Darling Ingredients (DAR) vs Hormel Foods (HRL)
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 Hormel Foods (HRL) over the past year, gaining 94.1% versus a loss of 18.5%. Over five years, DAR leads with a -19.2% price change compared with -54.2% for HRL. Hormel Foods is the larger company by market cap ($10.74 billion vs $9.84 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Darling Ingredients is growing revenue faster (+7.4% vs +1.6%).
On valuation, Darling Ingredients trades at a lower forward P/E (9.9x vs 12.4x for Hormel Foods). Hormel Foods pays a dividend yielding 5.99%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay one. Hormel Foods converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 4.0% versus 1.0%.
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 | DAR | HRL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $62.33 | $19.51 |
| Market cap | $9.84B | $10.74B |
| 1-day change | +3.83% | -0.23% |
| YTD return | +66.72% | -17.51% |
| 1-year return | +94.05% | -18.54% |
| 5-year return | -19.18% | -54.17% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.80 | 31.47 |
| Forward P/E | 9.93 | 12.45 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.71 | $0.62 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 5.99% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.17 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.14B | $12.11B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.36% | +1.55% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $62.80M | $478.20M |
| Gross margin | 24.01% | 15.63% |
| Operating margin | 4.46% | 5.94% |
| Net margin | 1.02% | 3.95% |
| 52-week high | $69.98 | $26.60 |
| 52-week low | $29.15 | $19.37 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.93% | -26.65% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +30.88% | +32.96% |
| Average volume | 2.34M | 4.61M |
| Shares outstanding | 157.80M | 550.35M |
| Employees | 15,000 | 20,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Packaged Foods | Meat/Poultry/Fish |
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 HRL by 112.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Hormel Foods trades at a higher earnings multiple (31.5x vs 16.8x trailing P/E).
- Hormel Foods offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (5.99% vs 0.00%).
- Darling Ingredients grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.36% vs +1.55%).
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
About Hormel Foods
HRL stock →Hormel Foods Corporation develops, processes, and distributes various meat, nut, and other food products to foodservice, convenience stores, and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail, Foodservice, and International.
Consumer Staples · Meat/Poultry/Fish · 20,000 employees
DAR vs HRL FAQ
Which is bigger, Darling Ingredients or Hormel Foods?
Hormel Foods (HRL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.74B compared with $9.84B for Darling Ingredients (DAR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DAR or HRL?
DAR returned +94.05% over the past 12 months, compared with -18.54% for HRL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DAR or HRL?
DAR has the lower trailing P/E at 16.8, versus 31.5 for HRL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Darling Ingredients or Hormel Foods?
Hormel Foods pays a dividend yielding 5.99%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Darling Ingredients and Hormel Foods in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Staples sector, but in different industries: Packaged Foods for Darling Ingredients and Meat/Poultry/Fish for Hormel Foods.