Darling Ingredients (DAR) vs Lamb Weston (LW)
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 Lamb Weston (LW) over the past year, gaining 94.1% versus a loss of 24.0%. Over five years, LW leads with a -14.5% price change compared with -19.2% for DAR. Darling Ingredients is the larger company by market cap ($9.84 billion vs $6.59 billion), about 1.5 times the size.
On valuation, Darling Ingredients trades at a lower forward P/E (9.9x vs 14.2x for Lamb Weston). Lamb Weston pays a dividend yielding 3.16%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay one. Lamb Weston converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 4.4% 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 | LW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $62.37 | $47.82 |
| Market cap | $9.84B | $6.59B |
| 1-day change | +3.92% | -0.56% |
| YTD return | +66.72% | +14.80% |
| 1-year return | +94.05% | -24.04% |
| 5-year return | -19.18% | -14.49% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.81 | 26.13 |
| Forward P/E | 9.93 | 14.20 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.71 | $1.83 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 3.16% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.51 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.14B | $6.61B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.36% | +2.50% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $62.80M | $290.00M |
| Gross margin | 24.01% | 20.56% |
| Operating margin | 4.46% | 8.94% |
| Net margin | 1.02% | 4.39% |
| 52-week high | $69.98 | $67.07 |
| 52-week low | $29.15 | $37.62 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.87% | -28.70% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +30.80% | +16.92% |
| Average volume | 2.34M | 1.87M |
| Shares outstanding | 157.80M | 137.78M |
| Employees | 15,000 | 10,000 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | 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 LW by 118.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Lamb Weston trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.1x vs 16.8x trailing P/E).
- Lamb Weston offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.16% vs 0.00%).
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 Lamb Weston
LW stock →Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. engages in the production, distribution, and marketing of frozen potato products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally.
Consumer Staples · Packaged Foods · 10,000 employees
DAR vs LW FAQ
Which is bigger, Darling Ingredients or Lamb Weston?
Darling Ingredients (DAR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.84B compared with $6.59B for Lamb Weston (LW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DAR or LW?
DAR returned +94.05% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.04% for LW (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DAR or LW?
DAR has the lower trailing P/E at 16.8, versus 26.1 for LW. 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 Lamb Weston?
Lamb Weston pays a dividend yielding 3.16%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Darling Ingredients and Lamb Weston in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Packaged Foods industry within the Consumer Staples sector.