ODP vs UNFI

For growth investors, United Natural Foods, Inc.

(UNFI) is the stronger pick with 2. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 6% for The ODP Corporation (ODP). Analysts rate The ODP Corporation (ODP) 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, United Natural Foods, Inc.

(UNFI) delivered a total return of +36. 4%, compared to -36. 9% for The ODP Corporation (ODP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UNFI returned +43. 1% versus ODP's -49. 3%. 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), United Natural Foods, Inc.

(UNFI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 97β versus The ODP Corporation's 1. 53β — meaning ODP is approximately 59% more volatile than UNFI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The ODP Corporation (ODP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 131% versus 2% for United Natural Foods, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(UNFI) is pulling ahead at 2. 6% versus -10. 6% for The ODP Corporation (ODP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: United Natural Foods, Inc. grew EPS -3. 7% year-over-year, compared to -102. 5% for The ODP Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, UNFI leads at 3. 2% 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.

The ODP Corporation (ODP) is the more profitable company, earning -0.

0% net margin versus -0. 4% for United Natural Foods, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ODP leads at 2. 3% versus -0. 1% for UNFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ODP leads at 20. 7%, 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, The ODP Corporation (ODP) trades at 9.

9x forward P/E versus 19. 5x for United Natural Foods, Inc. — 9. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, United Natural Foods, Inc.

(UNFI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 97)). The ODP Corporation (ODP) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (UNFI: +43. 1%, ODP: -49. 3%), 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 (ODP (Consumer Cyclical) and UNFI (Consumer Defensive)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.