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U.S. Food Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 18, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies144
  • 7D-2.1%
  • 3M-1.2%
  • 1Y-9.3%
  • YTD2.8%

Over the last 7 days, the Food industry has dropped 2.1%, driven by pullbacks in Mondelez International and Hershey of 3.0% and 4.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, J. M. Smucker actually outperformed within the industry, gaining 5.0% in the last week. Overall the industry is down 9.3% in 12 months. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 20% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Food Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sat, 18 Apr 2026US$401.7bUS$557.8bUS$9.9b21.3x40.4x0.7x
Mon, 16 Mar 2026US$406.2bUS$556.2bUS$10.0b22.2x40.4x0.7x
Wed, 11 Feb 2026US$437.0bUS$559.3bUS$11.5b23.5x38.1x0.8x
Fri, 09 Jan 2026US$375.4bUS$555.7bUS$14.3b20.6x26.2x0.7x
Sun, 07 Dec 2025US$420.8bUS$570.8bUS$17.1b20.3x24.6x0.7x
Tue, 04 Nov 2025US$416.8bUS$559.0bUS$17.9b17.8x23.4x0.7x
Thu, 02 Oct 2025US$439.7bUS$553.5bUS$16.2b18.1x27.2x0.8x
Sat, 30 Aug 2025US$445.8bUS$554.9bUS$16.0b20.7x27.9x0.8x
Mon, 28 Jul 2025US$463.6bUS$548.2bUS$24.1b19.8x19.2x0.8x
Wed, 25 Jun 2025US$449.4bUS$548.4bUS$23.4b19.2x19.2x0.8x
Fri, 23 May 2025US$426.3bUS$468.1bUS$22.5b18.9x18.9x0.9x
Sun, 20 Apr 2025US$444.5bUS$472.3bUS$24.9b17.5x17.8x0.9x
Tue, 18 Mar 2025US$439.8bUS$471.8bUS$24.4b17.4x18.1x0.9x
Thu, 13 Feb 2025US$437.6bUS$475.7bUS$25.5b18.3x17.2x0.9x
Sat, 11 Jan 2025US$432.1bUS$464.8bUS$21.8b19.3x19.9x0.9x
Mon, 09 Dec 2024US$461.2bUS$464.4bUS$21.6b19.9x21.3x1x
Wed, 06 Nov 2024US$473.4bUS$460.6bUS$21.9b18.3x21.7x1x
Fri, 04 Oct 2024US$489.6bUS$462.2bUS$22.6b18.4x21.6x1.1x
Sun, 01 Sep 2024US$492.5bUS$461.5bUS$22.2b20.9x22.1x1.1x
Tue, 30 Jul 2024US$469.4bUS$467.0bUS$23.7b18.8x19.8x1x
Thu, 27 Jun 2024US$463.6bUS$473.7bUS$25.1b14.8x18.4x1x
Sat, 25 May 2024US$480.9bUS$474.0bUS$24.3b17.6x19.8x1x
Mon, 22 Apr 2024US$477.9bUS$472.7bUS$24.8b16.6x19.3x1x
Wed, 20 Mar 2024US$483.6bUS$473.0bUS$24.6b15.7x19.6x1x
Fri, 16 Feb 2024US$460.7bUS$478.4bUS$25.1b15x18.4x1x
Sun, 14 Jan 2024US$494.7bUS$490.0bUS$25.4b15.9x19.5x1x
Tue, 12 Dec 2023US$492.7bUS$490.0bUS$25.5b16.7x19.3x1x
Thu, 09 Nov 2023US$470.3bUS$490.0bUS$26.4b15.9x17.8x1x
Sat, 07 Oct 2023US$464.2bUS$494.5bUS$26.4b16.8x17.6x0.9x
Mon, 04 Sep 2023US$508.2bUS$491.0bUS$26.4b16x19.2x1x
Wed, 02 Aug 2023US$544.2bUS$493.8bUS$26.3b17.9x20.7x1.1x
Fri, 30 Jun 2023US$538.2bUS$499.5bUS$26.6b17.3x20.2x1.1x
Sun, 28 May 2023US$556.0bUS$499.2bUS$27.6b18.2x20.1x1.1x
Tue, 25 Apr 2023US$566.4bUS$495.6bUS$28.2b18.6x20.1x1.1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

20.1x


Total Market Cap: US$566.4bTotal Earnings: US$28.2bTotal Revenue: US$495.6bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Food Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 22.3x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the American Food industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 40.4x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 22.3x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.94x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Food industry have declined 29% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 4.0% per year.
  • This means that although more sales are being generated, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Consumer Staples industry?

