AUSTIN, Minn., Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a Fortune 500 global branded food company, today announced the upcoming retirements of two long-tenured leaders: Mark Morey, vice president of operations for fresh pork, and Paul Peil, vice president of marketing for fresh and ready meats. Continue Reading "Mark has been a trusted leader at Hormel Foods for more than three decades, serving in roles across sales, marketing, general management and operations," said Jeff Ettinge ...

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation has appointed Jason Levine as the new chief marketing officer (CMO), a role aimed at enhancing marketing capabilities and accelerating growth strategies [1][3][4] Group 1: Leadership and Experience - Jason Levine brings over 20 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, having previously served as CMO for North America at Mondelz International, overseeing a multibillion-dollar portfolio [2][5] - Levine's background includes significant roles at Kraft Foods Group and PIM Brands, where he led marketing initiatives and innovation strategies [2][5] Group 2: Strategic Focus - The new CMO role will focus on advancing brand strategy, digital capabilities, and creating scalable marketing platforms across various channels and markets [3] - The integration of enterprise business analytics with the Brand Fuel function will enhance the strategic use of data and technology for impactful brand marketing and consumer-driven growth [3] Group 3: Company Overview - Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, generates approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and is recognized for its diverse portfolio of brands, including PLANTERS, SKIPPY, and SPAM [7][8] - The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and has received numerous accolades for corporate responsibility and community service [7][8]

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) Q4 2025 Earnings Call December 04, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsJeff Ettinger - Interim CEOPooran Sharma - Managing DirectorPaul Kuehneman - Interim CFO and ControllerHeather Jones - FounderLeah Jordan - VP of Equity ResearchErica Eiler - Associate Equity ResearchMax Gumport - Director of Equity ResearchJohn Ghingo - PresidentJess Blomberg - Director of Investor RelationsBen Theurer - Managing DirectorYasmin Deswandhy - Equity Research AssociateConference Call ParticipantsTom ...

