Trump Accuses Meat Companies of Price Manipulation, DOJ Launches Criminal Investigation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 11 hours ago
0mins
After President Trump in November accused beef companies of manipulating prices for cattle and driving up prices for consumers, the Justice Department's antitrust division is criminally investigating the conduct of large meatpackers, reported The Wall Street Journal's Dave Michaels and Patrick Thomas. The Justice Department disclosed an investigation of beef companies after Trump's call for intervention, but officials haven't revealed that it is a criminal probe, the report noted. Publicly traded companies in the meat production space include Hormel Foods (HRL), JBS (JBS), Pilgrim's Pride (PPC) and Tyson Foods (TSN).
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Analyst Views on HRL
Wall Street analysts forecast HRL stock price to rise
5 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 21.190
Low
26.00
Averages
27.40
High
30.00
Current: 21.190
Low
26.00
Averages
27.40
High
30.00
About HRL
Hormel Foods Corporation is a global-branded food company. The Company develops, processes, and distributes a range of food products in a variety of markets. Its segments include Retail, Foodservice, and International. The Retail segment is primarily engaged in the processing, marketing, and sale of food products sold predominantly in the retail market. This segment also includes the Company’s MegaMex Foods, LLC joint venture. The Foodservice segment consists primarily of the processing, marketing, and sale of food products to foodservice, convenience store, and commercial customers located in the United States. The International segment processes, markets, and sells its products internationally. This segment also includes the results from the Company’s international joint ventures, international equity method investments, and international royalty arrangements. It has a global presence within several major international markets, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, and England.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Identifying Investment Opportunities: Volatile periods often reveal specific companies that may be undervalued due to noise, presenting excellent entry points, especially for businesses with durable demand and clear execution strategies.
- Hormel Foods' Diversification Strategy: Hormel Foods captures market share by offering both branded pricing power and private-label manufacturing, allowing it to retain customers who trade down, while its 60 consecutive years of dividend increases make it a solid investment choice.
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- Stock Performance: Hormel Foods shares fell approximately 3% following a downgrade by JP Morgan.
- Downgrade Reason: The downgrade categorized Hormel Foods as 'neutral', indicating a lack of strong buy or sell recommendations.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Consumer Goods Amid Market Volatility
- Post Holdings Potential: Post Holdings (POST), a cereal and convenience food company, is projected to achieve significant earnings growth over the next 12 months, with a market cap of $4.9 billion and a stock price of $101.59, indicating strong pricing power and stability amid market volatility.
- Utz Brands Market Positioning: Utz Brands (UTZ) focuses on high-velocity products while cutting underperforming units, and despite limited media coverage, it holds a significant position in the salty snack market characterized by strong brand loyalty, showcasing robust long-term investment value.
- Hormel Foods Resilience: Hormel Foods (HRL), a 'Dividend King' with 60 consecutive years of dividend increases, currently has a market cap of $12 billion and a stock price of $21.16, attracting consumers during economic downturns and demonstrating stability and appeal in uncertain markets.
- Clorox Innovation Investment: Clorox (CLX), while facing private-label competition, is investing in innovation and marketing to maintain market share, with a market cap of $13 billion and a stock price of $104.58, indicating its long-term investment potential in the essential goods market.
See More
Consumer Brands Show Resilience in Volatile Markets
- Demand Stability Advantage: Consumer brands like Post Holdings and Hormel Foods benefit from steady demand even in uncertain markets, showcasing their resilience as long-term holds, particularly during market turmoil.
- Identifying Investment Opportunities: Volatile periods often reveal specific companies that may be undervalued due to noise, presenting excellent entry points, especially for businesses with durable demand and clear execution strategies.
- Hormel Foods' Diversification Strategy: Hormel Foods captures market share by offering both branded pricing power and private-label manufacturing, allowing it to retain customers who trade down, while its 60 consecutive years of dividend increases make it a solid investment choice.
- Bath & Body Works Risk Warning: Despite Bath & Body Works trading at a low valuation, major investors are exiting due to declining sales and lowered guidance, highlighting the importance of company performance and market confidence amid economic uncertainty.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Consumer Staples Stocks
- Dividend Durability: Despite short-term earnings pressure, General Mills (GIS) maintains a 127-year uninterrupted dividend payment history, currently yielding 6.7%, making it highly attractive for long-term income investors within the S&P 500.
- Brand Resilience: Hormel Foods (HRL) has raised its dividend for 59 consecutive years, and despite a 50% drop in share price since April 2022, its brands like Spam and Skippy remain market leaders, showcasing strong brand resilience and adaptability.
- Market Potential: Kenvue (KVUE), spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, has seen its stock price drop about 30%, yet its product portfolio including Tylenol and Listerine shows a 3.2% revenue growth quarter-over-quarter, indicating defensibility and growth potential in consumer health.
- E-commerce Penetration: Church & Dwight (CHD) has achieved a 23% e-commerce channel share in global sales, with brands like Arm & Hammer contributing 70% of revenue, and is guiding for 3% to 4% organic sales growth in 2026, highlighting strong market prospects and investment value.
See More
Investment Opportunities in Consumer Stocks
- Market Confidence Decline: The consumer confidence index has dropped to 56.4, nearing recession levels, prompting a shift towards defensive businesses, and despite flat performance in consumer staples in 2025, there are opportunities to buy at low prices.
- General Mills' Investment Value: General Mills (GIS) is trading at a 15-year low with a year-to-date decline of about 21%, yet its 127-year uninterrupted dividend history and a 6.7% yield make it a reliable choice for long-term passive income.
- Hormel Foods' Resilience: Hormel Foods (HRL) has raised its dividend for 59 consecutive years, and despite a 50% drop from its 2022 peak, its brand leadership and dual position in private-label manufacturing provide a defensive edge.
- Kenvue's Market Potential: Kenvue (KVUE), spun off from Johnson & Johnson, is down 30% from its 52-week high, but its stable product portfolio and analyst support make it an investment worth considering.
See More
Market Dynamics and Investment Opportunities Analysis
- Oil Price Surge Impact: U.S. benchmark WTI crude prices have risen by 5% to over $99 a barrel, raising expectations for the resumption of oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which could significantly impact global supply chains and related stock performances.
- Stock Market Recovery: The S&P 500 has rebounded 6.9% from its war-driven low on March 30, now just 2.8% below its record close on January 27, indicating growing market confidence in economic recovery, particularly as labor market and inflation data stabilize.
- Meta and CoreWeave Partnership: Meta Platforms has announced a $21 billion long-term agreement with CoreWeave to enhance AI computing capacity, highlighting the ongoing demand for growth in the AI sector as Meta seeks computing resources to support its Reels and new AI models.
- Capital One Rating Upgrade: JPMorgan has upgraded Capital One from hold to buy, viewing the credit card issuer as a strong pick in consumer finance despite market volatility, with expectations that synergies from the Discover acquisition will drive future performance improvements.
See More
HORMEL FOODS STOCK FALLS NEARLY 3% FOLLOWING JP MORGAN'S 'NEUTRAL' RATING CHANGE
- Stock Performance: Hormel Foods shares fell approximately 3% following a downgrade by JP Morgan.
- Downgrade Reason: The downgrade categorized Hormel Foods as 'neutral', indicating a lack of strong buy or sell recommendations.
See More
