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U.S. Food Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 21, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies145
  • 7D-0.9%
  • 3M-2.8%
  • 1Y-9.4%
  • YTD2.3%

The Food is pretty flat in the last 7 days, but J. M. Smucker has stood out, gaining 7.4%. Unfortunately though, the industry is down 9.4% over the past 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
Wed, 22 Apr 2026US$401.8bUS$557.8bUS$9.9b21.4x40.4x0.7x
Fri, 20 Mar 2026US$403.2bUS$555.9bUS$9.7b20.3x41.6x0.7x
Sun, 15 Feb 2026US$439.7bUS$556.2bUS$10.0b24.4x44.1x0.8x
Tue, 13 Jan 2026US$392.0bUS$555.7bUS$14.3b21.1x27.3x0.7x
Thu, 11 Dec 2025US$416.1bUS$570.7bUS$17.0b21.3x24.4x0.7x
Sat, 08 Nov 2025US$411.4bUS$569.3bUS$17.8b18.6x23x0.7x
Mon, 06 Oct 2025US$444.0bUS$553.4bUS$16.2b18x27.4x0.8x
Wed, 03 Sep 2025US$449.2bUS$554.1bUS$16.0b20.6x28.1x0.8x
Fri, 01 Aug 2025US$452.7bUS$548.6bUS$16.4b20.1x27.5x0.8x
Sun, 29 Jun 2025US$442.1bUS$548.9bUS$23.2b19.1x19.1x0.8x
Tue, 27 May 2025US$426.1bUS$468.1bUS$22.5b18.4x18.9x0.9x
Thu, 24 Apr 2025US$446.2bUS$472.3bUS$24.9b17.2x17.9x0.9x
Sat, 22 Mar 2025US$438.6bUS$471.5bUS$24.3b17.1x18x0.9x
Mon, 17 Feb 2025US$435.1bUS$475.9bUS$25.7b19.3x16.9x0.9x
Wed, 15 Jan 2025US$426.3bUS$461.7bUS$21.1b20x20.2x0.9x
Fri, 13 Dec 2024US$465.3bUS$464.4bUS$21.6b21.3x21.5x1x
Sun, 10 Nov 2024US$470.5bUS$460.5bUS$21.8b18.7x21.6x1x
Tue, 08 Oct 2024US$487.9bUS$462.2bUS$22.6b18.4x21.6x1.1x
Thu, 05 Sep 2024US$495.5bUS$461.5bUS$22.2b20.5x22.3x1.1x
Sat, 03 Aug 2024US$476.1bUS$461.4bUS$21.6b19.4x22x1x
Mon, 01 Jul 2024US$457.1bUS$473.3bUS$25.1b15.6x18.2x1x
Wed, 29 May 2024US$479.4bUS$474.0bUS$24.3b17.2x19.7x1x
Fri, 26 Apr 2024US$485.6bUS$475.9bUS$24.5b16.9x19.8x1x
Sun, 24 Mar 2024US$486.2bUS$473.0bUS$24.7b15.3x19.7x1x
Tue, 20 Feb 2024US$465.5bUS$478.2bUS$24.9b14.8x18.7x1x
Thu, 18 Jan 2024US$493.4bUS$489.9bUS$25.4b16x19.4x1x
Sat, 16 Dec 2023US$490.8bUS$490.1bUS$25.5b16.7x19.3x1x
Mon, 13 Nov 2023US$471.9bUS$490.1bUS$26.5b16x17.8x1x
Wed, 11 Oct 2023US$468.3bUS$494.5bUS$26.4b17.1x17.8x0.9x
Fri, 08 Sep 2023US$501.7bUS$491.3bUS$26.4b15.5x19x1x
Sun, 06 Aug 2023US$542.2bUS$491.0bUS$27.4b17.3x19.8x1.1x
Tue, 04 Jul 2023US$547.8bUS$499.6bUS$26.6b17.4x20.6x1.1x
Thu, 01 Jun 2023US$548.0bUS$499.2bUS$27.6b18.1x19.8x1.1x
Sat, 29 Apr 2023US$578.8bUS$497.7bUS$29.3b18.7x19.7x1.2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

