HRL vs MKC vs DAR
161 measures in 16 categories, one definition each, computed from filings and market data.
HRL45.9
Hormel Foods Corporation
Consumer Defensive · Packaged Foods
$20.40 +1.04%$11.2B mkt cap
Score DNA
MKC58.9
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
Consumer Defensive · Packaged Foods
$46.35 +1.40%$12.5B mkt cap
Score DNA
DAR68.1
Darling Ingredients Inc.
Consumer Defensive · Packaged Foods
$61.36 +0.80%$9.7B mkt cap
Score DNA
Price, rebased to 100 three years ago
HRL MKC DAR · weekly adjusted closesSmart money 8Valuation 16Profitability (TTM) 12Returns on capital 11Growth 17Margin history & stability 7Liquidity (latest quarter) 7Leverage & solvency (latest quarter) 13Efficiency 11Cash flow & earnings quality 7Dividends & buybacks 9Scores & forensic checks 15Per share 7Size (TTM) 8Price performance 9Technicals 4
● marks the highest or lowest value where that direction is plainly stronger (margins, returns, coverage, leverage); multiples and yields are left unmarked. Bars show each stock's percentile within its own industry. n/a: the measure does not apply to lenders and insurers.
Smart money
8 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insider open-market buys, 180d | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Insider $ bought, 180d | $0.20M | $0.10M | $0.06M |
| Congress purchases, 180d | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Last Congress purchase | — | — | — |
| 13F net change in holders | — | −5 | +2 |
| ETFs adding shares, 30d | 558 | 935 | 367 |
| ETFs trimming, 30d | 458 | 809 | 314 |
| Net ETF funds, 30d | +100 | +126 | +53 |
Valuation
16 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E (TTM) | 32.8x
86th
|
8.4x
9th
|
16.2x
68th
|
| PEG (P/E ÷ 3-yr EPS CAGR) | — | 0.26
20th
|
— |
| Price / sales | 0.9x
63rd
|
1.6x
93rd
|
1.5x
83rd
|
| Price / book | 1.4x
33rd
|
1.8x
52nd
|
1.8x
59th
|
| Price / tangible book | 9.9x
88th
|
— | 4.9x
71st
|
| Price / free cash flow | 14.4x
70th
|
13.5x
63rd
|
11.0x
56th
|
| Price / operating cash flow | 10.3x
76th
|
10.9x
79th
|
7.2x
55th
|
| Enterprise value | $13.2B
80th
|
$16.4B
90th
|
$13.7B
83rd
|
| EV / sales | 1.1x
53rd
|
2.1x
90th
|
2.1x
87th
|
| EV / EBITDA | 15.1x
77th
|
12.3x
65th
|
9.2x
46th
|
| EV / EBIT | 22.0x
75th
|
15.5x
62nd
|
14.2x
54th
|
| EV / free cash flow | 16.9x
56th
|
17.7x
63rd
|
15.5x
48th
|
| Earnings yield | 3.1%
37th
|
12.0%
93rd
|
6.2%
50th
|
| FCF yield | 7.0%
37th
|
7.4%
43rd
|
9.1%
50th
|
| Operating cash flow yield | 9.7%
27th
|
9.1%
23rd
|
14.0%
47th
|
| Graham number (per share) | $14.11
15th
|
$56.89
70th
|
$52.17
60th
|
Profitability (TTM)
12 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 15.7%
