Lumen Technologies Inc vs McCormick & Company, Incorporated — how do they compare? Lumen Technologies Inc trades at $6.8 (market cap $6.47B), while McCormick & Company, Incorporated trades at $51.89 (market cap $14.04B). The key difference: McCormick & Company, Incorporated is far larger — about 2.2× Lumen Technologies Inc's market cap, and McCormick & Company, Incorporated pays a 3.68% dividend while Lumen Technologies Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| LUMN | MKC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $6.47B | $14.04B |
Sector | Media | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $11.83 | $72.81 |
52-Week Low | $3.70 | $45.60 |
Enterprise Value | $18.10B | $18.65B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
LUMN trades at $6.275, down 0.08% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but oversold RSI readings. The company reported a net loss of $1.74B in 2025 despite beating EPS estimates in two of the last three quarters. Recent news highlights strategic acquisitions like Alkira to bolster its AI networking capabilities, while the balance sheet shows high debt levels of $17.49B long-term.
The outlook remains challenging due to persistent losses and heavy debt, though cost-cutting initiatives and a $13B contract backlog offer potential upside. Analyst consensus is cautious with a $8.25 price target, but the stock's deep value (P/S 0.52) may attract contrarians if EBITDA improves. Key risks include execution on turnaround plans and interest expense pressure.
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
With 450,000 route miles of fiber, including over 35,000 route miles of subsea fiber connecting Europe, Asia, and Latin America, Lumen Technologies is one of the United States' largest telecommunications carriers serving global enterprises. Its merger with Level 3 further shifted the company's operations toward businesses (over 70% of revenue) and away from its legacy consumer business. Lumen offers businesses a full menu of communications services, providing colocation and data center services, data transportation, and end-user phone and internet service. On the consumer side, Lumen provides broadband and phone service across 37 states, where it has 4.5 million broadband customers.
Read more on LUMN →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 →