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HRL vs. MKC.V: Hormel Foods vs. McCormick Stock Comparison

How do Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V) 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

Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V) are both classified in the Packaged Foods & Meats sub-industry within the broader Food Products industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
Profile ItemHRLMKC.V
NameHormel Foods CorporationMcCormick & Company, Incorporated Voting Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryFood ProductsFood Products
GICS Sub-IndustryPackaged Foods & MeatsPackaged Foods & Meats
Market Capitalization12.08 billion USD13.12 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 7, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HRL
MKC.V
GSPC
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 McCormick (MKC.V). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
Total Return (1Y)6.06%-23.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-8.11%-6.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-9.33%-7.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HRL
MKC.V
GSPC
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 McCormick (MKC.V). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Hormel Foods (HRL) trades around 5.23M shares per day on average, while McCormick (MKC.V) sees only 10.12K — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

Risk profile metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.42%33.74%
Beta (5Y)0.250.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-59.13%-52.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.23M10.12K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HRL and MKC.V are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.06-0.82
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.09-1.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 22.62% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Hormel Foods (HRL) at 4.29% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for MKC.V.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

4.29%

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

22.62%

Max
32.02%
MKC.V
22.62%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 19.39% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Hormel Foods (HRL) at 2.82%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.82%

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

19.39%

Max
24.83%
MKC.V
19.39%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 17.76% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Hormel Foods (HRL) at 8.62%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.62%

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

17.76%

Max
34.91%
MKC.V
17.76%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
ROE (TTM)4.29%22.62%
ROA (TTM)4.63%5.25%
Net Margin (TTM)2.82%19.39%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.62%17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.74%38.91%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Hormel Foods (HRL) at 1.56% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.73% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Hormel Foods (HRL) at -40.82% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.34% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.56%1.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.95%2.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)-40.82%0.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-21.81%5.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Hormel Foods (HRL) at 1.88 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.66 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MKC.V.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.88

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.66

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
MKC.V
0.66
Min
0.33
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Hormel Foods (HRL) at 0.36 and McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.66 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.36

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.66

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
MKC.V
0.66
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.880.66
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.360.66
Net Debt / EBITDA1.573.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) at 5.17% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while McCormick (MKC.V) at 3.77% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, HRL the richer one.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

5.17%

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.77%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
MKC.V
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) reports payout ratio above 100% at 188.31%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile McCormick (MKC.V) reports 34.18%, ranking against industry peers normally.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

188.31%

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

34.18%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
MKC.V
34.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.17%3.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)188.31%34.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 8.82 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Hormel Foods (HRL) at 35.40 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

35.40

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.82

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
MKC.V
8.82
Min
4.72
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Hormel Foods (HRL) at 0.99 and McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.99

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.71

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
MKC.V
1.71
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Hormel Foods (HRL) at 1.54 and McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.87 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

HRL

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.54

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.87

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
MKC.V
1.87
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHRLMKC.V
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.408.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.991.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.541.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.15%5.65%