Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) Given New $27.00 Price Target at Stephens

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) had its price target hoisted by Stephens from $25.00 to $27.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. Stephens currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. Bank of America increased their price target on Hormel Foods from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 5th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Hormel Foods in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. Barclays set a $30.00 target price on Hormel Foods and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. Wall Street Zen raised Hormel Foods from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Hormel Foods from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, December 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hormel Foods currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $27.71.

Hormel Foods Stock Up 3.6%

NYSE HRL traded up $0.89 on Friday, reaching $25.71. The company had a trading volume of 1,489,477 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,894,936. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 2.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.33. The company’s fifty day moving average is $24.20 and its 200 day moving average is $24.36. Hormel Foods has a 52-week low of $21.03 and a 52-week high of $32.07.

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.02. Hormel Foods had a net margin of 3.95% and a return on equity of 9.41%. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.07 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.35 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. Hormel Foods has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.430-1.510 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Hormel Foods will post 1.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Hormel Foods

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HRL. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hormel Foods during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. MUFG Securities EMEA plc bought a new position in shares of Hormel Foods during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Hormel Foods in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Motiv8 Investments LLC bought a new stake in Hormel Foods in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Caldwell Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Hormel Foods during the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors own 40.99% of the company’s stock.

Hormel Foods News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 adjusted EPS topped expectations ($0.34 vs. ~$0.32) and management reported improving profitability and foodservice/international strength, supporting upside to near‑term earnings sentiment. Hormel Foods Q1 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Increase Y/Y
• Positive Sentiment: Management’s turnaround messaging and early signs of margin improvement are being highlighted by the press as traction amid ongoing headwinds, which supports investor confidence in execution. Hormel’s Turnaround Gains Traction in Face of Continued Headwinds
• Neutral Sentiment: Company updated FY‑2026 guidance (EPS range and revenue band) and reiterated its plan; the range overlaps consensus but is not a clear beat, so guidance is viewed as mixed context for valuation. HORMEL FOODS REPORTS FIRST-QUARTER FISCAL 2026 RESULTS
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and outlets are re‑examining HRL’s valuation after the quarter and portfolio moves; some see opportunity while longer‑term growth expectations remain under scrutiny. A Look At Hormel Foods (HRL) Valuation After Guidance Hike And Portfolio Reshaping
• Negative Sentiment: Total revenue missed estimates ($3.03B vs. ~$3.07B) as U.S. retail demand softened — a clear near‑term headwind that offsets some of the foodservice/international strength. Hormel misses quarterly sales estimates on weak retail demand
• Negative Sentiment: Independent analysis highlights weak multi‑year total return relative to peers (Dividend King status notwithstanding), raising concerns about longer‑term shareholder value and yield attractiveness. Hormel: Hope Feels Canned Like The Ham

Hormel Foods Company Profile

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.