SENEA
Consumer DefensiveSeneca Foods Corporation · Packaged Foods · $960M
What is Seneca Foods Corporation?
Seneca Foods Corporation is one of the largest packaged fruit and vegetable producers in the United States, supplying grocery chains, food service operators, and export markets across roughly 90 countries. The company has operated under its current structure since being incorporated in 1949.
Seneca Foods manufactures and distributes canned, frozen, and bottled produce alongside snack chips and other food products. Revenue comes from selling under owned and licensed brands — including Seneca, Libby's, Aunt Nellie's, and Green Valley — as well as through private-label and contract-packing arrangements. Customers range from supermarkets and club stores to dollar stores, restaurant chains, and government feeding programs.
Seneca Foods is headquartered in Marion, New York.
- Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables
- Branded products including Seneca, Libby's, and Aunt Nellie's
- Private-label and contract packing services
- Snack chips and specialty food products
Is SENEA a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SENEA as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed picture across the five quality pillars.
The Risk pillar stands out as the clearest positive, suggesting the balance sheet and operational stability are relatively sound for a small-cap consumer staples company. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals — a meaningful consideration for value-oriented investors.
The Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited pricing power or durable competitive advantages, while Quality and Growth both land at Neutral — neither a clear strength nor a red flag.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. 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 SENEA pay dividends?
No — Seneca Foods Corporation does not currently pay a dividend.
Seneca Foods does not currently pay a dividend. For a capital-intensive food manufacturer operating on thin margins, retaining cash to fund operations, equipment, and working capital is a common strategic choice. Income-focused investors should factor this into their assessment of SENEA relative to dividend-paying peers in the Consumer Defensive sector.
When does SENEA report earnings?
Seneca Foods reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
As a seasonal packaged-food business, Seneca's quarterly results can vary meaningfully depending on harvest timing and input costs. Growth and Quality pillar ratings both sit at Neutral, reflecting a business that is stable but not rapidly expanding. For the most current results and guidance, check the company's investor relations page.
For the most recent quarter's results, see Seneca Foods' investor relations page at senecafoods.com.
SENEA Price History
+190.1% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Seneca Foods Corporation?
Based on Seneca 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.
SENEA Long-term Outlook
With Growth rated Neutral and Risk rated Good, Seneca Foods appears positioned for steady rather than accelerating performance. The Attractive Valuation label suggests the market is not pricing in significant upside, which may appeal to patient investors focused on capital preservation. The Weak Moat rating, however, signals that sustaining above-average returns over the long run could be challenging in a competitive private-label and branded food environment.
Growth drivers
- Expanding private-label and contract-packing relationships with large retailers
- Export growth across the roughly 90 countries Seneca already serves
- Stable demand for shelf-stable produce in value-oriented retail channels
Key risks
- Weak competitive moat leaves pricing power vulnerable to retailer and competitor pressure
- Input cost volatility — including agricultural commodities and packaging — can compress margins
- Limited brand differentiation in a category dominated by private-label competition
SENEA vs Peers
Seneca Foods competes in the packaged and specialty food space alongside several other small-cap players with distinct business models.
Focuses on nut and snack products rather than fruits and vegetables, giving it a different demand profile and retail positioning than Seneca.
Specializes in plant-based and organic food and beverage products, targeting a higher-growth consumer segment than Seneca's traditional canned produce business.
Operates in the nutritional snacking category with branded products, a narrower focus than Seneca's broad fruit and vegetable portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Seneca Foods do?
Seneca Foods manufactures and sells canned, frozen, and bottled fruits and vegetables, along with snack chips and other food products. It sells under its own brands — including Seneca, Libby's, and Aunt Nellie's — as well as through private-label and contract-packing agreements. Products reach supermarkets, club stores, dollar stores, food service operators, and government programs in the US and internationally.
Does SENEA pay dividends?
No, Seneca Foods does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains cash to support its capital-intensive manufacturing and seasonal working capital needs. Investors seeking regular income from the Consumer Defensive sector may want to compare SENEA against dividend-paying peers before investing.
When does SENEA report earnings?
Seneca Foods follows a standard quarterly reporting cadence for US-listed companies. Because the business is seasonal — tied to agricultural harvest cycles — results can vary quarter to quarter. For confirmed dates and the latest filings, visit Seneca Foods' investor relations page directly.
Is SENEA a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SENEA as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive and the Risk pillar is Good, which may appeal to value-focused investors. However, the Moat pillar is Weak and both Quality and Growth are Neutral, suggesting limited competitive advantages and modest growth prospects. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is SENEA overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, SENEA is rated Attractive — meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its underlying fundamentals. For a small-cap consumer staples company with a Weak Moat, an Attractive valuation can be meaningful, though it does not guarantee price appreciation. View the complete valuation metrics with a Pro account.
How does SENEA compare to its competitors?
Seneca Foods operates in traditional canned and frozen produce, a lower-growth category compared to peers like SunOpta, which targets organic and plant-based segments, or Simply Good Foods, which focuses on branded nutritional snacks. John B. Sanfilippo & Son competes in nuts and snacks. Each peer carries a different UQS profile — compare them side by side on UQS Score.
What is SENEA's market cap bracket?
Seneca Foods is classified as a small-cap company. Small-cap stocks can offer valuation opportunities but often carry higher liquidity risk and less analyst coverage than large- or mega-cap peers. The UQS Risk pillar, rated Good for SENEA, provides additional context on the company's financial stability within that size bracket.
Who founded Seneca Foods?
Seneca Foods was incorporated in 1949 and has grown over decades into one of the largest packaged produce companies in the United States. For detailed founding history and leadership information, the company's official website and SEC filings are the most reliable sources.
Is SENEA a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, UQS rates SENEA as Below Average. The Good Risk rating and Attractive Valuation are positives, but the Weak Moat suggests the business may struggle to generate durable above-average returns over time. Long-term investors focused on quality should weigh these factors carefully alongside the full UQS pillar analysis.
What is the main competitive advantage of Seneca Foods?
Seneca Foods' scale in contract packing and its portfolio of regional brands — including Libby's and Aunt Nellie's — provide some degree of customer stickiness. However, the UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating these advantages may not be durable enough to consistently fend off private-label competition or larger food conglomerates over the long run.
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Pro Analysis
SENEA — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2026 | 49.2 | 46.1 | 18.0 | 46.6 | 68.1 | 90.8 | +0.1 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 49.1 | 46.1 | 18.0 | 46.6 | 68.1 | 90.1 | -0.2 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 49.3 | 46.1 | 18.0 | 46.6 | 68.1 | 91.4 | — |
SENEA — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 46.1/100 (25%)Seneca Foods Corporation has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
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
— 46.6/100 (20%)Seneca Foods Corporation shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
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.
Risk
— 68.1/100 (15%)Seneca 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
— 96.4/100 (15%)Seneca 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.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 18/100 (25%)Seneca 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 SENEA.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the SENEA UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Seneca 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 Seneca 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 Seneca 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.