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL) Q4 2025 Earnings Call December 04, 2025 09:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsJeff Ettinger - Interim CEOPooran Sharma - Managing DirectorPaul Kuehneman - Interim CFO and ControllerYasmine Deswandhy - Equity Research AssociateHeather Jones - FounderLeah Jordan - VP of Equity ResearchErica Eiler - Associate Equity ResearchMax Gumport - Director of Equity ResearchJohn Ghingo - PresidentJess Blomberg - Director of Investor RelationsBen Theurer - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsTo ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For fiscal 2025, net sales exceeded $12 billion, representing a 2% organic growth over the prior year, despite falling short of earnings goals [5][12] - Operating income for fiscal 2025 was $719 million, with an adjusted operating income of just over $1 billion, resulting in an operating margin of 5.9% and an adjusted operating margin of 8.4% [16] - Diluted EPS for the full year was $0.87, with adjusted diluted EPS at $1.37; for the fourth quarter, diluted loss per share was $0.10, while adjusted diluted EPS was $0.32 [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The retail segment faced profitability pressures due to heightened commodity costs, but leading brands like Jennie-O and SPAM maintained strong market positions [6][8] - The foodservice segment outperformed the broader industry, leveraging direct sales and innovation, although it faced challenges from traffic declines and higher input costs [6][8] - The international segment's performance varied, with strong contributions from China but challenges in Brazil impacting overall growth objectives [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pork market saw a 25% increase in pork bellies and a 10% rise in pork cutouts, while beef remained a significant inflationary pressure throughout the year [12][13] - Turkey supply constraints are expected to continue into the first half of 2026 due to avian illnesses affecting the supply chain [13][14] - The Planters brand experienced a 12% increase in dollar consumption and a 6% increase in volume consumption, indicating recovery in the snack category [58] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to focus on a protein-centric portfolio, emphasizing consumer needs and expanding brand capabilities to drive growth [20][21] - Strategic priorities for 2026 include consumer obsession, breaking brand boundaries, and becoming future-ready through portfolio reshaping and technological advancements [20][28] - The Transform and Modernize initiative will continue to support margin expansion and operational efficiency [34][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged a challenging fiscal 2025 but expressed confidence in returning to growth in fiscal 2026, targeting organic net sales growth of 1%-4% and adjusted operating income growth of 4%-10% [32][33] - The consumer environment remains strained, with expectations of continued value-seeking behavior, impacting demand in both retail and foodservice channels [72] - Management highlighted the importance of agility in responding to market volatility and refining processes for better commodity risk management [70] Other Important Information - The company returned a record $633 million to shareholders in dividends, marking 60 consecutive years of dividend increases [18] - A corporate restructuring resulted in a reduction of approximately 250 positions, aimed at streamlining operations and supporting long-term growth [9][51] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you unpack guidance further and key factors to consider? - Management expects organic net sales growth of 1%-4% and adjusted operating income growth of 4%-10%, driven by pricing actions and enhanced marketing support [39][40] Question: What is the status of portfolio reshaping? - Portfolio reshaping is an ongoing strategic effort to simplify operations and focus on sustainable long-term growth, including exiting non-strategic businesses [42][43] Question: What are the expectations for turkey markets? - Turkey remains a critical business, with expectations for elevated whole bird prices throughout the year, but ground turkey continues to perform well [46][49] Question: What are the expected savings from restructuring? - The restructuring is expected to deliver gross savings in the range of two to three times the expected cost to implement, with a quick payback within the first 12 months [51][52] Question: How is the Planters brand performing? - Planters is back in growth mode, with a 12% increase in dollar consumption and a 13% increase in distribution, although profit recovery is impacted by mix shifts [57][58] Question: What is the outlook for the Brazil venture? - The Brazil venture is under review, with ongoing assessments of the international portfolio to determine strategic fit and performance [62][64] Question: How does the consumer environment factor into the outlook? - The consumer environment is expected to remain challenging, with continued value-seeking behavior influencing demand across channels [72][73]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation reported solid top-line growth for fiscal 2025, driven by brand relevance and a strong value-added portfolio, but faced profitability challenges due to input cost inflation and discrete items [4][6] - The company is focused on reshaping its earnings trajectory in fiscal 2026 with strategic initiatives aimed at consumer needs and operational excellence [4][5] Fiscal 2025 Results - Net sales reached $12.1 billion, with organic net sales up 2% [7] - Operating income was $719 million, with an adjusted operating income of $1,019 million [7] - The effective tax rate was 28.0%, and diluted earnings per share were $0.87, with adjusted diluted earnings per share at $1.37 [7][13] Fiscal 2026 Outlook - The company expects net sales between $12.2 billion and $12.5 billion, with organic net sales growth of 1% to 4% [6][8] - Adjusted operating income is projected to be between $1.06 billion and $1.12 billion, reflecting a growth of 4% to 10% [8] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share are anticipated to be in the range of $1.43 to $1.51, also indicating growth of 4% to 10% [8] Dividend Growth - Hormel Foods announced a 1% increase in its quarterly dividend, marking 60 years of uninterrupted dividend increases [9] Segment Highlights - Retail segment net sales growth was driven by turkey products, Planters snack nuts, and Applegate products, despite a decline in segment profit due to non-cash impairment charges [12][14] - Foodservice segment saw organic net sales growth from customized solutions and branded offerings, but faced profit declines due to a chicken-product recall and rising input costs [15] - International segment growth was led by SPAM and refrigerated products, although it faced challenges from fresh pork exports and competitive pressures in Brazil [16] Financial Position - Cash flow from operations was $845 million, with total long-term debt at $2.9 billion [7][13] - The company maintained a strong financial position with cash on hand of $671 million and inventories of $1.7 billion at fiscal year-end [13][27]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) is expected to report a revenue increase of 2.1% year-over-year, with fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 revenues estimated at $3.2 billion [1] - The earnings consensus has decreased by 11.8% in the last 30 days to 30 cents per share, reflecting a 28.6% decline from the previous year's quarter [2] Sales Performance - Strong consumer demand for protein-focused retail brands, including SPAM, Hormel pepperoni, Jennie-O ground turkey, and Wholly Guacamole, has supported sales momentum [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the Retail segment's sales is projected at $1,945 million for the fourth quarter, up from $1,907 million in the same period last year [4] - Foodservice volumes have outperformed the broader industry, although weak traffic in convenience stores poses a concern [4][9] Cost Challenges - Input-cost inflation, particularly in pork and beef markets, has significantly impacted margins, with elevated costs continuing into early fourth quarter [5][9] - Despite targeted pricing actions, retail pricing adjustments are expected to lag, with more substantial recovery anticipated only in fiscal 2026 [6] - The Transform and Modernize initiative is yielding savings, but these are insufficient to fully offset inflationary pressures in the near term, raising profitability concerns [6][9] Earnings Outlook - Current indicators do not suggest a strong likelihood of an earnings beat for Hormel Foods, as it holds a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) and an Earnings ESP of 0.00% [7]

