ConAgra Brands (CAG) vs Darling Ingredients (DAR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Darling Ingredients (DAR) has outperformed ConAgra Brands (CAG) over the past year, gaining 94.1% versus a loss of 29.9%. Over five years, DAR leads with a -19.2% price change compared with -60.2% for CAG. Darling Ingredients is the larger company by market cap ($9.47 billion vs $6.33 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, ConAgra Brands trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 9.6x for Darling Ingredients). ConAgra Brands pays a dividend yielding 9.25%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay one. Darling Ingredients converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 1.0% versus -17.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CAG | DAR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $13.25 | $60.02 |
| Market cap | $6.33B | $9.47B |
| 1-day change | -1.49% | -1.88% |
| YTD return | -23.45% | +66.72% |
| 1-year return | -29.93% | +94.05% |
| 5-year return | -60.15% | -19.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 16.49 |
| Forward P/E | 8.69 | 9.56 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-3.92 | $3.64 |
| Dividend yield | 9.25% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.23 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.28B | $6.14B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -2.85% | +7.36% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-1.92B | $62.80M |
| Gross margin | 23.92% | 24.01% |
| Operating margin | -14.43% | 4.46% |
| Net margin | -16.99% | 1.02% |
| 52-week high | $20.32 | $69.98 |
| 52-week low | $12.53 | $29.15 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -34.79% | -14.23% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +8.08% | +35.92% |
| Average volume | 13.11M | 2.35M |
| Shares outstanding | 477.41M | 157.80M |
| Employees | 17,400 | 15,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Packaged Foods | Packaged Foods |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- DAR has outperformed CAG by 124.0 percentage points over the past year.
- ConAgra Brands offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (9.25% vs 0.00%).
- Darling Ingredients is more profitable, keeping 1.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -17.0 cents for ConAgra Brands.
- Darling Ingredients grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.36% vs -2.85%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: ConAgra Brands in Consumer Defensive and Darling Ingredients in Consumer Staples.
About ConAgra Brands
CAG stock →Conagra Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a branded consumer packaged goods food company primarily in the United States. The company operates in four segments: Grocery & Snacks, Refrigerated & Frozen, International, and Foodservice.
Consumer Defensive · Packaged Foods · 17,400 employees
About Darling Ingredients
DAR stock →Darling Ingredients Inc. develops, produces, and sells sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients in North America, Europe, China, South America, and internationally.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 15,000 employees
CAG vs DAR FAQ
Which is bigger, ConAgra Brands or Darling Ingredients?
Darling Ingredients (DAR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.47B compared with $6.33B for ConAgra Brands (CAG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CAG or DAR?
DAR returned +94.05% over the past 12 months, compared with -29.93% for CAG (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, ConAgra Brands or Darling Ingredients?
ConAgra Brands pays a dividend yielding 9.25%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are ConAgra Brands and Darling Ingredients in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Defensive sector.