HRL
Hormel Foods Corporation
Packaged Foods
Market Cap$11.39B
5Y Perf.-57.6%
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Stock Comparison
HRL vs WMT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
WMT
Walmart Inc.
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$1.04T
5Y Perf.+214.6%
HRL vs WMT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HRL | WMT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Packaged Foods | Specialty Retail |
| Market Cap | $11.39B | $1.04T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $12.14B | $703.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $489M | $22.91B |
| Gross Margin | 15.5% | 24.9% |
| Operating Margin | 6.0% | 4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 14.1x | 44.7x |
| Total Debt | $2.86B | $67.09B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $671M | $10.73B |
HRL vs WMT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HRL
WMT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hormel Foods Corpor… (HRL) | 100 | 42.4 | -57.6% |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 100 | 314.6 | +214.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HRL vs WMT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: WMT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Hormel Foods Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HRL
Hormel Foods Corporation
The Defensive Pick
HRL is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.15, Low D/E 36.1%, current ratio 2.47x
- Beta 0.15, yield 5.6%, current ratio 2.47x
- Lower P/E (14.1x vs 44.7x)
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
WMT
Walmart Inc.
The Income Pick
WMT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 37 yrs, beta 0.12, yield 0.7%
- Rev growth 4.7%, EPS growth 13.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.3%
- 5.0% 10Y total return vs HRL's -21.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WMT | 4.7% revenue growth vs HRL's 1.6% |
| Value | HRL | Lower P/E (14.1x vs 44.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | HRL | 4.0% margin vs WMT's 3.3% |
| Stability / Safety | WMT | Beta 0.12 vs HRL's 0.15 |
| Dividends | HRL | 5.6% yield, 34-year raise streak, vs WMT's 0.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | WMT | +33.0% vs HRL's -25.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WMT | 7.9% ROA vs HRL's 3.7%, ROIC 14.7% vs 5.3% |
HRL vs WMT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
HRL vs WMT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLWMTLAGGINGHRL
HRLHormel Foods Corporat…
1leads
WMTWalmart Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HRLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HRL6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
WMT6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
WMT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
WMT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — HRL and WMT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WMT is the larger business by revenue, generating $703.1B annually — 57.9x HRL's $12.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 4.0% (HRL) to 3.3% (WMT). On growth, WMT holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HRLHormel Foods Corp… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.1B | $703.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $932M | $42.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $489M | $22.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $578M | $15.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +15.5% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.0% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +3.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | +2.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.3% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.5% | +35.1% |
Evenly matched — HRL and WMT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
HRL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.8x trailing earnings, HRL trades at a 50% valuation discount to WMT's 47.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, HRL's 13.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WMT's 24.8x.
| Metric | HRLHormel Foods Corp… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.4B | $1.04T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $13.6B | $1.09T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.79x | 47.65x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.10x | 44.67x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.33x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.82x | 24.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.94x | 1.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.44x | 10.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 21.31x | 24.94x |
HRL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WMT delivers a 22.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $4 for HRL. HRL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.36x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WMT's 0.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WMT scores 6/9 vs HRL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | HRLHormel Foods Corp… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.3% | +22.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.7% | +7.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.3% | +14.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.0% | +17.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.36x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.2B | $56.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $671M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.9B | $67.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.44x | 11.85x |
WMT leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WMT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WMT five years ago would be worth $28,531 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,520 for HRL. Over the past 12 months, WMT leads with a +33.0% total return vs HRL's -25.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WMT at 37.5% vs HRL's -16.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HRLHormel Foods Corp… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.0% | +15.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -25.0% | +33.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.6% | +160.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -44.8% | +185.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -21.7% | +505.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.0% | +37.5% |
WMT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WMT is the less volatile stock with a 0.12 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HRL's 0.15 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WMT currently trades 96.6% from its 52-week high vs HRL's 65.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HRLHormel Foods Corp… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.15x | 0.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.86 | $134.69 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.32 | $91.89 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +65.0% | +96.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.8 | 58.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.2M | 17.2M |
WMT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — HRL and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HRL as "Hold" and WMT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 31.6% upside for HRL (target: $27) vs 5.4% for WMT (target: $137). For income investors, HRL offers the higher dividend yield at 5.56% vs WMT's 0.72%.
| Metric | HRLHormel Foods Corp… | WMTWalmart Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $27.25 | $137.04 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.6% | +0.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 34 | 37 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.15 | $0.94 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.8% |
Evenly matched — HRL and WMT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
WMT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). HRL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallWalmart Inc. (WMT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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HRL vs WMT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HRL or WMT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the stronger pick with 4. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 6% for Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL). Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) offers the better valuation at 23. 8x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Walmart Inc. (WMT) a "Buy" — based on 64 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HRL or WMT?
On trailing P/E, Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) is the cheapest at 23.
8x versus Walmart Inc. at 47. 6x. On forward P/E, Hormel Foods Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HRL or WMT?
Over the past 5 years, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) delivered a total return of +185. 3%, compared to -44. 8% for Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WMT returned +505. 0% versus HRL's -21. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — HRL or WMT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus Hormel Foods Corporation's 0. 15β — meaning HRL is approximately 31% more volatile than WMT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 67% for Walmart Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HRL or WMT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is pulling ahead at 4. 7% versus 1. 6% for Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Walmart Inc. grew EPS 13. 3% year-over-year, compared to -40. 8% for Hormel Foods Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, WMT leads at 5. 3% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — HRL or WMT?
Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) is the more profitable company, earning 4.
0% net margin versus 3. 1% for Walmart Inc. — meaning it keeps 4. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HRL leads at 5. 9% versus 4. 2% for WMT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WMT leads at 24. 9%, 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.
07Is HRL or WMT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) trades at 14.
1x forward P/E versus 44. 7x for Walmart Inc. — 30. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HRL: 31. 6% to $27. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — HRL or WMT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) offers the highest yield at 5. 6%, versus 0. 7% for Walmart Inc. (WMT).
09Is HRL or WMT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Walmart Inc.
(WMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 12), 0. 7% yield, +505. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WMT: +505. 0%, HRL: -21. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between HRL and WMT?
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.
In terms of investment character: HRL is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; WMT is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(HRL: 1.3% · WMT: 5.8%)Net Margin>
%
(HRL: 4.0% · WMT: 3.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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