DOLE
Consumer DefensiveDole plc · Agricultural Farm Products · $1B
What is Dole plc?
Dole plc is a globally recognized fresh produce company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It sources, processes, and distributes fresh fruit and vegetables to retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice customers across multiple continents.
Dole operates across four business segments: Fresh Fruit, Fresh Vegetables, and two Diversified Fresh Produce divisions covering EMEA and the Americas. The company generates revenue by sourcing produce globally, processing and packaging it, then distributing to retail chains, wholesale distributors, and foodservice operators. Its product range spans everyday staples like bananas and lettuce to higher-margin categories such as organic produce, packaged salads, and meal kits.
Dole plc was established in its current public form in 2021 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
- Fresh bananas, pineapples, and tropical fruit
- Packaged salads, meal kits, and value-added vegetables
- Organic produce and health-focused consumer goods
- Fresh lettuces, celery, and leafy greens
- Avocados, berries, grapes, and deciduous fruit
Is DOLE a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates DOLE as Below Average overall.
Among the five pillars, Valuation stands out as the one area where DOLE earns an Attractive rating — suggesting the market may already be pricing in the company's fundamental challenges. For cost-conscious investors focused on price relative to fundamentals, this is the most notable positive signal in the current profile.
Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk all carry Weak ratings — reflecting thin competitive differentiation, limited pricing power, and a business model exposed to commodity and supply-chain pressures common in fresh produce.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does DOLE pay dividends?
Yes — Dole plc pays a dividend.
Dole plc pays a regular dividend, which may appeal to income-oriented investors in the consumer defensive sector. Given the company's commodity-driven business model and thin-margin environment, the dividend reflects a commitment to returning capital rather than aggressive reinvestment. Investors should weigh the sustainability of the payout against the Weak Risk and Quality pillar ratings before relying on it as a core income source.
When does DOLE report earnings?
Dole plc reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed equities.
Dole operates in a low-margin, volume-driven industry where quarterly results are heavily influenced by commodity prices, freight costs, and seasonal supply dynamics. Performance across segments can vary meaningfully depending on weather events and global logistics conditions.
For the most recent quarter's results and upcoming reporting dates, visit Dole plc's official investor relations page.
DOLE Price History
+15.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Dole plc?
Based on Dole plc's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
DOLE Long-term Outlook
With Weak ratings across Growth, Quality, and Risk, Dole's near-term fundamental outlook reflects the structural challenges of fresh produce distribution — narrow margins, commodity exposure, and limited ability to pass costs to customers. The Attractive Valuation rating suggests downside may be partially priced in, but a meaningful re-rating would likely require demonstrated improvement in operational efficiency or margin expansion. Investors should monitor segment-level performance, particularly in the higher-margin value-added categories.
Growth drivers
- Expansion of value-added salads and meal kit categories
- Growing consumer demand for organic and health-focused produce
- Geographic diversification across EMEA and Americas segments
Key risks
- Commodity price volatility in fruit and vegetable sourcing
- Freight and logistics cost pressures across global supply chains
- Weak moat leaves pricing power limited relative to large retail buyers
DOLE vs Peers
Dole competes in the global fresh produce and food distribution space alongside several other publicly traded companies.
Fresh Del Monte is a direct peer in tropical and fresh fruit distribution, with a similarly vertically integrated supply chain model.
Cal-Maine focuses on egg production and distribution, representing a different fresh food category but competing for the same retail shelf space and consumer defensive investor attention.
Canada Packers operates in the broader food processing and distribution space, offering a Canadian-market perspective on consumer defensive fundamentals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dole plc do?
Dole plc sources, processes, and distributes fresh fruit and vegetables worldwide. Its product range includes bananas, pineapples, berries, avocados, packaged salads, meal kits, and organic produce. The company serves retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice customers across multiple regions through four operating segments.
Does DOLE pay dividends?
Yes, Dole plc pays a regular dividend. This positions it as a potential option for income-focused investors in the consumer defensive sector. However, given the Weak Quality and Risk pillar ratings, investors should assess payout sustainability carefully. Check Dole's investor relations page for the current dividend schedule.
When does DOLE report earnings?
