Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.02 EPS

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.02, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.07 billion. Hormel Foods had a return on equity of 9.41% and a net margin of 3.95%.Hormel Foods’s revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.35 EPS.

Hormel Foods Stock Performance

Shares of HRL traded down $0.31 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $25.00. 4,308,634 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,903,509. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $24.18 and its 200-day simple moving average is $24.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.75 billion, a PE ratio of 28.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.33. Hormel Foods has a 52-week low of $21.03 and a 52-week high of $32.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 2.47 and a quick ratio of 1.20.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on HRL shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Hormel Foods from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $27.00 price objective on Hormel Foods and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 30th. Stephens lowered their target price on Hormel Foods from $27.00 to $25.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Hormel Foods from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on Hormel Foods from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $27.43.

Institutional Trading of Hormel Foods

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in HRL. Corient Private Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Hormel Foods by 61.6% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 46,506 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,102,000 after acquiring an additional 17,721 shares during the period. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new stake in Hormel Foods in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,503,000. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Hormel Foods in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Vident Advisory LLC increased its position in Hormel Foods by 303.0% during the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 61,735 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,463,000 after purchasing an additional 46,415 shares during the period. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hormel Foods in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,168,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 40.99% of the company’s stock.

Key Hormel Foods News

Here are the key news stories impacting Hormel Foods this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 adjusted EPS topped consensus, giving the quarter a net positive read despite tougher comps; adjusted EPS of $0.34 beat the Zacks consensus of $0.32. This EPS beat helps justify the stock’s upside reaction. Hormel Foods Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Increase Y/Y
• Positive Sentiment: Management reiterated full‑year adjusted EPS guidance for FY2026 (range $1.430–$1.510) and provided revenue guidance, which reduces near‑term forecast uncertainty and supports investor confidence. HORMEL FOODS REPORTS FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2026 RESULTS
• Positive Sentiment: Segments showing strength — Foodservice and International performance — and the company’s turnaround actions are starting to show in higher profit and revenue versus the prior year, which some investors view as confirmation the recovery plan is working. Hormel Posts Higher Profit, Sales Amid Turnaround
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership is investing in tech/digital capabilities with the appointment of a first Chief Technology Officer — a strategic move that could improve supply chain and margin execution over time but has no immediate earnings impact. Hormel Foods Appoints Donald Monk as Company’s First Chief Technology Officer
• Neutral Sentiment: Company released the earnings slide deck and hosted an earnings call — useful for detail on cost actions and channel performance but not a market mover by itself. Hormel Foods Corporation 2026 Q1 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly revenue missed some street expectations (reported $3.03B vs. higher consensus), reflecting weaker U.S. retail demand as consumers trade down to cheaper options — a near‑term headwind for top‑line growth. Hormel misses quarterly sales estimates on weak retail demand
• Negative Sentiment: Margins tightened and volumes declined year‑over‑year, and EPS was slightly below last year’s $0.35 — these operational pressures create uncertainty about margin recovery and could weigh on multiple expansion. Hormel (HRL) Reports Q1 Earnings: What Key Metrics Have to Say
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst commentary frames the quarter as a “mixed start” to FY2026 — beat on EPS but weak retail trends and tighter margins keep upside limited unless volume/margin trends improve. Hormel Foods: A Mixed Start To FY2026

About Hormel Foods

Hormel Foods Corporation is a global branded foods company primarily engaged in the production, marketing and distribution of value-added, high-quality meat and food products. The company’s portfolio spans a range of categories including refrigerated and frozen meats, pantry staples, specialty foods and shelf-stable items. Through manufacturing facilities located across North America and international markets, Hormel Foods supplies retail grocers, foodservice operators, convenience stores and e-commerce platforms.

Among its best-known brands, Hormel Foods produces SPAM® canned meats, Jennie-O® turkey products, Skippy® peanut butter and Applegate® natural and organic meats.