals and modest organic growth pose risks. The transformative Unilever deal offers growth potential, yet execution risks and competitive pressures in consumer segments warrant caution. Debt reduction trends are positive, with debt-to-asset ratio improving to 30.34% in 2025.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →