Hormel Foods (HRL) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Hormel Foods (HRL): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Hormel Foods (HRL)
Profile Item	HRL
Name	Hormel Foods Corporation
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Food, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS Industry	Food Products
GICS Sub-Industry	Packaged Foods & Meats
Market Capitalization	12.08 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HRL

GSPC

Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Hormel Foods (HRL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Hormel Foods (HRL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	6.06%	9.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-8.11%	2.06%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-9.33%	1.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HRL

GSPC

Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Hormel Foods (HRL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	29.42%	32.65%
Beta (5Y)	0.25	0.43
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-59.13%	-51.71%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. HRL is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.06	0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.09	0.20

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) posts ROE of 4.29%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

4.29%

Group distribution

Max: 32.02%
Q3: 16.61%
Median: 10.05%
HRL: 4.29%
Q1: 4.10%
Min: -10.50%

Largest peers

PEP: 52.19%
KO: 40.59%
BTI: 13.42%
HRL: 4.29%
PM: --
BUD: --
MO: --

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on ROE within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) keeps 2.82% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.82%

Group distribution

Max: 24.83%
Q3: 11.22%
Median: 5.94%
HRL: 2.82%
Q1: 2.05%
Min: -11.49%

Largest peers

MO: 39.33%
KO: 28.65%
BTI: 24.99%
PM: 24.83%
BUD: 15.42%
PEP: 11.09%
HRL: 2.82%

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on net margin within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) turns 8.62% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.62%

Group distribution

Max: 34.91%
Q3: 17.57%
Median: 11.06%
HRL: 8.62%
Q1: 4.15%
Min: -15.06%

Largest peers

MO: 61.48%
PM: 41.94%
BTI: 34.91%
KO: 33.36%
BUD: 27.48%
PEP: 16.88%
HRL: 8.62%

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on operating margin within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	4.29%	10.05%
ROA (TTM)	4.63%	5.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	2.82%	5.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)	8.62%	11.06%
Gross Margin (TTM)	15.74%	34.26%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Hormel Foods (HRL) grew revenue 1.56%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Hormel Foods (HRL): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Hormel Foods (HRL) grew earnings per share -40.82%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Hormel Foods (HRL): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	1.56%	2.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-0.95%	2.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-40.82%	-2.47%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-21.81%	4.29%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Hormel Foods (HRL) has current ratio of 1.88, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.88

Group distribution

Max: 4.01
Q3: 2.35
HRL: 1.88
Median: 1.53
Q1: 1.02
Min: 0.33

Largest peers

HRL: 1.88
KO: 1.38
PM: 1.02
PEP: 0.94
BTI: 0.84
MO: 0.58
BUD: --

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on current ratio within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Hormel Foods (HRL) has debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.36

Group distribution

Max: 2.19
Q3: 1.11
Median: 0.68
HRL: 0.36
Q1: 0.33
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

PEP: 2.31
KO: 1.07
BTI: 0.72
BUD: 0.72
HRL: 0.36
PM: --
MO: --

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.88	1.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.36	0.68
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.57	2.57

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) has dividend yield of 5.17%, in the upper peer-yield quartile while still inside the industry range. The dividend offers more cash income per dollar of share price than most peers, though payout coverage still matters.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

5.17%

Group distribution

Max: 9.38%
HRL: 5.17%
Q3: 3.77%
Median: 1.76%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

MO: 5.53%
HRL: 5.17%
PEP: 4.07%
BTI: 3.88%
PM: 2.98%
KO: 2.19%
BUD: 1.91%

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on dividend yield within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) has payout ratio of 188.31%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings. The gap would need to be covered by cash, retained earnings, financing, or other sources, so earnings alone do not support the payout.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

188.31%

Group distribution

Max: 199.19%
HRL: 188.31%
Q3: 81.03%
Median: 41.52%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

HRL: 188.31%
MO: 88.45%
PM: 87.74%
BTI: 83.97%
PEP: 73.02%
KO: 61.95%
BUD: 27.35%

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on payout ratio within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	5.17%	1.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	188.31%	41.52%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at P/E ratio of 35.40, in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for its industry. That premium needs support from growth, durable earnings, or stronger business quality.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

35.40

Group distribution

Max: 52.52
HRL: 35.40
Q3: 30.78
Median: 18.76
Q1: 12.77
Min: 4.72

Largest peers

HRL: 35.40
PM: 28.89
KO: 28.22
PEP: 17.78
BUD: 17.07
MO: 15.69
BTI: 15.61

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on P/E ratio within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at 0.99 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.99

Group distribution

Max: 4.64
Q3: 2.27
Median: 1.17
HRL: 0.99
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

KO: 8.06
PM: 7.15
MO: 6.14
BTI: 5.08
BUD: 2.58
PEP: 1.96
HRL: 0.99

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on P/S ratio within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Hormel Foods (HRL) trades at 1.54 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.54

Group distribution

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.07
Median: 1.58
HRL: 1.54
Q1: 0.82
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

KO: 11.01
BUD: 10.60
BTI: 10.59
PEP: 8.65
HRL: 1.54
PM: -38.86
MO: -56.93

Where Hormel Foods (HRL) stands on P/B ratio within its Food, Beverage & Tobacco peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) metric values compared with Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HRL	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	35.40	18.76
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.99	1.17
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.54	1.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	5.15%	4.66%