Hormel Foods Corp vs Packaging Corporation of America — how do they compare? Hormel Foods Corp trades at $24.32 (market cap $13.59B), while Packaging Corporation of America trades at $257.2 (market cap $22.70B). The key difference: Packaging Corporation of America is the larger of the two by market cap, and Hormel Foods Corp pays the higher dividend (4.74%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HRL | PKG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.59B | $22.70B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $29.25 | $256.04 |
52-Week Low | $19.74 | $191.68 |
Enterprise Value | $15.59B | $26.51B |
Dividend Yield | 4.74% | 2.36% |
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.
Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) trades at $256.04, up 1.3% on the day, with a bullish technical trend supported by moving averages and strong support at $252. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.35, beating estimates, driven by record corrugated shipments and contributions from the Greif acquisition, though net income margins face pressure from rising costs. A $1.50 dividend for H1-2026 reflects management's confidence, with a consensus price target of $269.33 suggesting modest upside.
Outlook: PKG benefits from robust demand and strategic acquisitions, but cost headwinds and a high P/E of 33.08 pose valuation risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 34.6% buy ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid margin compression and economic uncertainties. Key risks include freight and input cost inflation, competitive pricing pressure, and execution of integration synergies.
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 →Packaging Corporation of America is a leading producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in North America. The company also produces white papers, which include printing and writing papers. PKG operates as an integrated manufacturer, with a strong focus on high-quality and sustainable packaging solutions for e-commerce, food and beverage, and other industrial and consumer markets.
Read more on PKG →