Hormel Foods (HRL) stock
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods & Meats
Hormel Foods (HRL) is a Packaged Foods & Meats company in the Consumer Staples sector, headquartered in Austin, Minnesota. As of October 23, 2026, HRL closed at $21.06, a market capitalization of $11.59 billion, the 479th largest company in the S&P 500. Over the last twelve months it generated $12.15 billion in revenue (-2% year over year) and $780.87 million in free cash flow. The stock trades at 34.0x trailing earnings and 13.4x forward earnings.
- 1-year total return: -6.5% (dividends reinvested)
- 5-year return: -9.7% a year
- 52-week range: $18.96 – $26.60
- Gross margin 15.7%, operating margin 8.6%
- Dividend yield: 5.56%, 38 straight years of increases
- FI Handbook report card: C- across 10 metrics
- 33rd largest of 34 Consumer Staples stocks in the S&P 500
HRL price chart
1Y price change: -11.4% (price only; total returns below include dividends)
| Total return | 1M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | MAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRL | +7.4% | -6.2% | -6.5% | -8.1% | -9.7% | -3.0% | +11.9% |
Dividends reinvested. 3Y and longer are annualized; MAX is annualized since 1980.
HRL key statistics
- Market cap
- $11.6B
- #479 in S&P 500
- P/E (TTM)
- 34.0x
- Forward P/E
- 13.4x
- EPS (TTM)
- $0.62
- Revenue (TTM)
- $12.1B
- -2%
- Free cash flow
- $780.9M
- Gross margin
- 15.7%
- Operating margin
- 8.6%
- Return on equity
- 4.3%
- Dividend yield
- 5.56%
- 52-week range
- $18.96 – $26.60
- Beta
- 0.29
- Price / sales
- 1.0x
- EV / EBITDA
- 10.7x
- Debt / equity
- 0.36x
- Employees
- 20,000
HRL report card
C-Ten fundamentals graded A to F against fixed thresholds. Not a buy or sell rating.
- Revenue growth-2.4%F
- Gross margin15.7%D
- Operating margin8.6%D
- FCF margin6.4%D
- Return on equity4.3%F
- Net debt / EBITDA1.6xC
- Forward P/E13.4xA
- PEG ratio1.4xB
- Shareholder yield5.6%A
- Share count change / yr0.1%C
Hormel Foods financials
Revenue went from $9.5B in fiscal 2016 to $12.1B in fiscal 2025, growing 2.7% a year.
| Fiscal year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $9.5B | $9.2B | $9.5B | $9.5B | $9.6B | $11.4B | $12.5B | $12.1B | $11.9B | $12.1B |
| Gross profit | $2.2B | $2.0B | $2.0B | $1.9B | $1.8B | $1.9B | $2.2B | $2.0B | $2.0B | $1.9B |
| Operating income | $1.3B | $1.3B | $1.2B | $1.2B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $1.3B | $1.1B | $1.1B | $718.6M |
| Net income | $890.1M | $846.7M | $1.0B | $978.8M | $908.1M | $908.8M | $1.0B | $793.6M | $805.0M | $478.2M |
| EPS (diluted) | $1.64 | $1.57 | $1.86 | $1.80 | $1.66 | $1.66 | $1.82 | $1.45 | $1.47 | $0.87 |
| Free cash flow | $784.5M | $812.6M | $852.1M | $629.2M | $760.5M | $769.5M | $856.1M | $777.6M | $1.0B | $534.3M |
| Buybacks | $87.9M | $94.5M | $46.9M | $174.2M | $12.4M | $20.0M | $0 | $12.3M | $0 | $0 |
| Dividends paid | $296.5M | $346.0M | $388.1M | $437.1M | $487.4M | $523.1M | $557.8M | $592.9M | $615.0M | $633.2M |
| Diluted shares | 542.5M | 539.1M | 543.9M | 545.2M | 546.6M | 547.6M | 549.6M | 549.0M | 548.8M | 550.5M |
Source: SEC filings (10-K XBRL). EPS and share counts are split-adjusted.
What's priced into HRL?
A reverse DCF asks what growth the current price requires. With an enterprise value of $13.6B and $780.9M of trailing free cash flow, Hormel Foods needs to grow free cash flow about 7.1% a year for ten years (fading to 3.0% terminal growth) to earn a 10% annual return. For context, free cash flow grew -6.8% a year over the last five years.
P/E ratio history
Current 24.2x vs. median 22.8x (10th–90th percentile 16.8x–28.8x).
