Darling Ingredients (DAR) vs Smithfield Foods (SFD)
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 Smithfield Foods (SFD) over the past year, gaining 94.1% versus a loss of 17.1%. Darling Ingredients is the larger company by market cap ($9.47 billion vs $7.28 billion), about 1.3 times the size, while Smithfield Foods is growing revenue faster (+9.8% vs +7.4%). On valuation, Smithfield Foods trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 9.6x for Darling Ingredients).
Smithfield Foods pays a dividend yielding 6.08%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay one. Smithfield Foods converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 6.4% 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 | SFD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $60.02 | $18.50 |
| Market cap | $9.47B | $7.28B |
| 1-day change | -1.88% | -1.49% |
| YTD return | +66.72% | -17.15% |
| 1-year return | +94.05% | -17.11% |
| 5-year return | -19.18% | — |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.49 | 6.88 |
| Forward P/E | 9.56 | 8.43 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.64 | $2.69 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 6.08% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.13 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.14B | $15.53B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.36% | +9.82% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $62.80M | $987.00M |
| Gross margin | 24.01% | 13.45% |
| Operating margin | 4.46% | 8.32% |
| Net margin | 1.02% | 6.36% |
| 52-week high | $69.98 | $29.81 |
| 52-week low | $29.15 | $18.43 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.23% | -37.93% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +35.92% | +40.92% |
| Average volume | 2.35M | 1.69M |
| Shares outstanding | 157.80M | 393.77M |
| Employees | 15,000 | 34,000 |
| 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 SFD by 111.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Darling Ingredients trades at a higher earnings multiple (16.5x vs 6.9x trailing P/E).
- Smithfield Foods offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (6.08% vs 0.00%).
- Smithfield Foods is more profitable, keeping 6.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 1.0 cents for Darling Ingredients.
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 Smithfield Foods
SFD stock →Smithfield Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces various packaged meats and fresh pork products in the United States and internationally. It operates through Packaged Meats, Fresh Pork, Hog Production, and Other segments.
Consumer Staples · Meat/Poultry/Fish · 34,000 employees
DAR vs SFD FAQ
Which is bigger, Darling Ingredients or Smithfield Foods?
Darling Ingredients (DAR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.47B compared with $7.28B for Smithfield Foods (SFD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, DAR or SFD?
DAR returned +94.05% over the past 12 months, compared with -17.11% for SFD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, DAR or SFD?
SFD has the lower trailing P/E at 6.9, versus 16.5 for DAR. 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 Smithfield Foods?
Smithfield Foods pays a dividend yielding 6.08%, while Darling Ingredients does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Darling Ingredients and Smithfield 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 Smithfield Foods.