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HRL vs. MO: Hormel Foods vs. Altria Stock Comparison

How do Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO) 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 Altria (MO) both fall under the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group, but HRL is classified in Food Products while MO is classified in Tobacco.

Company profile comparison for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
Profile ItemHRLMO
NameHormel Foods CorporationAltria Group, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryFood ProductsTobacco
GICS Sub-IndustryPackaged Foods & MeatsTobacco
Market Capitalization12.08 billion USD126.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HRL
MO
GSPC
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO), 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 Altria (MO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
Total Return (1Y)6.06%38.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-8.11%32.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-9.33%19.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HRL
MO
GSPC
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO), 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 Altria (MO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.42%25.52%
Beta (5Y)0.250.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-59.13%-25.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.23M8.44M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HRL and MO 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 Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.061.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.091.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Hormel Foods (HRL) earns 4.29% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Altria (MO) has no ROE this period.

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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

--

Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
MO
--
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): MO does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; HRL is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 39.33% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Hormel Foods (HRL) at 2.82% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

39.33%

MO
39.33%
Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 61.48% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Hormel Foods (HRL) at 8.62% operates 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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

61.48%

MO
61.48%
Max
34.91%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
ROE (TTM)4.29%--
ROA (TTM)4.63%22.73%
Net Margin (TTM)2.82%39.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.62%61.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)15.74%72.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Hormel Foods (HRL) at 1.56% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Altria (MO) at -1.49% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Hormel Foods (HRL) at -40.82% and Altria (MO) at -37.00% 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. Altria (MO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
Revenue Growth (YoY)1.56%-1.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.95%-0.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)-40.82%-37.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-21.81%8.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Hormel Foods (HRL) at 1.88 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Altria (MO) at 0.58 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MO.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.58

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
MO
0.58
Min
0.33
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Hormel Foods (HRL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36 against its industry range, while Altria (MO) reports no figure this period.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

--

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
MO
--
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): MO does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; HRL is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.880.58
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.36--
Net Debt / EBITDA1.571.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Hormel Foods (HRL) at 5.17% and Altria (MO) at 5.53% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

5.53%

Max
9.38%
MO
5.53%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): 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 Altria (MO) reports 88.45%, 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%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

88.45%

Max
199.19%
MO
88.45%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
Dividend Yield (TTM)5.17%5.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)188.31%88.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 15.69 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Hormel Foods (HRL) at 35.40 sits in the richer quartile — HRL needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

15.69

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
MO
15.69
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Hormel Foods (HRL) at 0.99 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Altria (MO) at 6.14 clears its benchmark range — MO looks notably rich on sales.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

6.14

MO
6.14
Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Altria (MO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -56.93, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Hormel Foods (HRL) reports 1.54, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-56.93

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
MO
-56.93
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Hormel Foods (HRL) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Hormel Foods (HRL) and Altria (MO)
MetricHRLMO
P/E Ratio (TTM)35.4015.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.996.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.54-56.93
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)5.15%5.57%