Sysco (SYY) vs United Natural Foods (UNFI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
United Natural Foods (UNFI) has outperformed Sysco (SYY) over the past year, gaining 4.8% versus a gain of 0.1%. Over five years, UNFI leads with a +1.0% price change compared with -4.9% for SYY. Sysco is the larger company by market cap ($38.44 billion vs $2.68 billion), about 14.3 times the size.
On valuation, United Natural Foods trades at a lower forward P/E (11.0x vs 14.6x for Sysco). Sysco pays a dividend yielding 2.78%, while United Natural Foods does not currently pay one. Sysco converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 2.1% versus 0.3%.
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 | SYY | UNFI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $78.14 | $44.51 |
| Market cap | $38.44B | $2.68B |
| 1-day change | -0.08% | +1.00% |
| YTD return | +6.04% | +32.19% |
| 1-year return | +0.13% | +4.78% |
| 5-year return | -4.89% | +0.95% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.35 | 33.22 |
| Forward P/E | 14.56 | 10.96 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.66 | $1.34 |
| Dividend yield | 2.78% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $2.17 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $84.55B | $31.15B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.91% | -1.99% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.76B | $84.00M |
| Gross margin | 18.50% | 13.47% |
| Operating margin | 3.66% | 0.68% |
| Net margin | 2.08% | 0.27% |
| 52-week high | $91.85 | $57.02 |
| 52-week low | $68.19 | $30.91 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.93% | -21.94% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +16.24% | +19.07% |
| Average volume | 3.66M | 579.51K |
| Shares outstanding | 491.91M | 60.32M |
| Employees | 75,000 | 23,431 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Food Distributors | Food Distributors |
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
- Sysco is about 14.3 times larger than United Natural Foods by market value ($38.44B vs $2.68B).
- United Natural Foods trades at a higher earnings multiple (33.2x vs 21.3x trailing P/E).
- Sysco offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.78% vs 0.00%).
- Sysco grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+3.91% vs -1.99%).
About Sysco
SYY stock →Sysco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the sale, marketing, and distribution of food and related products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments, and other foodservice customers. It operates through U.S.
Consumer Discretionary · Food Distributors · 75,000 employees
About United Natural Foods
UNFI stock →United Natural Foods, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional food and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in three segments: Natural, Wholesale, and Retail.
Consumer Discretionary · Food Distributors · 23,431 employees
SYY vs UNFI FAQ
Which is bigger, Sysco or United Natural Foods?
Sysco (SYY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $38.44B compared with $2.68B for United Natural Foods (UNFI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SYY or UNFI?
UNFI returned +4.78% over the past 12 months, compared with +0.13% for SYY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SYY or UNFI?
SYY has the lower trailing P/E at 21.3, versus 33.2 for UNFI. 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, Sysco or United Natural Foods?
Sysco pays a dividend yielding 2.78%, while United Natural Foods does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Sysco and United Natural Foods in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Food Distributors industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.