US Market4.89%
Consumer Staples0.25%
Food-2.14%
Packaged Foods and Meats-1.74%
Agricultural Products-3.66%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Packaged Foods and Meats industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 24.5x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 19.4%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 6.9% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Agricultural Products industry, although it looks like investor sentiment has improved given that it's trading above its 3-year average of 15.0x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Agricultural Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 24% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 32% per year.
  • In contrast, the Packaged Foods and Meats industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 19% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
SJM J. M. SmuckerUS$95.505.0%
+US$489.5m		-18.0%PS1.1x
LW Lamb Weston HoldingsUS$44.826.2%
+US$363.1m		-16.3%PE20.6x
FRPT FreshpetUS$69.507.3%
+US$230.6m		-10.4%PE24.5x
HRL Hormel FoodsUS$21.191.5%
+US$176.1m		-30.7%PE23.8x
CPB Campbell'sUS$20.992.7%
+US$167.0m		-44.1%PE11.4x

Latest News

SJM
US$95.50
J. M. Smucker
7D
5.0%
1Y
-18.0%
CPB
US$20.99
Campbell's
7D
2.7%
1Y
-44.1%

Campbell's Vs General Mills: The Race For The Stronger Turnaround

Apr 17
DAR
US$57.95
Darling Ingredients
7D
-5.4%
1Y
88.1%

DAR: EPA RFS Mandates And Q4 Results Will Drive Upside Potential

Analysts have raised their price targets on Darling Ingredients, increasing the fair value estimate from $64.08 to $68.33. They cite updated views on growth, margins, and future P/E assumptions, supported by a series of recent target increases across major research firms.
FRPT
US$69.50
Freshpet
7D
7.3%
1Y
-10.4%
ADM
US$67.04
Archer-Daniels-Midland
7D
-3.9%
1Y
40.2%
KHC
US$22.47
Kraft Heinz
7D
-2.6%
1Y
-23.7%

Kraft Heinz Vs. Mondelez: Same Roots, Diverging Trajectories

Apr 14
LW
US$44.82
Lamb Weston Holdings
7D
6.2%
1Y
-16.3%

LW: Future Outlook Will Weigh Activist Cost Push Against Competitive Earnings Pressure

Analysts have trimmed the fair value estimate for Lamb Weston Holdings to $40.00 from $46.00, citing a wave of reduced Street price targets and concerns around earnings pressure and global competitive headwinds, while updated assumptions reflect mixed shifts in growth, margins and expected P/E levels. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around Lamb Weston points to a clear tilt toward caution, with a cluster of lowered price targets and more guarded narratives around earnings and competitive positioning.
MDLZ
US$57.25
Mondelez International
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-15.0%

Mondelez: Durable Snacking With Volume And Price Tailwinds Entering FY2026 - Reiterate Buy

Apr 14
BYND
US$0.82
Beyond Meat
7D
37.9%
1Y
-70.2%
HRL
US$21.19
Hormel Foods
7D
1.5%
1Y
-30.7%

HRL: 2026 Guidance And AI Rollout Will Drive Upside Potential

Analysts trimmed their price target on Hormel Foods to $27.00 from $27.63, reflecting slightly softer revenue growth assumptions and a modestly lower future P/E multiple, partly offset by a small improvement in projected profit margins. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Hormel Foods points to a more cautious stance, with the latest JPMorgan downgrade and the trimmed price target signaling mixed confidence in how the current valuation lines up with execution and profit expectations.
MKC
US$54.33
McCormick
7D
1.2%
1Y
-27.9%
BG
US$119.26
Bunge Global
7D
-3.8%
1Y
51.0%

BG: Buybacks And Stable Assumptions Will Support Steady Fair Value Outlook

Analysts have lifted their price target for Bunge Global from $132.50 to $135.00, citing updated assumptions around fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E that support a slightly higher valuation framework. What's in the News Bunge Global SA announced a quarterly dividend of US$0.72 per share, payable on June 1, 2026, with an ex dividend and record date of May 22, 2026 (Key Developments).
SMPL
US$11.89
Simply Good Foods
7D
13.9%
1Y
-68.1%
JBS
US$17.71
JBS
7D
-3.3%
1Y
n/a

JBS: Shares Rise 26% This Year, But The Main Trigger Is Yet To Come

Apr 10
PPC
US$33.91
Pilgrim's Pride
7D
-4.3%
1Y
-37.2%
HSY
US$192.63
Hershey
7D
-4.8%
1Y
15.6%