We came across a bullish thesis on Smithfield Foods, Inc. on r/valueinvesting by Wl-lY. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on SFD. Smithfield Foods, Inc.'s share was trading at $23.41 as of January 15th. SFD’s trailing and forward P/E were 10.55 and 10.14 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.
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Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s largest pig and pork producer, presents a compelling investment opportunity due to apparent market mispricing. The company, majority-owned by WH Group—which holds 87% of shares—controls roughly 23–26% of total U.S. pork processing, giving it significant scale and influence in the sector. Despite its size and market position, Smithfield is trading at a P/E ratio of 10.27, indicating it is undervalued relative to its food processing peers, while a PEG ratio of 1.22 suggests a low to fair valuation relative to its growth prospects.
The company also offers a 4.27% dividend yield, adding an attractive income component to the investment case. The market’s discount appears largely driven by perceived risks, including potential trade disputes, regulatory scrutiny, and security concerns linked to its Chinese parent, which have created uncertainty around its operations and long-term growth. However, the company’s scale, integrated operations, and established market position provide resilience against these concerns.
Given these fundamentals, Smithfield’s current stock price does not fully reflect the value of its U.S. market dominance or the earnings potential of its operations. For investors, the combination of an undervalued equity, attractive dividend yield, and strong free cash flow generation creates a compelling risk/reward scenario, particularly if geopolitical and regulatory concerns stabilize. Overall, Smithfield Foods represents a high-conviction opportunity for both equity and income-focused investors, offering upside potential as the market increasingly recognizes the intrinsic value of its dominant U.S. pork processing business.
Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. (CALM) by Charly AI in April 2025, which highlighted the company’s strong growth driven by elevated egg prices, efficient operations, and strategic acquisitions like ISE America, alongside robust cash reserves and cage-free investments. CALM’s stock price has depreciated by 16.78% since our coverage due to near-term volatility and market normalization. Charly AI shares an identical perspective but emphasizes technical momentum and valuation nuances more prominently.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 44 hedge fund portfolios held SFD at the end of the third quarter which was 27 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of SFD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.
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Disclosure: None.