Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 1.430-1.51 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 1.420. The company issued revenue guidance of $12.2 billion-$12.5 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $12.4 billion.

Hormel Foods Trading Up 3.8%

Shares of NYSE:HRL opened at $24.16 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.47, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The business has a 50 day moving average of $23.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $26.78. Hormel Foods has a 12-month low of $21.03 and a 12-month high of $33.80. The company has a market capitalization of $13.29 billion, a PE ratio of 17.63, a PEG ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 0.33.

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 4th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.02. Hormel Foods had a net margin of 6.26% and a return on equity of 10.06%. The firm had revenue of $3.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.24 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.42 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Hormel Foods has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.430-1.51 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Hormel Foods will post 1.65 EPS for the current year.

Hormel Foods Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 12th will be issued a $0.2925 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 12th. This is an increase from Hormel Foods’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.17 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.8%. Hormel Foods’s dividend payout ratio is 84.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America reduced their target price on Hormel Foods from $35.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, August 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $27.00 price objective on shares of Hormel Foods and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Hormel Foods in a report on Friday. Barclays reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $34.00 target price (down previously from $36.00) on shares of Hormel Foods in a research note on Friday, August 29th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Hormel Foods from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Friday, August 29th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $28.86.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. MUFG Securities EMEA plc purchased a new stake in shares of Hormel Foods in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. boosted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 514.6% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 1,512 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,266 shares during the last quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new stake in shares of Hormel Foods in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $64,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hormel Foods during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $73,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Hormel Foods by 214.4% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,731 shares of the company’s stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 3,226 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.99% of the company’s stock.

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation develops, processes, and distributes various meat, nuts, and other food products to retail, foodservice, deli, and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail, Foodservice, and International segments. The company provides various perishable products that include fresh meats, frozen items, refrigerated meal solutions, sausages, hams, guacamoles, and bacons; and shelf-stable products comprising canned luncheon meats, nut butters, snack nuts, chili, shelf-stable microwaveable meals, hash, stews, tortillas, salsas, tortilla chips, nutritional food supplements, and others.