HRL
Consumer DefensiveHormel Foods Corporation · Packaged Foods · $12B
What is Hormel Foods Corporation?
Hormel Foods Corporation is a large-cap consumer staples company behind some of America's most recognized food brands, selling meat, nuts, and packaged foods across retail, foodservice, and international channels.
Hormel develops, processes, and distributes a wide range of branded food products — from refrigerated meats and deli items to shelf-stable pantry staples and nut butters. Revenue flows through four segments: Grocery Products, Refrigerated Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, and International & Other.
Founded in 1891, Hormel Foods is headquartered in Austin, Minnesota.
- Branded packaged meats (SPAM, Hormel, Black Label)
- Nut butters and snack nuts (SKIPPY, Planters, Justin's)
- Turkey products (Jennie-O)
- International and specialty foods (Herdez, Wholly, Café H)
Is HRL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates HRL as Below Average overall.
Hormel's strongest pillars are Risk and Valuation — the stock carries relatively manageable financial risk for a consumer staples name, and its current valuation is rated Good relative to peers.
Quality, Moat, and Growth are all rated Weak, reflecting competitive pressure and limited pricing power across its core categories.
See the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a Pro account at UQS Score. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does HRL pay dividends?
Yes — Hormel Foods Corporation pays a dividend.
Hormel pays a regular dividend, consistent with its long history as a consumer staples company. The company has maintained and grown its dividend over many decades, making it a reference point for income-oriented investors in the sector.
When does HRL report earnings?
Hormel Foods reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Growth has been subdued in recent periods, reflecting softer consumer demand and cost pressures across the food industry. The company's diversified brand portfolio provides some stability, though volume trends across key segments have faced headwinds.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Hormel Foods' investor relations page directly.
HRL Price History
-48.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Hormel Foods Corporation?
Based on Hormel Foods Corporation'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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hormel Foods do?
Hormel Foods develops, processes, and sells branded food products including packaged meats, nut butters, snack nuts, and shelf-stable meals. It operates across grocery, foodservice, deli, and international channels under brands like SPAM, SKIPPY, Jennie-O, and Planters.
Does HRL pay dividends?
Yes, Hormel pays a regular dividend. The company has a long track record of dividend payments and is often cited among consumer staples names with consistent income distributions. Check Hormel's investor relations page for current yield and payment details.
When does HRL report earnings?
Hormel reports on a quarterly basis. Our data source does not provide specific upcoming earnings dates — visit the company's investor relations page for the current reporting schedule.
Is HRL a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates HRL as Below Average. Risk and Valuation are the relative bright spots, but Quality, Moat, and Growth are all rated Weak. Investors should weigh the income appeal against limited growth prospects. The full analysis is available to Pro members.
Is HRL overvalued?
The UQS Valuation pillar for HRL is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not considered elevated relative to its fundamentals at current levels. The complete valuation metrics are available in the Pro breakdown.
What is HRL's market cap bracket?
Hormel Foods is classified as a large-cap stock, placing it among the larger publicly traded consumer staples companies in the US market.
Who founded Hormel Foods?
Hormel Foods was founded in 1891 by George A. Hormel in Austin, Minnesota, originally operating as Geo. A. Hormel & Company. The company adopted its current name in January 1995.
Is HRL a long-term quality stock?
As a long-term quality indicator, HRL's UQS Score of Below Average reflects meaningful weaknesses in Quality, Moat, and Growth. While its dividend history and risk profile offer some stability, the underlying business fundamentals warrant careful review before a long-term commitment.
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Pro Analysis
HRL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 2026 | 39.8 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 77.6 | +0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 39.7 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 76.6 | +0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 39.6 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 76.3 | -0.1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 39.7 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 76.8 | 0.0 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 39.7 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 76.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 39.7 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 76.8 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 39.7 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 76.9 | -0.2 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 39.9 | 29.9 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 78.0 | -1.0 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 40.9 | 30.2 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 84.2 | +0.1 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 40.8 | 30.0 | 24.0 | 26.0 | 63.6 | 83.5 | +0.4 |
HRL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 29.8/100 (25%)Hormel Foods Corporation 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
— 26.0/100 (20%)Hormel Foods Corporation 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
— 63.6/100 (15%)Hormel Foods Corporation maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
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
— 76.7/100 (15%)Hormel Foods Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 24/100 (25%)Hormel Foods Corporation 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 HRL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the HRL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Hormel Foods Corporation 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 Hormel Foods Corporation'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 Hormel Foods Corporation 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.