17th
|
39.1%
90th
|
25.0%
43rd
|
| EBITDA margin | 7.2%
27th
|
17.3%
87th
|
22.7%
100th
|
| Operating margin | 4.7%
30th
|
13.8%
97th
|
16.0%
100th
|
| EBIT margin | 4.9%
33rd
|
13.8%
93rd
|
14.7%
97th
|
| Net margin | 2.8%
33rd
|
19.4%
100th
|
9.1%
90th
|
| NOPAT margin | 3.1%
23rd
|
10.1%
93rd
|
13.1%
100th
|
| FCF margin | 6.4%
33rd
|
12.0%
80th
|
13.4%
90th
|
| Operating cash flow margin | 9.0%
27th
|
14.8%
80th
|
20.6%
97th
|
| R&D / revenue | 0.0%
0th
|
0.0%
0th
|
0.0%
0th
|
| SG&A / revenue | 9.1%
20th
|
22.6%
80th
|
9.0%
17th
|
| Stock comp / revenue | 0.2%
21st
|
0.6%
55th
|
0.1%
14th
|
| Effective tax rate | 34.4%
93rd
|
26.7%
80th
|
18.4%
3rd
|
Returns on capital
11 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (on average equity) | 4.3%
36th
|
23.4%
100th
|
12.1%
64th
|
| ROA | 2.6%
37th
|
10.0%
90th
|
5.6%
60th
|
| ROIC | 3.8%
30th
|
7.1%
50th
|
9.3%
60th
|
| ROCE | 5.3%
27th
|
8.7%
57th
|
9.8%
63rd
|
| Return on tangible assets | 4.5%
27th
|
7.1%
47th
|
9.1%
63rd
|
| Cash ROIC (OCF / invested capital) | 11.1%
37th
|
10.4%
30th
|
14.6%
50th
|
| Gross profitability (GP / assets) | 14.3%
7th
|
18.0%
37th
|
15.0%
10th
|
| ROIC, 3-yr average | 4.6%
29th
|
6.1%
54th
|
5.1%
39th
|
| ROIC, 5-yr average | 7.5%
56th
|
7.2%
44th
|
8.9%
74th
|
| ROE, 5-yr average | 9.7%
50th
|
15.5%
77th
|
12.0%
69th
|
| Incremental ROIC | 49.1%
52nd
|
18.2%
45th
|
131.2%
90th
|
Growth
17 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (TTM YoY) | 0.7%
30th
|
13.2%
83rd
|
15.0%
87th
|
| Revenue growth (QoQ) | -0.4%
43rd
|
4.6%
80th
|
11.2%
97th
|
| Revenue CAGR, 3 yr | -0.1%
24th
|
5.2%
62nd
|
-2.5%
14th
|
| Revenue CAGR, 5 yr | 3.3%
33rd
|
4.6%
48th
|
9.8%
78th
|
| Gross profit CAGR, 3 yr | -2.5%
14th
|
7.4%
66th
|
1.2%
31st
|
| Operating income CAGR, 3 yr | -21.1%
5th
|
4.5%
48th
|
-2.4%
24th
|
| Net income growth (TTM YoY) | -54.6%
10th
|
91.6%
76th
|
467.5%
95th
|
| Net income CAGR, 3 yr | -26.9%
11th
|
32.1%
84th
|
-8.7%
32nd
|
| EPS growth (TTM YoY) | -54.6%
10th
|
91.5%
76th
|
462.9%
100th
|
| EPS CAGR, 3 yr | -27.0%
11th
|
32.2%
84th
|
-8.5%
26th
|
| EPS CAGR, 5 yr | -16.9%
16th
|
14.5%
79th
|
4.7%
53rd
|
| FCF growth (TTM YoY) | 24.4%
61st
|
16.7%
57th
|
60.5%
74th
|
| FCF CAGR, 3 yr | -2.5%
19th
|
5.9%
29th
|
32.2%
81st
|
| Operating cash flow CAGR, 3 yr | -0.3%
12th
|
2.4%
25th
|
16.3%
71st
|
| Book value CAGR, 3 yr | 0.4%
27th
|
11.6%
77th
|
6.6%
62nd
|
| Dividend CAGR, 3 yr | 0.5%
38th
|
2.3%
75th
|
— |
| Sustainable growth rate | -3.7%
10th
|
15.4%
85th
|
12.1%
75th
|
Margin history & stability
7 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin, 3-yr average | 16.3%
14th
|
38.6%
90th
|
23.9%
