Compare Hormel Foods Corp (HRL) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Hormel Foods Corp vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? Hormel Foods Corp trades at $24.24 (market cap $13.37B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $133.64 (market cap $321.77B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 24.1× 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 | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.37B | $321.77B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $29.25 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $19.74 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $15.37B | $368.53B |
Dividend Yield | 4.81% | 2.61% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
Merck & Co. (MRK) trades at $133.64, up 2.09% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong institutional buying interest. The company reported solid earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.27. Revenue for 2025 reached $65.01B, and net income was $18.25B, though the P/E ratio of 104.34 suggests high valuation expectations. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline.
Outlook: MRK's growth is supported by strategic acquisitions and a dominant oncology franchise, but risks include high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. The consensus price target of $140.36 implies modest upside, with 68% of analysts rating it a Buy. Investors should monitor execution on the Terns integration and Q3 earnings results for catalysts.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
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About Hormel Foods Corp
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 →About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →
