Zacks Investment Research·Sep 11, 2026
Wholesale Inflation Climbs on Surging Oil Prices: 4 Defensive PicksWholesale inflation surges on oil gains as DAR, DOLE, COCO and CHEF emerge as four defensive consumer staples picks.
Darling Ingredients is experiencing a sharp earnings inflection, with 2026Q2 gross margins surging to 46.9% from 15.1% a year earlier, driving EPS of $2.41 and operating cash flow of $533.5M. The acceleration is supported by a favorable product mix shift towar...
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue growth accelerated to 16.5% in 2026Q2 with gross margin expanding to 46.9% from 15.1% year-over-year, driving operating margin to 38.1% and EPS of $2.41.
DAR's integration across feed, food, and fuel markets provides diversified revenue streams and operational synergies.
As the world's largest renderer, DAR has significant scale advantages in converting animal byproducts into usable products.
DAR's forward P/E of 9.48 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to future earnings potential.
Trailing total returns as of 9/23/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q3 2026Latest Jul 30, 2026 | $2.41+72.1% vs $1.40 | $1.7B+0.6% vs $1.7B |
Q2 2026 Apr 30, 2026 | $0.83+48.2% vs $0.56 | $1.6B-0.5% vs $1.6B |
Q1 2026 Feb 11, 2026 | $0.36-16.3% vs $0.43 | $1.7B+11.6% vs $1.5B |
Q4 2025 Oct 23, 2025 | $0.12-7.7% vs $0.13 | $1.6B+2.3% vs $1.5B |
Wholesale inflation surges on oil gains as DAR, DOLE, COCO and CHEF emerge as four defensive consumer staples picks.
The Sept. 2 transaction was valued at $341,000. The disposal involved shares equal to 0.44% of the equity stake held by the Chairman and CEO prior to the filing.
The first reason I would like to mention is the structural advantage: a niche that is quite difficult to enter. Darling Ingredients has the infrastructure to collect and process huge. At the same time, waste reduction, renewable diesel, and the circular economy are structural trends that can support the business. Moving on, I will mention the joint venture between Darling Ingredients and Valero, which offers a lower-carbon alternative by producing renewable diesel from animal fats and used cooking oil.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) Presents at Barclays 40th Annual Energy-Power Conference Transcript
Benchmark DAR against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $61.63 | $9.79B | 158.03 | 7.44% | 1.02% | 1.35% | — | |
| $15.07 | $1.06B | -8.37 | -14.93% | 6.74% | 15.46% | — | |
| $44.25 | $1.46B | 17.70 | 1.24% | 17.61% | 16.9% | — | |
| $56.42 | $4.92B | -144.67 | -1.25% | -2.98% | — | — | |
| $0.34 | $21.18M | -0.41 | -28.3% | -82.77% | -92.01% | — | |
| $2.12 | $148.83M | -1.65 | -22.29% | -26.14% | — | — |
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Aug 5, 2026·SEC
Jul 30, 2026·SEC
May 11, 2026·SEC
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Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) reported $6.56B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 1241% increase from $488.9M in 1996.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) grew revenue by 7.4% over the past year. This is steady growth.
Yes, Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) is profitable, generating $597.9M in net income for fiscal year 2025 (1.0% net margin).
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) has a return on equity (ROE) of 1.4%. This is below average, suggesting room for improvement.
Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) generated $881.2M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.
