Stock Comparison
HRL vs GIS: A Protein Dividend King, or Packaged Food?
A head-to-head of Hormel Foods and General Mills covering dividends, product mix, and payout record.
Data updated September 4, 2026
Best for
- GISInvestors who want higher current income (6.01% vs 5.32% for HRL).
- HRLInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
GIS has lagged HRL over the trailing twelve months, posting a -18.25% total return against -10.59%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — GIS has compounded at -2.35% a year, ahead of HRL at -3.09%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Mar 1980 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIS | -12.14% | -18.25% | -12.72% | -4.22% | -2.35% | 11.74% | 23.4% | -0.78 | -1.03 | -53.4% |
| HRL | -4.28% | -10.59% | -13.50% | -9.81% | -3.09% | 14.19% | 27.8% | -0.69 | -0.89 | -43.9% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Mar 1980” measures every fund from March 17, 1980 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  GIS |  HRL |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | General Mills, Inc. | Hormel Foods Corporation |
| Issuer | — | — |
| Last Close | $38.29 as of September 4, 2026 | $21.54 as of September 4, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 6.01% | 5.32% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 97 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 5.95% | 5.16% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide including cereals, snacks, yogurt, and pet food under brands like Cheerios and Häagen-Dazs. | Produces and markets branded meat and food products including Spam, Skippy, Planters, Jennie-O, and Hormel brands in the United States and internationally. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | -0.047 | 0.331 |
| Last dividend | $0.61 | $0.2925 |
| Ex-dividend date | 07/10/2026 | 07/13/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose GIS if you want higher current income (6.01% vs 5.32% for HRL). Choose HRL if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
HRL vs GIS: protein king or packaged food?
Both are US food companies that pay quarterly. Hormel is a Dividend King; General Mills is a packaged-food payer with a shorter streak.
| GIS | HRL | |
|---|---|---|
| Mix | Protein and branded foods | Packaged foods |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution yield | 6.01% | 5.32% |
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Quick verdict
GIS (General Mills, Inc.) and HRL (Hormel Foods Corporation) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
GIS offers the higher yield at 6.01% vs 5.32% for HRL. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, GIS would generate roughly $50.08/month, while HRL would produce $44.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
GIS is a stock built around packaged foods exposure, while HRL is a stock built around packaged foods exposure. Beta is -0.047 for GIS and 0.331 for HRL, making GIS the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
GIS (General Mills, Inc.) is a stock. HRL (Hormel Foods Corporation) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HRL and GIS for dividends?
Both are US food companies that pay a quarterly dividend. GIS (General Mills, Inc.) distributes 6.01% and HRL (Hormel Foods Corporation) distributes 5.32% as of September 2026. Hormel is a Dividend King protein company; General Mills is a packaged-food payer with a shorter streak. Compare mix and payout record, not a one-date yield race.
What is the current distribution yield for GIS and HRL?
GIS currently distributes 6.01% and HRL 5.32%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is GIS or HRL better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. GIS currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between GIS and HRL?
GIS (General Mills, Inc.) is a stock built around packaged foods exposure, while HRL (Hormel Foods Corporation) is a stock built around packaged foods exposure. They are issued by — and — respectively.
Can I hold both GIS and HRL?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is GIS or HRL safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: GIS scores 99, HRL scores 97. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. GIS has also shown lower price volatility (beta -0.05 vs 0.33 for HRL). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in GIS vs HRL generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in GIS would generate roughly $50.08 per month ($601.00 annually). The same in HRL would produce about $44.33 per month ($532.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, GIS or HRL?
GIS has lagged HRL over the trailing twelve months, posting a -18.25% total return against -10.59%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — GIS has compounded at -2.35% a year, ahead of HRL at -3.09%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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GIS vs HRL — at a glance
Generated August 29, 2026.
Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.
Overview
General Mills and Hormel are both dividend-paying packaged-food stocks with roots in American consumer staples. GIS manufactures cereals, snacks, and yogurt (Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs); HRL specializes in meat and protein products (Spam, Skippy, Jennie-O). The key distinction is their market positioning and volatility profile: GIS trades at a higher yield (6.01% vs. 5.32%) but with negative beta, while HRL shows positive correlation to broader equity moves.
How they differ
GIS yields 52 basis points higher than HRL and has historically moved opposite to the stock market (beta of −0.047), a rare trait among packaged-food stocks. HRL's beta of 0.331 indicates it moves with the market in a more conventional manner. GIS is priced at $38.29 versus HRL at $21.54, reflecting different market capitalizations and shareholder bases. Both pay quarterly dividends, but GIS's higher yield comes with the structural oddity of negative correlation to equities—a feature that can cushion broad downturns but may underperform in risk-on environments. HRL's meat-and-protein focus contrasts with GIS's broader snack-and-dairy portfolio.
Who each is best for
GIS: Fits income-focused investors who prefer a packaged-food exposure with lower sensitivity to broad market swings and can tolerate a consumer-staples business model tied to commodity prices and promotional pressures.
HRL: Designed for investors seeking packaged-food income with conventional market correlation, who value exposure to protein and meat-based food brands and accept standard equity market participation.
Key risks to know
- Commodity price volatility: Both stocks depend on commodity costs (grain, livestock, oils) that fluctuate independently of equity markets; rising input costs can compress margins faster than companies can raise prices.
- Negative beta paradox in GIS: A beta of −0.047 is unusual for a food manufacturer and may reflect idiosyncratic company factors (activist involvement, restructuring, dividend policy) rather than a hedge-like structural feature; relying on it as market protection could disappoint if the relationship breaks.
- Dividend sustainability in a low-growth category: Both packaged-food companies operate in a mature, slow-growth sector; high yields relative to earnings growth can strain coverage if operating cash flow softens or capital expenditures rise.
- Portfolio overlap risk: Both stocks concentrate exposure to branded packaged foods; their holdings may overlap significantly in raw materials, distribution channels, or retail shelf space, limiting diversification benefits if verified.
Bottom line
GIS offers a higher yield with unusual negative market correlation, which appeals to defensive income investors; HRL delivers more conventional equity participation with a meat-focused product mix and a lower yield. The choice between them hinges on whether you value GIS's defensive positioning or prefer HRL's straightforward market correlation—and both depend on your tolerance for commodity-driven margin pressure in a slow-growth food sector. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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