A model, not a forecast or advice. Small changes in assumptions move the answer a lot.
HRL dividend
- Dividend yield
- 5.56%
- Annual dividend
- $1.17
- Years of increases
- 38
- 5-yr dividend growth
- 4.5%
- per year
- Payout ratio
- 188%
- Payments per year
- 4
Regular dividends per share by calendar year; special dividends excluded. Current year omitted until complete.
HRL analyst price targets
8 analysts' average 12-month target is $25.31 (+20% vs. $21.06). Targets range from $23.00 to $29.00. 30% rate it a buy.
HRL earnings
Next report: December 3, 2026. Hormel Foods has beaten EPS estimates 4 quarters in a row. Last quarter's revenue was $3.0B (-2% year over year).
| Report date | EPS estimate | EPS actual | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2026 | $0.35 | $0.37 | +4.6% |
| May 28, 2026 | $0.35 | $0.40 | +12.9% |
| Feb 26, 2026 | $0.32 | $0.34 | +6.1% |
| Dec 4, 2025 | $0.30 | $0.32 | +6.0% |
| Aug 28, 2025 | $0.41 | $0.35 | -14.6% |
| May 29, 2025 | $0.34 | $0.35 | +3.3% |
| Feb 27, 2025 | $0.37 | $0.35 | -6.6% |
| Dec 4, 2024 | $0.42 | $0.42 | -1.2% |
Stocks like HRL
| Name | Today | 1Y | Mkt cap | P/E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 MDLZ Mondelez International | -2.13% | +8% | $81.4B | 23.5x | Compare |
 HSY Hershey | -3.42% | -4% | $34.1B | 23.2x | Compare |
 KHC Kraft Heinz | -1.16% | +4% | $29.4B | — | Compare |
 TSN Tyson Foods | -0.65% | +13% | $19.9B | 35.0x | Compare |
 GIS General Mills | -2.25% | -23% | $18.4B | — | Compare |
 SJM J.M. Smucker | -2.56% | +32% | $13.9B | 60.7x | Compare |
 MKC McCormick & Company, Incorporat | -1.21% | -26% | $12.9B | 8.7x | Compare |
 WMT Walmart | -1.02% | +13% | $954.1B | 43.4x | Compare |
HRL news
- Hormel (HRL) Stock Looks Reasonably Priced As Earnings Stay Steady · Oct 24, 2026
- Is Hormel Foods (HRL) Portion Pack Bacon A Meaningful Product Launch? · Oct 23, 2026
- Hormel Foods Names Joe O'Connor Group Vice President, Enterprise Performance · Oct 22, 2026
- 4 Top Dividend Stocks Yielding 4% or More to Buy Right Now for Passive Income · Oct 21, 2026
- Better Dividend Stock for Retirees: Kimberly-Clark vs. Hormel · Oct 19, 2026
HRL stock FAQ
What is HRL's market cap?
Hormel Foods's market capitalization is $11.59 billion as of October 23, 2026, ranking 479th in the S&P 500.
What is HRL's P/E ratio?
HRL trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 34.0x and a forward P/E of 13.4x. Its median P/E over the period we track is 22.8x.
Does HRL pay a dividend?
Yes. Hormel Foods pays $1.17 per share a year, a 5.56% yield. It has raised its dividend 38 years in a row. Dividends grew 4.5% a year over the last five years.
How much has HRL stock returned?
Including reinvested dividends, HRL returned -6.5% over one year, -9.7% a year over five years, -3.0% a year over ten years through October 23, 2026.
Is HRL stock overvalued?
At today's price, a reverse discounted cash flow model (10% discount rate, 3% terminal growth) implies Hormel Foods must grow free cash flow about 7% a year for the next decade. Its free cash flow fell 7% a year over the last five years. Whether that is achievable decides if the stock is cheap or expensive. This is a model, not advice.
What is the HRL price target?
8 analysts cover HRL with an average 12-month price target of $25.31, +20% from the current price. 30% of them rate it a buy.
When does HRL report earnings?
Hormel Foods is expected to report earnings on December 3, 2026. It has beaten EPS estimates 4 quarters in a row.
How many employees does Hormel Foods have?
Hormel Foods has about 20,000 full-time employees, or $607,346 of revenue per employee.
Sources: SEC EDGAR filings, Yahoo Finance market data (delayed), FI Handbook calculations. Last close October 23, 2026. Methodology