FF vs ADM

For growth investors, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is the stronger pick with -6.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -60. 7% for FutureFuel Corp. (FF). Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) offers the better valuation at 35. 0x trailing P/E (18. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FutureFuel Corp. (FF) a "Buy" — based on 4 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.

Over the past 5 years, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) delivered a total return of +30.

6%, compared to -17. 4% for FutureFuel Corp. (FF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADM returned +145. 6% versus FF's +54. 0%. 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 FutureFuel Corp. 's 0. 49β — meaning FF is approximately 327% more volatile than ADM relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is pulling ahead at -6.

2% versus -60. 7% for FutureFuel Corp. (FF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Archer-Daniels-Midland Company grew EPS -38. 9% year-over-year, compared to -422. 9% for FutureFuel Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ADM leads at -7. 5% 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 -51. 6% for FutureFuel Corp. — meaning it keeps 1. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADM leads at 1. 8% versus -55. 3% for FF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ADM leads at 6. 3%, 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.

In this comparison, ADM (2.

6% yield) pays a dividend. FF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +145. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ADM: +145. 6%, FF: +54. 0%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FF (Basic Materials) and ADM (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

ADM pays a dividend while FF does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.