SFD
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Agricultural Farm Products
Market Cap$10.29B
5Y Perf.+21.7%
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Stock Comparison
SFD vs PPC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PPC
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Packaged Foods
Market Cap$7.45B
5Y Perf.-32.7%
SFD vs PPC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SFD | PPC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Agricultural Farm Products | Packaged Foods |
| Market Cap | $10.29B | $7.45B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15.56B | $18.57B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.01B | $888M |
| Gross Margin | 13.4% | 11.6% |
| Operating Margin | 8.6% | 7.4% |
| Forward P/E | 9.8x | 8.3x |
| Total Debt | $2.40B | $3.35B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.54B | $640M |
SFD vs PPC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SFD
PPC
| Stock | Jan 25 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield Foods, I… (SFD) | 100 | 121.7 | +21.7% |
| Pilgrim's Pride Cor… (PPC) | 100 | 67.3 | -32.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SFD vs PPC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PPC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. Smithfield Foods, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SFD
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
The Growth Play
SFD is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 7.3%, EPS growth 18.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.30, Low D/E 33.9%, current ratio 2.97x
- 7.3% revenue growth vs PPC's 3.5%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
PPC
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
The Income Pick
PPC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.02, yield 26.7%
- 71.4% 10Y total return vs SFD's 34.1%
- Beta 0.02, yield 26.7%, current ratio 1.47x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SFD | 7.3% revenue growth vs PPC's 3.5% |
| Value | PPC | Lower P/E (8.3x vs 9.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SFD | 6.5% margin vs PPC's 4.8% |
| Stability / Safety | PPC | Beta 0.02 vs SFD's 0.30 |
| Dividends | PPC | 26.7% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs SFD's 3.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | SFD | +22.3% vs PPC's -28.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PPC | 8.7% ROA vs SFD's 8.6%, ROIC 20.0% vs 12.2% |
SFD vs PPC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SFD vs PPC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPPCLAGGINGSFD
SFDSmithfield Foods, Inc.
1leads
PPCPilgrim's Pride Corpo…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SFDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SFD5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PPC5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PPC4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
PPC1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SFD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PPC and SFD operate at a comparable scale, with $18.6B and $15.6B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 6.5% (SFD) to 4.8% (PPC).
| Metric | SFDSmithfield Foods,… | PPCPilgrim's Pride C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.6B | $18.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $1.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.0B | $888M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $813M | $773M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.4% | +11.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +7.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.5% | +4.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.2% | +4.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +0.8% | +1.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.9% | -65.3% |
SFD leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PPC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 6.9x trailing earnings, PPC trades at a 34% valuation discount to SFD's 10.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PPC's 4.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SFD's 6.9x.
| Metric | SFDSmithfield Foods,… | PPCPilgrim's Pride C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10.3B | $7.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.1B | $10.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.43x | 6.89x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.83x | 8.29x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.11x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.86x | 4.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.66x | 0.40x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.45x | 2.02x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.33x | 11.27x |
PPC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — SFD and PPC each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PPC delivers a 24.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $24 in annual profit, vs $15 for SFD. SFD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PPC's 0.91x.
| Metric | SFDSmithfield Foods,… | PPCPilgrim's Pride C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.7% | +24.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.6% | +8.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.2% | +20.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.4% | +20.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.34x | 0.91x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $857M | $2.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.5B | $640M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.4B | $3.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 34.71x | 8.87x |
Evenly matched — SFD and PPC each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PPC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PPC five years ago would be worth $16,569 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,413 for SFD. Over the past 12 months, SFD leads with a +22.3% total return vs PPC's -28.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PPC at 20.5% vs SFD's 10.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SFDSmithfield Foods,… | PPCPilgrim's Pride C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.6% | -21.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.3% | -28.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.1% | +75.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.1% | +65.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.1% | +71.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.3% | +20.5% |
PPC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SFD and PPC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PPC is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SFD's 0.30 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SFD currently trades 87.8% from its 52-week high vs PPC's 60.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SFDSmithfield Foods,… | PPCPilgrim's Pride C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.30x | 0.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $29.80 | $51.45 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $21.08 | $30.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.8% | +60.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.2 | 35.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 1.1M |
Evenly matched — SFD and PPC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
PPC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SFD as "Buy" and PPC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 47.0% upside for PPC (target: $46) vs 22.3% for SFD (target: $32). For income investors, PPC offers the higher dividend yield at 26.72% vs SFD's 3.85%.
| Metric | SFDSmithfield Foods,… | PPCPilgrim's Pride C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.00 | $46.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 21 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.9% | +26.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.01 | $8.36 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
PPC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
PPC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). SFD leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
Best OverallPilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SFD vs PPC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SFD or PPC a better buy right now?
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) offers the better valuation at 6.
9x trailing P/E (8. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Smithfield Foods, Inc. (SFD) 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.
02Which has the better valuation — SFD or PPC?
On trailing P/E, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) is the cheapest at 6.
9x versus Smithfield Foods, Inc. at 10. 4x. On forward P/E, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SFD or PPC?
Over the past 5 years, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) delivered a total return of +65.
7%, compared to +34. 1% for Smithfield Foods, Inc. (SFD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PPC returned +71. 4% versus SFD's +34. 1%. 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 — SFD or PPC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
02β versus Smithfield Foods, Inc. 's 0. 30β — meaning SFD is approximately 1140% more volatile than PPC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Smithfield Foods, Inc. (SFD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 91% for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SFD or PPC?
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
(SFD) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 4% net margin versus 5. 9% for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation — meaning it keeps 6. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PPC leads at 8. 7% versus 8. 3% for SFD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SFD leads at 13. 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.
06Is SFD or PPC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) trades at 8.
3x forward P/E versus 9. 8x for Smithfield Foods, Inc. — 1. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PPC: 47. 0% to $46. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — SFD or PPC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) offers the highest yield at 26. 7%, versus 3. 9% for Smithfield Foods, Inc. (SFD).
08Is SFD or PPC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (PPC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
02), 26. 7% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PPC: +71. 4%, SFD: +34. 1%), 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.
09What are the main differences between SFD and PPC?
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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SFD: 0.8% · PPC: 1.6%)Net Margin>
%
(SFD: 6.5% · PPC: 4.8%)P/E Ratio<
x
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