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U.S. Food Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 02, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies147
  • 7D2.6%
  • 3M9.3%
  • 1Y-1.0%
  • YTD12.7%

The Food industry is up 2.6% in the last week, with Hershey up 4.5%. During this same period, the Nomad Foods underperformed, falling 15%. Despite this gain, the industry's performance has been flat over the past year. 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
Mon, 02 Mar 2026US$440.8bUS$556.7bUS$9.9b24.6x44.7x0.8x
Wed, 28 Jan 2026US$415.1bUS$550.2bUS$13.8b21.6x30x0.8x
Fri, 26 Dec 2025US$391.0bUS$555.9bUS$14.5b20.1x27x0.7x
Sun, 23 Nov 2025US$425.0bUS$569.0bUS$17.0b19.4x25x0.7x
Tue, 21 Oct 2025US$439.7bUS$551.9bUS$16.3b18.2x27x0.8x
Thu, 18 Sep 2025US$443.8bUS$556.6bUS$16.5b18.4x26.8x0.8x
Sat, 16 Aug 2025US$450.3bUS$555.2bUS$16.3b20.9x27.7x0.8x
Mon, 14 Jul 2025US$455.0bUS$547.8bUS$24.0b19.5x19x0.8x
Wed, 11 Jun 2025US$518.4bUS$547.7bUS$24.4b18.9x21.3x0.9x
Fri, 09 May 2025US$432.6bUS$468.1bUS$22.7b19x19x0.9x
Sun, 06 Apr 2025US$440.6bUS$471.4bUS$24.5b16.9x18x0.9x
Tue, 04 Mar 2025US$448.5bUS$471.2bUS$24.4b18.7x18.4x1x
Thu, 30 Jan 2025US$436.9bUS$478.4bUS$22.2b20x19.7x0.9x
Sat, 28 Dec 2024US$445.9bUS$464.4bUS$21.6b20x20.7x1x
Mon, 25 Nov 2024US$467.3bUS$459.1bUS$21.4b19.6x21.8x1x
Wed, 23 Oct 2024US$481.5bUS$462.1bUS$22.6b17.9x21.3x1x
Fri, 20 Sep 2024US$500.6bUS$461.6bUS$22.2b19.1x22.5x1.1x
Sun, 18 Aug 2024US$483.4bUS$461.0bUS$22.2b20.1x21.8x1x
Tue, 16 Jul 2024US$459.7bUS$472.8bUS$24.4b17.8x18.8x1x
Thu, 13 Jun 2024US$466.2bUS$473.7bUS$25.1b14.4x18.6x1x
Sat, 11 May 2024US$487.0bUS$474.0bUS$24.3b15.7x20.1x1x
Mon, 08 Apr 2024US$480.3bUS$472.8bUS$24.8b15.8x19.4x1x
Wed, 06 Mar 2024US$468.8bUS$477.0bUS$24.9b15x18.8x1x
Fri, 02 Feb 2024US$496.5bUS$490.6bUS$25.9b16.2x19.2x1x
Sun, 31 Dec 2023US$495.3bUS$490.0bUS$25.5b16.6x19.4x1x
Tue, 28 Nov 2023US$484.7bUS$490.5bUS$25.6b15.9x18.9x1x
Thu, 26 Oct 2023US$462.4bUS$491.5bUS$26.2b16.9x17.7x0.9x
Sat, 23 Sep 2023US$499.6bUS$491.3bUS$26.2b18.4x19.1x1x
Mon, 21 Aug 2023US$522.2bUS$491.1bUS$26.4b16.3x19.8x1.1x
Wed, 19 Jul 2023US$538.1bUS$494.2bUS$26.2b16.9x20.6x1.1x
Fri, 16 Jun 2023US$551.3bUS$499.3bUS$26.7b16.9x20.6x1.1x
Sun, 14 May 2023US$578.3bUS$499.1bUS$27.7b18.9x20.9x1.2x
Tue, 11 Apr 2023US$564.8bUS$495.5bUS$28.2b18.1x20x1.1x
Thu, 09 Mar 2023US$538.0bUS$493.3bUS$28.1b16.6x19.1x1.1x
Price to Earnings Ratio

19.1x


Total Market Cap: US$538.0bTotal Earnings: US$28.1bTotal Revenue: US$493.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Food Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 21.4x202420252026
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 44.7x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 21.4x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.96x.
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 4.1% 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 Market-0.57%
Consumer Staples2.73%
Food2.62%
Packaged Foods and Meats3.04%
Agricultural Products0.79%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Packaged Foods and Meats industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 23.5x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 19.2%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 0.1% 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 14.1x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Agricultural Products industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 21% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 28% 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
HSY HersheyUS$236.284.5%
+US$2.1b		32.4%PE54.2x
MDLZ Mondelez InternationalUS$61.582.0%
+US$1.5b		-6.4%PE32.2x
JBS JBSUS$16.894.6%
+US$831.8m		n/aPE9.1x
TSN Tyson FoodsUS$64.993.2%
+US$714.7m		5.1%PE114.4x
ADM Archer-Daniels-MidlandUS$69.041.7%
+US$558.2m		46.3%PE30.8x

