ADM vs TSN

For growth investors, Tyson Foods, Inc.

(TSN) is the stronger pick with 2. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 2% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM). Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) offers the better valuation at 35. 5x trailing P/E (19. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN) a "Buy" — based on 30 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the cheapest at 35.

5x versus Tyson Foods, Inc. at 50. 3x. On forward P/E, Tyson Foods, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) delivered a total return of +33.

3%, compared to +0. 3% for Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADM returned +149. 4% versus TSN's +27. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Tyson Foods, Inc. 's 0. 33β — meaning TSN is approximately 189% more volatile than ADM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 48% for Tyson Foods, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Tyson Foods, Inc.

(TSN) is pulling ahead at 2. 1% versus -6. 2% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company grew EPS -38. 9% year-over-year, compared to -39. 6% for Tyson Foods, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, TSN leads at 0. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the more profitable company, earning 1.

3% net margin versus 0. 9% for Tyson Foods, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TSN leads at 2. 6% versus 1. 8% for ADM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TSN leads at 6. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Tyson Foods, Inc.

(TSN) trades at 17. 6x forward P/E versus 19. 0x for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company — 1. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TSN: 2. 6% to $70. 25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (TSN) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 2. 6% for Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), 2. 6% yield, +149. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADM: +149. 4%, TSN: +27. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.