HRL stock price momentum has cooled slightly, as investors digest macroeconomic indicators and upcoming Fed policy decisions impacting consumer spending. This means that with the changing market dynamics, high-quality companies with strong balance sheets that are trading at lower multiples have become more appealing. Dividend stocks often fall into this category, as they typically have stable business models and cash flows that allow them to consistently return earnings to investors. Dan Lefkovitz, a strategist for Morningstar Indexes, also highlighted this in the firm’s latest report: The stock is down 4.4% in 2025 and over 12% in the last 12 months. However, it must be noted that HRL stock is now trading near 10-year lows . That’s likely what analysts are looking at with a stock that’s trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 18x . That’s a slight discount to itself and the consumer staples sector. HRL stock price stability indicates that investors view Hormel as a defensive play. The stable EBITDA margin strengthens the outlook amid rising cost structures.