Latest News

CPB
US$26.95
Campbell's
7D
-0.6%
1Y
-34.7%
VITL
US$21.09
Vital Farms
7D
-17.5%
1Y
-33.2%

Brand Strength And Capacity Expansion Will Support Long Term Value Creation

Catalysts About Vital Farms Vital Farms produces pasture raised eggs and related products through a network of small farms focused on humane animal care. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
SJM
US$115.95
J. M. Smucker
7D
4.5%
1Y
3.4%

SJM: Governance Changes And Execution In 2026 Will Shape EPS Outcomes

Our analyst fair value estimate for J. M.
NOMD
US$10.97
Nomad Foods
7D
-15.1%
1Y
-44.7%
FLO
US$9.88
Flowers Foods
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-48.0%
GIS
US$45.23
General Mills
7D
-0.3%
1Y
-27.1%
BG
US$120.65
Bunge Global
7D
-0.6%
1Y
68.0%

BG: Share Cancellations And Capital Plans Will Support Steady Fair Value Outlook

Analysts have kept their price target for Bunge Global steady at $126.00. This reflects largely unchanged assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E in their latest models.
PPC
US$43.16
Pilgrim's Pride
7D
5.3%
1Y
-21.2%

PPC: Future Returns Will Reflect Modest Assumption Shifts And Steady Risk Profile

Analysts have raised their price target on Pilgrim's Pride from $43.57 to $45.00. They cite updated assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E that adjust their outlook on the stock's risk and return profile.
WEST
US$4.42
Westrock Coffee
7D
-9.8%
1Y
-28.4%

WEST: Refined Assumptions Will Support Upside As Fair Value Remains Steady

Analysts have reaffirmed their $9.50 price target on Westrock Coffee, with only minor tweaks to assumptions on discount rate, profit margin, and future P/E. These adjustments support an unchanged view of fair value.
MDLZ
US$61.58
Mondelez International
7D
2.0%
1Y
-6.4%

MDLZ: Steady Guidance And Buybacks Will Support Margins And Future Re Rating

The analyst price target for Mondelez International edges slightly higher to $66.92, as analysts keep estimates broadly steady and point to relatively unchanged guidance at the recent CAGNY conference while adjusting expectations across the wider U.S. food group. Analyst Commentary Recent research around the 2026 CAGNY conference paints a mixed but generally constructive picture for Mondelez, with most commentary focused on how resilient its guidance looks compared with other large U.S. food names and how that feeds into valuation resets across the group.
ADM
US$69.04
Archer-Daniels-Midland
7D
1.7%
1Y
46.3%

ADM: Commodity Oversupply And Mixed Agriculture Setup Will Pressure Future Returns

Analysts have slightly increased their fair value estimate for Archer Daniels Midland to $60.73 from $59.64. This change reflects a series of recent upward price target revisions in the $57 to $68 range, as they incorporate updated sector views and company specific assumptions.
TSN
US$64.99
Tyson Foods
7D
3.2%
1Y
5.1%
HSY
US$236.28
Hershey
7D
4.5%
1Y
32.4%

HSY: Easing Cocoa Costs Will Support Reinvestment And Future Earnings Power

Our fair value estimate for Hershey has been updated to $267 from $224, reflecting a series of higher analyst price targets that cite easing cocoa costs, tariff relief, and increased flexibility to reinvest in growth. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Hershey has tilted clearly bullish, with a cluster of higher price targets and at least one rating upgrade as cocoa and tariff headwinds ease.
MKC
US$71.04
McCormick
7D
2.2%
1Y
-16.2%

MKC: Reset Long Term Goals And Brand Collaborations Will Shape Future Margin Path

Our revised analyst price target for McCormick edges up by about $0.46 per share as analysts balance slightly higher modeled revenue growth and a modestly higher future P/E with more cautious long term company goals, along with a trim to profit margin expectations following recent industry conference commentary and target cuts across the Street. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around the 2026 CAGNY conference points to a more cautious stance on McCormick, with several firms adjusting long term expectations and price targets across the U.S. food group.
SFD
US$24.88
Smithfield Foods
7D
-1.2%
1Y
19.2%
JBS
US$16.89
JBS
7D
4.6%
1Y
n/a