19.7x


Total Market Cap: US$578.8bTotal Earnings: US$29.3bTotal Revenue: US$497.7bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Food Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 22.4x202420252026
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 Market3.58%
Consumer Staples1.43%
Food-0.89%
Packaged Foods and Meats-0.62%
Agricultural Products-1.95%
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 15.1x.
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$96.147.4%
+US$704.9m		-17.0%PS1.1x
LW Lamb Weston HoldingsUS$46.008.8%
+US$513.6m		-10.7%PE21.2x
HRL Hormel FoodsUS$21.334.2%
+US$467.7m		-29.8%PE24x
GIS General MillsUS$35.282.1%
+US$384.3m		-38.8%PE8.5x
CPB Campbell'sUS$21.265.4%
+US$325.0m		-43.4%PE11.5x

Latest News

MZTI
US$127.13
Marzetti
7D
-10.7%
1Y
-33.5%
MKC
US$51.98
McCormick
7D
-3.5%
1Y
-31.4%

McCormick: A Merger With Unilever's Food Business Will Drive Growth

Apr 20
ADM
US$69.83
Archer-Daniels-Midland
7D
1.4%
1Y
43.9%

ADM: Policy Support And Execution Risks Will Likely Keep Shares Fairly Valued

Analysts have raised their price targets on Archer-Daniels-Midland, supporting a fair value update from about $63.82 to $64.91 as they incorporate recent target increases from several firms and the impact of the EPA's final RFS volume mandates. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around Archer-Daniels-Midland focuses on updated price targets and the implications of the EPA's final Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, volume mandates.
SJM
US$95.74
J. M. Smucker
7D
3.8%
1Y
-18.7%
KHC
US$21.98
Kraft Heinz
7D
-0.6%
1Y
-27.2%

KHC: Brand Investment And Product Refresh Will Support Post 2025 Turnaround Prospects

The Analyst Price Target for Kraft Heinz has been nudged lower by about $0.15, as analysts factor in softer revenue growth assumptions, slightly adjusted discount and P/E inputs, and modestly firmer profit margin expectations following a series of mostly reduced Street targets and neutral ratings. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Kraft Heinz has leaned cautious overall, with several firms trimming price targets or downgrading ratings, while a smaller group has made incremental upward target adjustments.
HSY
US$188.71
Hershey
7D
-4.5%
1Y
12.7%

HSY: Cocoa Cost Normalization Will Shape Future Earnings Resilience

Hershey's updated analyst price target edges lower by about $2, as analysts weigh slightly higher revenue growth and margin expectations against a modestly reduced future P/E, along with a series of recent target cuts and rating shifts across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research shows a mix of optimism and caution on Hershey, with several firms adjusting price targets higher or lower and a few making rating changes that affect how investors may think about valuation and execution risk.
POST
US$106.93
Post Holdings
7D
6.3%
1Y
-7.4%

POST: Ongoing Share Repurchases Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts now estimate fair value for Post Holdings at about $124.43 per share, compared with the prior estimate of $130.13. This reflects updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, a slightly higher discount rate, and a lower expected future P/E multiple.
CPB
US$20.91
Campbell's
7D
4.6%
1Y
-44.8%

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

Apr 17
CAG
US$14.67
Conagra Brands
7D
2.7%
1Y
-42.4%

CAG: Higher Leverage And Tight Dividends Will Shape Cautious Future Returns

Analysts have trimmed their average price target on Conagra Brands, with reductions from multiple firms resulting in a lower consolidated target in the low to mid $10s. They cite valuation concerns, slightly softer revenue growth assumptions, and sector wide caution on earnings and leverage, even as profit margin expectations edge higher and the assumed future P/E multiple shifts modestly.
SENE.A
US$134.16
Seneca Foods
7D
-17.6%
1Y
53.6%
MDLZ
US$56.13
Mondelez International
7D
-3.0%
1Y
-17.8%

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

Apr 14
HRL
US$21.25
Hormel Foods
7D
2.4%
1Y
-30.8%

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.
BG
US$125.83
Bunge Global
7D
2.9%
1Y
57.1%

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).
JBS
US$17.72
JBS
7D
-1.9%
1Y
n/a

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

Apr 10
PPC
US$33.09
Pilgrim's Pride
7D
-5.7%
1Y
-39.3%
GIS
US$35.05
General Mills
7D
1.0%
1Y
-39.6%

GIS: Promotional Reset And Clean Label Shift Will Support Gradual Category Recovery

Analysts have trimmed the General Mills fair value estimate by about $0.63 to $40.89. This reflects a series of reduced price targets in recent research that highlight softer volume trends, higher promotional intensity, and an extended timeline for any potential recovery in key categories like cereal, pet food, and snacks.