Packaged Foods
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SENEA vs SMPL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Packaged Foods
SENEA vs SMPL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Packaged Foods | Packaged Foods |
| Market Cap | $730M | $1.24B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.61B | $1.45B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $90M | $91M |
| Gross Margin | 12.6% | 34.0% |
| Operating Margin | 7.9% | 14.4% |
| Forward P/E | 74.5x | 7.5x |
| Total Debt | $375M | $304M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $43M | $98M |
SENEA vs SMPL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seneca Foods Corpor… (SENEA) | 100 | 384.1 | +284.1% |
| The Simply Good Foo… (SMPL) | 100 | 73.0 | -27.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SENEA vs SMPL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SENEA has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 13 yrs, beta 0.22, yield 0.0%
- 315.4% 10Y total return vs SMPL's 3.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.22, Low D/E 59.2%, current ratio 3.52x
SMPL is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 9.0%, EPS growth -26.1%, 3Y rev CAGR 7.5%
- 9.0% revenue growth vs SENEA's 8.2%
- Lower P/E (7.5x vs 74.5x), PEG 0.31 vs 66.44
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 9.0% revenue growth vs SENEA's 8.2% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.5x vs 74.5x), PEG 0.31 vs 66.44 | |
| Quality / Margins | 6.3% margin vs SENEA's 5.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.22 vs SMPL's 0.38 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +56.4% vs SMPL's -64.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 7.4% ROA vs SMPL's 3.7%, ROIC 5.3% vs 8.1% |
SENEA vs SMPL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
SENEA vs SMPL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SMPL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SENEA and SMPL operate at a comparable scale, with $1.6B and $1.4B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 6.3% (SMPL) to 5.6% (SENEA).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $1.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $171M | $231M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $90M | $91M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $168M | $174M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.6% | +34.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | +14.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.6% | +6.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.5% | +12.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.1% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | -31.6% |
Valuation Metrics
SMPL leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.2x trailing earnings, SMPL trades at a 49% valuation discount to SENEA's 23.7x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), SMPL offers better value at 0.51x vs SENEA's 21.17x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $730M | $1.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.1B | $1.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.74x | 12.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 74.51x | 7.45x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 21.17x | 0.51x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.66x | 5.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.46x | 0.86x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.54x | 0.70x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.45x | 7.86x |
Profitability & Efficiency
SMPL leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SENEA delivers a 12.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $5 for SMPL. SMPL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.17x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SENEA's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SENEA scores 6/9 vs SMPL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.6% | +5.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.4% | +3.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.3% | +8.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.1% | +9.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.59x | 0.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $332M | $206M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $43M | $98M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $375M | $304M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.90x | 6.77x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SENEA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SENEA five years ago would be worth $28,518 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,565 for SMPL. Over the past 12 months, SENEA leads with a +56.4% total return vs SMPL's -64.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SENEA at 43.1% vs SMPL's -31.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +29.4% | -36.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +56.4% | -64.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +193.1% | -67.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +185.2% | -64.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +315.4% | +3.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +43.1% | -31.5% |
Risk & Volatility
SENEA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SENEA is the less volatile stock with a 0.22 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SMPL's 0.38 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SENEA currently trades 83.7% from its 52-week high vs SMPL's 33.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.22x | 0.38x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $167.33 | $36.92 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $85.20 | $10.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.7% | +33.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.0 | 42.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 106K | 2.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $20.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.0% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 13 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.00 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +4.1% |
SMPL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). SENEA leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
SENEA vs SMPL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SENEA or SMPL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) is the stronger pick with 9.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 2% for Seneca Foods Corporation (SENEA). The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) offers the better valuation at 12. 2x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 — SENEA or SMPL?
On trailing P/E, The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) is the cheapest at 12.
2x versus Seneca Foods Corporation at 23. 7x. On forward P/E, The Simply Good Foods Company is actually cheaper at 7. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: The Simply Good Foods Company wins at 0. 31x versus Seneca Foods Corporation's 66. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SENEA or SMPL?
Over the past 5 years, Seneca Foods Corporation (SENEA) delivered a total return of +185.
2%, compared to -64. 3% for The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SENEA returned +315. 4% versus SMPL's +3. 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 — SENEA or SMPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Seneca Foods Corporation (SENEA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
22β versus The Simply Good Foods Company's 0. 38β — meaning SMPL is approximately 69% more volatile than SENEA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 59% for Seneca Foods Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SENEA or SMPL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) is pulling ahead at 9.
0% versus 8. 2% for Seneca Foods Corporation (SENEA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Simply Good Foods Company grew EPS -26. 1% year-over-year, compared to -31. 1% for Seneca Foods Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, SMPL 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.
06Which has better profit margins — SENEA or SMPL?
The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) is the more profitable company, earning 7.
1% net margin versus 2. 6% for Seneca Foods Corporation — meaning it keeps 7. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SMPL leads at 15. 1% versus 4. 9% for SENEA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SMPL leads at 35. 1%, 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 SENEA or SMPL more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 31x versus Seneca Foods Corporation's 66. 44x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Simply Good Foods Company (SMPL) trades at 7. 5x forward P/E versus 74. 5x for Seneca Foods Corporation — 67. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — SENEA or SMPL?
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.
09Is SENEA or SMPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Seneca Foods Corporation (SENEA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
22), +315. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SENEA: +315. 4%, SMPL: +3. 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 SENEA and SMPL?
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: SENEA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SMPL is a small-cap deep-value 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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