HRL

We rate HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/ (HRL) as a Hold with a composite score of 61.3/100 at a current price of $25.80. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (90th percentile) and value (87th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in momentum (37th percentile) and investment (40th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (55/100), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/ holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 61.3/100 places it at rank #569 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $13.1B market capitalization, HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/ operates at meaningful scale within the Manufacturing sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

Revenue is growing at 5%, though momentum at the 37th percentile suggests the market has not yet fully recognized this trajectory. This potential disconnect between fundamental improvement and market recognition could represent an opportunity for patient investors if the growth trend persists.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 16% (-26.1pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 8% (+6.8pp vs sector) and net margins of 6.0%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 37%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $25.80, HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/ appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 87/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 19.3x (roughly in line with the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 14.4x (at a premium), P/B of 1.7x, P/S of 1.2x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.08, and a stability factor in the 90th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: low beta of 0.08 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 90th percentile and quality factor at the 75th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (90th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 4.87% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/'s capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 9.0%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 69%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/ falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 4.87% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/ receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 61.3/100 (rank #569 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (55/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 66/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.