ADM vs. GIS: Archer-Daniels-Midland vs. General Mills Stock Comparison
How do Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and General Mills (GIS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) and General Mills (GIS) both belong to the Food Products industry, though ADM is classified under Agricultural Products & Services while GIS falls under Packaged Foods & Meats.
| Profile Item | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | General Mills Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Food, Beverage & Tobacco | Food, Beverage & Tobacco |
| GICS Industry | Food Products | Food Products |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Agricultural Products & Services | Packaged Foods & Meats |
| Market Capitalization | 33.30 billion USD | 18.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.10% | -20.22% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 2.54% | -14.80% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 4.70% | -7.41% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
General Mills (GIS) reports a negative beta of -0.01, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) has a non-negative beta of 0.65.
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.72% | 30.85% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.65 | -0.01 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -54.14% | -59.63% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.44M | 9.41M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.82 | -0.79 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.25 | -1.14 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
General Mills (GIS) reports a negative ROE of -10.50%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) reports 10.64%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
10.64%
- Max
- 32.02%
- Q3
- 16.61%
- ADM
- 10.64%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.10%
- Min
- -10.50%
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
-10.50%
- Max
- 32.02%
- Q3
- 16.61%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.10%
- GIS
- -10.50%
- Min
- -10.50%
Net Margin (TTM)
General Mills (GIS) reports a negative net margin of -4.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) reports 2.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.95%
- Max
- 24.83%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- Median
- 5.94%
- ADM
- 2.95%
- Q1
- 2.05%
- Min
- -11.49%
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
-4.89%
- Max
- 24.83%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- Median
- 5.94%
- Q1
- 2.05%
- GIS
- -4.89%
- Min
- -11.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 4.21% and General Mills (GIS) at 15.24% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
4.21%
- Max
- 34.91%
- Q3
- 17.57%
- Median
- 11.06%
- ADM
- 4.21%
- Q1
- 4.15%
- Min
- -15.06%
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
15.24%
- Max
- 34.91%
- Q3
- 17.57%
- GIS
- 15.24%
- Median
- 11.06%
- Q1
- 4.15%
- Min
- -15.06%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.64% | -10.50% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.85% | 5.65% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 2.95% | -4.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 4.21% | 15.24% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 7.44% | 33.73% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at -6.15% and General Mills (GIS) at -5.45% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at -38.90% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while General Mills (GIS) at -103.90% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -6.15% | -5.45% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -7.54% | -2.85% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -38.90% | -103.90% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -33.87% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 1.45 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while General Mills (GIS) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GIS.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.45
- Max
- 4.01
- Q3
- 2.35
- Median
- 1.53
- ADM
- 1.45
- Q1
- 1.02
- Min
- 0.33
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
0.70
- Max
- 4.01
- Q3
- 2.35
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 1.02
- GIS
- 0.70
- Min
- 0.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 0.42 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while General Mills (GIS) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
0.42
- Max
- 2.19
- Q3
- 1.11
- Median
- 0.68
- ADM
- 0.42
- Q1
- 0.33
- Min
- 0.00
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.82
- Max
- 2.19
- GIS
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.11
- Median
- 0.68
- Q1
- 0.33
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.45 | 0.70 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.42 | 1.82 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.63 | 3.86 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
General Mills (GIS) at 6.69% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 2.94% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GIS the richer one.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.94%
- Max
- 9.38%
- Q3
- 3.77%
- ADM
- 2.94%
- Median
- 1.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
6.69%
- Max
- 9.38%
- GIS
- 6.69%
- Q3
- 3.77%
- Median
- 1.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 40.43% and General Mills (GIS) at 59.41% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
40.43%
- Max
- 199.19%
- Q3
- 81.03%
- Median
- 41.52%
- ADM
- 40.43%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
59.41%
- Max
- 199.19%
- Q3
- 81.03%
- GIS
- 59.41%
- Median
- 41.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.94% | 6.69% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 40.43% | 59.41% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) trades at 13.67 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while General Mills (GIS) has no P/E ratio this period.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
13.67
- Max
- 52.52
- Q3
- 30.78
- Median
- 18.76
- ADM
- 13.67
- Q1
- 12.77
- Min
- 4.72
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
--
- Max
- 52.52
- Q3
- 30.78
- Median
- 18.76
- Q1
- 12.77
- Min
- 4.72
- GIS
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 0.40 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while General Mills (GIS) at 1.04 prices around its industry’s middle — ADM costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
0.40
- Max
- 4.64
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 0.52
- ADM
- 0.40
- Min
- 0.00
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.04
- Max
- 4.64
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.17
- GIS
- 1.04
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) at 1.40 and General Mills (GIS) at 2.55 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
ADM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.40
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.07
- Median
- 1.58
- ADM
- 1.40
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.00
GIS
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.55
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.07
- GIS
- 2.55
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ADM | GIS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.67 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.40 | 1.04 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.40 | 2.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -3.39% | 6.86% |