Hormel Foods Corp vs Valero Energy Corporation — how do they compare? Hormel Foods Corp trades at $25.24 (market cap $13.91B), while Valero Energy Corporation trades at $313.64 (market cap $93.03B). The key difference: Valero Energy Corporation is far larger — about 6.7× Hormel Foods Corp's market cap, and Hormel Foods Corp pays the higher dividend (4.63%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HRL | VLO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $13.91B | $93.03B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Energy |
52-Week High | $29.52 | $313.31 |
52-Week Low | $19.74 | $131.77 |
Enterprise Value | $15.91B | $98.79B |
Dividend Yield | 4.63% | 1.53% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at $25.115, down 1.1% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported revenue of $12.11B in 2025 with a net income margin of 3.82%, and has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights its status as a Dividend King with 60 consecutive years of dividend increases, and the sale of its Ceratti business in Brazil aims to streamline international operations.
Outlook remains cautious with modest growth projections; the stock offers a reliable dividend but faces margin pressures and competitive headwinds. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $26.33 price target, suggesting limited upside. Key risks include earnings volatility and macroeconomic impacts on consumer staples demand.
Valero Energy (VLO) trades at $314.80, up 1.66% today and near its 52-week high, with a bullish technical outlook supported by strong moving averages. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 expected at $10.13 EPS. Revenue declined to $122.69B in 2025, but net income margin improved to 3.37%, while valuation ratios like P/E of 22.89 and P/S of 0.77 reflect moderate pricing relative to peers. Recent news highlights robust refining margins and dividend declarations of $1.20 per share.
VLO's outlook is positive due to elevated crack spreads and strong fuel demand, though revenue declines pose a risk. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $285.38 price target, but high RSI levels suggest potential near-term pullbacks. Investment appeal lies in earnings momentum and shareholder returns, balanced against exposure to volatile energy markets and refining margins.
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 →Valero Energy is one of the largest independent refiners in the United States. It operates 14 refineries with a total throughput capacity of 3.2 million barrels a day in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Valero also owns 14 ethanol plants with capacity of 1.7 billion gallons of ethanol a year and holds a 50% stake in Diamond Green Diesel, which has capacity to produce 700 million gallons per year of renewable diesel.
Read more on VLO →