31st
|
| Operating margin, 3-yr average | 7.3%
48th
|
15.1%
97th
|
10.4%
69th
|
| Net margin, 3-yr average | 5.2%
62nd
|
14.2%
100th
|
5.7%
72nd
|
| FCF margin, 3-yr average | 6.4%
45th
|
11.8%
93rd
|
9.8%
66th
|
| Revenue stability (0-1) | 0.65
28th
|
0.81
55th
|
0.38
10th
|
| Earnings stability (0-1) | 0.66
93rd
|
0.48
59th
|
0.13
28th
|
| Margin stability (0-1) | 0.96
86th
|
0.97
90th
|
0.94
66th
|
Liquidity (latest quarter)
7 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash & short-term investments | $868.4M
83rd
|
$331.1M
60th
|
$160.7M
47th
|
| Net cash (− = net debt) | −$2.0B
33rd
|
−$3.9B
23rd
|
−$4.0B
20th
|
| Working capital | $1.7B
93rd
|
−$1.5B
3rd
|
$627.1M
73rd
|
| Current ratio | 1.88
53rd
|
0.66
3rd
|
1.56
47th
|
| Quick ratio | 0.92
57th
|
0.66
27th
|
1.02
63rd
|
| Cash ratio (cash + ST investments / current liabilities) | 0.46
73rd
|
0.07
13th
|
0.14
33rd
|
| Defensive interval (days) | 439 days
67th
|
219 days
33rd
|
526 days
73rd
|
Leverage & solvency (latest quarter)
13 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $2.9B
67th
|
$4.2B
80th
|
$4.2B
77th
|
| Debt / equity | 0.36
33rd
|
0.61
48th
|
0.80
52nd
|
| Net debt / equity | 0.25
44th
|
0.56
56th
|
0.76
63rd
|
| Debt / assets | 21.5%
30th
|
25.5%
37th
|
38.0%
63rd
|
| Debt / capital | 26.7%
33rd
|
37.7%
48th
|
44.3%
52nd
|
| Debt / EBITDA | 3.27
50th
|
3.19
46th
|
2.81
42nd
|
| Net debt / EBITDA | 2.28
50th
|
2.94
58th
|
2.70
54th
|
| Interest coverage (EBIT / interest) | 7.6x
63rd
|
4.7x
53rd
|
344.1x
100th
|
| Cash interest coverage | 13.9x
63rd
|
5.1x
37th
|
483.3x
100th
|
| Debt payback (years of OCF) | 2.6 yrs
38th
|
3.7 yrs
59th
|
3.1 yrs
45th
|
| Liabilities / assets | 40.9%
30th
|
54.4%
57th
|
51.7%
43rd
|
| IS credit model rating | A+ | BB+ | A |
| Implied credit spread (bps) | 125
33rd
|
400
57th
|
150
37th
|
Efficiency
11 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asset turnover | 0.91
47th
|
0.51
3rd
|
0.62
20th
|
| Fixed asset turnover | 5.62
76th
|
5.00
62nd
|
2.15
10th
|
| Inventory turnover | 5.7
40th
|
7.1
63rd
|
8.1
77th
|
| Receivables turnover | 16.2
70th
|
10.2
33rd
|
10.3
37th
|
| Days sales outstanding | 23 days
30th
|
36 days
67th
|
36 days
63rd
|
| Days inventory outstanding | 65 days
60th
|
52 days
37th
|
45 days
23rd
|
| Days payables outstanding | 25 days
10th
|
104 days
97th
|
29 days
33rd
|
| Cash conversion cycle (days) | 62 days
63rd
|
−17 days
0th
|
52 days
57th
|
| Capex / revenue | 2.6%
37th
|
2.8%
40th
|
7.2%
93rd
|
| Capex / depreciation | 1.14
80th
|
0.79
47th
|
0.90
60th
|
| Operating expense ratio | 12.2%
23rd
|
28.5%
77th
|
8.8%
13th
|
Cash flow & earnings quality