Dole plc reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. Specific upcoming earnings dates are not covered by our data source. For confirmed reporting dates, refer directly to Dole plc's investor relations page.
Is DOLE a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates DOLE as Below Average, with Weak ratings across Quality, Moat, Growth, and Risk. The one positive signal is an Attractive Valuation rating. Whether that alone justifies investment depends on an individual investor's risk tolerance and time horizon. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is DOLE overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, DOLE currently carries an Attractive rating — meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals. That said, low valuation alone does not offset the Weak ratings in Quality, Growth, and Moat. Attractive valuation in a structurally challenged business warrants careful consideration.
How does DOLE compare to its competitors?
Dole competes with companies like Fresh Del Monte Produce in the fresh fruit and vegetable distribution space. Compared to sector peers, Dole's broad geographic reach and brand recognition are notable, but its UQS pillar profile suggests it faces similar or greater structural headwinds than some competitors. See the competitor comparison section for more detail.
What is DOLE's market cap bracket?
Dole plc is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can offer valuation opportunities but also carries higher volatility and liquidity risk compared to large-cap or mega-cap peers in the consumer defensive sector.
Who founded Dole plc?
The Dole brand has a long history in the fresh produce industry, though Dole plc in its current publicly listed form was established in 2021. Founding context for the broader Dole business is widely available through public historical records and the company's own corporate history materials.
Is DOLE a long-term quality indicator?
As a long-term quality indicator, DOLE's UQS profile raises caution. Weak ratings across Quality, Moat, and Growth suggest the business lacks the durable competitive advantages typically associated with compounding long-term returns. The Attractive Valuation may limit near-term downside, but sustained improvement in fundamentals would be needed to support a long-term quality case.
What is the main competitive advantage of Dole plc?
Dole's primary advantages are its global brand recognition and established distribution network across retail, wholesale, and foodservice channels. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates these advantages as Weak, reflecting the commodity nature of fresh produce and the limited pricing power that comes with it.
What sector does DOLE belong to?
Dole plc operates in the Consumer Defensive sector. Companies in this sector tend to provide essential goods that maintain demand regardless of economic cycles. While this provides some revenue stability, it also means growth opportunities are typically limited and margins are structurally thin.
Is DOLE a growth stock or value stock?
Based on the UQS pillar profile, DOLE leans toward value territory — the Growth pillar is rated Weak while the Valuation pillar is rated Attractive. This combination suggests the market has priced the stock modestly, but investors should not expect rapid earnings or revenue expansion based on current fundamentals.
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Pro Analysis
DOLE — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 37.1 | 26.1 | 23.0 | 33.0 | 23.8 | 97.7 | -0.9 |
| May 17, 2026 | 38.0 | 29.6 | 23.0 | 33.0 | 23.8 | 97.9 | -0.1 |
| May 15, 2026 | 38.1 | 30.0 | 23.0 | 33.0 | 24.5 | 97.2 | 0.0 |
| May 14, 2026 | 38.1 | 29.8 | 23.0 | 33.0 | 24.5 | 97.2 | -7.0 |
| May 12, 2026 | 45.1 | 29.0 | 23.0 | 31.6 | 72.1 | 99.6 | +11.9 |
| May 10, 2026 | 33.2 | 8.7 | 23.0 | 31.6 | 27.1 | 99.4 | -0.6 |
| May 8, 2026 | 33.8 | 2.7 | 23.0 | 31.6 | 40.7 | 100.0 | -0.5 |
| May 7, 2026 | 34.3 | 13.5 | 23.0 | 31.6 | 27.1 | 98.8 | -0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 34.4 | 13.5 | 23.0 | 31.6 | 27.1 | 99.4 | 0.0 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 34.4 | 13.5 | 23.0 | 31.6 | 27.1 | 99.3 | 0.0 |
DOLE — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 26.2/100 (25%)Dole plc currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 34.4/100 (20%)Dole plc faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 23.8/100 (15%)Dole plc presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 97.9/100 (15%)Dole plc appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 23/100 (25%)Dole plc operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for DOLE.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the DOLE UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Dole plc is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Dole plc's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Dole plc is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.