Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) vs Smithfield Foods, Inc. (SFD)
A side-by-side comparison of Hormel Foods Corporation and Smithfield Foods, Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of August 31, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
HRL
Hormel Foods Corporation
$21.57Consumer DefensiveAt close: Aug 28, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
SFD
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
$21.94Consumer DefensiveAt close: Aug 28, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
Total return — HRL vs SFD
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 2yHRL -23.8% (-12.7%/yr)SFD +16.2% (+7.8%/yr)SFD compounded faster over this window
HRL SFD
HRL vs SFD: by the numbers
- •HRL is the larger company ($11.86B vs $8.63B market cap).
- •SFD trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (8.19 vs 34.24 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •SFD converts more revenue to profit (6.85% vs 2.82% net margin).
- •SFD pays the higher dividend yield (5.41% vs 5.41%).
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | HRL | SFD |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 34.24 | 8.19 |
| Forward P/E | 14.50 | 8.84 |
| P/S ratio | 0.98 | 0.56 |
| P/B ratio | 1.10 | 1.24 |
| EV / EBITDA | 13.06 | 5.82 |
| FCF yield | 6.57% | 9.23% |
Profitability
| Metric | HRL | SFD |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 15.68% | 13.18% |
| Operating margin | 4.72% | 8.66% |
| Net margin | 2.82% | 6.85% |
| ROE | 3.18% | 15.11% |
| ROIC | 3.30% | 9.90% |
Dividends
| Metric | HRL | SFD |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 5.41% | 5.41% |
| Payout ratio | 134.20% | 47.31% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | HRL | SFD |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 3.25% | N/A |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | -12.47% | N/A |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | -6.83% | N/A |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | -10.65% | N/A |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, HRL or SFD?
- SFD has the lower trailing P/E: HRL trades at 34.24 and SFD at 8.19. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Does HRL or SFD pay a bigger dividend?
- HRL yields 5.41% and SFD yields 5.41% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is HRL or SFD more profitable?
- SFD runs the higher net margin — HRL at 2.82% versus SFD at 6.85%.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
Hormel Foods P/E ratioSmithfield Foods P/E ratioHormel Foods dividend yieldSmithfield Foods dividend yieldHormel Foods ROESmithfield Foods ROEHormel Foods operating marginSmithfield Foods operating marginHormel Foods revenue growthSmithfield Foods revenue growthHormel Foods free cash flowSmithfield Foods free cash flow
Hormel Foods & Smithfield Foods appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified August 31, 2026.