7 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow / net income | 3.19
77th
|
0.77
0th
|
2.26
41st
|
| FCF / net income | 2.28
77th
|
0.62
14th
|
1.47
41st
|
| FCF / operating cash flow | 71.5%
41st
|
81.2%
66th
|
65.2%
28th
|
| Capex / operating cash flow | 28.5%
59th
|
18.8%
34th
|
34.8%
72nd
|
| Accruals ratio | -5.6%
73rd
|
2.3%
100th
|
-7.1%
53rd
|
| Sloan accruals ratio | -4.5%
37th
|
-6.0%
27th
|
-3.7%
43rd
|
| Earnings quality score (0-1) | 0.75
5th
|
0.50
0th
|
0.75
5th
|
Scores & forensic checks
15 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS score | 46
43rd
|
59
73rd
|
68
90th
|
| IS profitability | 15
20th
|
51
93rd
|
67
100th
|
| IS growth | 21
7th
|
69
80th
|
69
83rd
|
| IS value | 45
27th
|
76
83rd
|
53
43rd
|
| IS momentum | 55
20th
|
77
60th
|
94
93rd
|
| IS risk (safety) | 90
63rd
|
50
30th
|
65
47th
|
| IS quality | 61
47th
|
64
57th
|
82
100th
|
| IS balance sheet | 65
60th
|
43
50th
|
59
57th
|
| IS earnings quality | 83
87th
|
71
37th
|
75
63rd
|
| IS cash flow | 61
60th
|
52
50th
|
67
90th
|
| Piotroski F-score (0-9) | 4
3rd
|
6
53rd
|
8
83rd
|
| Altman Z-score | 3.5
63rd
|
1.9
33rd
|
2.5
47th
|
| Beneish M-score | −2.90
33rd
|
−2.14
87th
|
−2.95
27th
|
| Ohlson O-score | −8.71
23rd
|
−7.98
50th
|
−8.57
30th
|
| IS credit score | 76
67th
|
49
43rd
|
74
63rd
|
Size (TTM)
8 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $11.2B
87th
|
$12.5B
90th
|
$9.7B
83rd
|
| Revenue | $12.1B
87th
|
$7.7B
70th
|
$6.6B
63rd
|
| EBITDA | $872.4M
67th
|
$1.3B
80th
|
$1.5B
90th
|
| Net income | $342.6M
80th
|
$1.5B
100th
|
$597.9M
93rd
|
| Free cash flow | $780.9M
77th
|
$925.9M
90th
|
$881.2M
87th
|
| Total assets | $13.3B
80th
|
$16.7B
90th
|
$11.0B
70th
|
| Shareholders' equity | $7.8B
97th
|
$7.0B
87th
|
$5.2B
77th
|
| Employees | 20,000
87th
|
14,100
77th
|
15,000
80th
|
Price performance
9 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day | +1.0% | +1.4% | +0.8% |
| 1 week | +7.9% | +4.5% | +1.8% |
| 1 month | −0.2% | −5.8% | −7.7% |
| 3 months | −18.1% | −10.3% | −3.4% |
| 6 months | −1.1% | −12.2% | +5.9% |
| Year to date | −7.9% | −29.1% | +63.0% |
| 1 year | −9.0% | −26.4% | +93.9% |
| 3 years, cumulative | −35.3% | −18.8% | +32.1% |
| 5 years, cumulative | −41.1% | −34.1% | −15.6% |
Technicals
4 measures| Measure | HRL | MKC | DAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI 14 | 54.6 | 46.3 | 46.7 |
| From 52-week high | −21.6% | −34.1% | −12.3% |
| From 52-week low | +8.7% | +8.3% | +101.9% |
| Beta | 0.29 | 0.64 | 1.05 |
InsiderStreet reports findings from filings and market data. A comparison is not a recommendation to buy or sell either stock.Every figure is computed in code · data as of 2026-10-17