Core Insights - Hormel Foods Corporation has announced its fourth cohort of the 10 Under 20 Food Heroes program, recognizing young individuals dedicated to creating a more transparent, secure, and sustainable food system [1][2][3] Group 1: Program Overview - The 10 Under 20 Food Heroes program aims to foster a nationwide network of young changemakers focused on improving their communities [2] - Hormel Foods will host the honorees at its global headquarters in Austin, Minnesota, providing mentorship and resources to help scale their projects [2][3] - This year's program includes mental health and resilience training for the cohort and their families, in partnership with Be Strong [3] Group 2: Individual Contributions - Adam Belouad, 19, has led Hand to Hunger, serving over 220,000 meals and mobilizing 62,500 student volunteers [4] - Ali Muzik, 17, enhances the Packer Pantry and Clothing Closet, optimizing pantry usage through an online ordering form [5] - Angelina Xu and Advika Agarwal, both 19, co-founded Compostology, which helped pass a state bill allocating $1.25 million for K-12 composting programs [6] - Atreya Manaswi, 19, developed an eco-friendly pesticide that could save the beekeeping industry over $1 billion annually [8] - Bella Brown, 18, co-founded Living Outside, distributing over 6,000 care bags and raising over $8,000 in donations [9] - Bruce Matos, 17, has helped distribute over 7 million pounds of food through the Joshua's Heart Foundation [10] - Chris Matthews, 18, supports families in need through his nonprofit Blankies 4 My Buddies, helping over 5,000 families [11] - Hunter Guthrie, 17, founded A Taste of Home, raising over $60,000 to combat food waste and insecurity [12] - Laura Kopec, 20, has prepared nearly 40,000 meals for foster children, raising over $300,000 [13] - Ryan Gustis, 19, founded The Backpack Project, delivering over 3,000 backpacks with essentials to those in need [14] Group 3: Company Background - Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, generates approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and is a member of the S&P 500 Index [16] - The company is recognized for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts, with numerous awards for its initiatives [16]

Core Points - Hormel Foods Corporation announced a 1 percent increase in its quarterly dividend, raising the annualized rate to $1.17 per share, marking the 60th consecutive annual dividend increase [1] - The authorized quarterly dividend is set at 29.25 cents ($0.2925) per share, to be paid on February 17, 2026, to stockholders of record as of January 12, 2026, representing the 390th consecutive quarterly dividend [2] - Hormel Foods has maintained uninterrupted quarterly dividend payments since becoming a public company in 1928 [2] Company Overview - Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue [3] - The company’s brand portfolio includes well-known names such as Planters, Skippy, SPAM, and Jennie-O, among others, totaling over 30 brands [3] - Hormel Foods is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, recognized for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts [3]

Core Points - Hormel Foods Corporation has been recognized on Military Times' 2025 Best for Vets employer list for the 13th consecutive year, highlighting its commitment to supporting military service members and their families [1][2] - The company emphasizes its recruitment and retention efforts for veterans, showcasing its employee resource group, HMVET, which aids military members in integrating into the company [2][3] - Hormel Foods has approximately $12 billion in annual revenue and is known for its diverse portfolio of brands, including PLANTERS, SKIPPY, and SPAM, among others [4] Recruitment and Support - The Best for Vets survey evaluates companies based on their recruitment practices, retention programs, and support for transitioning service members and their families [2] - Hormel Foods' HMVET group provides a platform for military members and their families to foster camaraderie and support throughout their careers [3] Company Overview - Hormel Foods is a global branded food company based in Austin, Minnesota, and is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats [4] - The company has received multiple accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts, reinforcing its reputation as a responsible employer [4]