Hormel Foods Corporation director Michael Paul Zechmeister received an equity grant of common stock. On 02/02/2026, he was awarded 6,541 restricted shares of Hormel Foods common stock at a price of $0. The award was made under the Hormel Foods Corporation 2026 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.
The restricted shares are subject to a restricted period that lasts until the date of the company’s next annual meeting of stockholders. Following this grant, Zechmeister beneficially owns 21,237 shares of Hormel Foods common stock in direct ownership.
Hormel Foods Corporation used its 2026 annual meeting to refresh its long-term incentives and executive protections. Stockholders approved a new 2026 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, succeeding the 2018 plan and authorizing 18,000,000 new shares, for a total of 21,951,785 shares available for equity and cash-based awards as of January 27, 2026.
The Board also adopted an Executive Severance Plan effective January 31, 2026, providing designated officers cash severance, COBRA-related payments, a pro-rated annual bonus, and pro-rata vesting of restricted stock units upon qualifying terminations. The CEO role currently has a severance factor of 2.0 and other participants 1.0.
At the meeting, stockholders elected all 12 directors, ratified Ernst & Young LLP as auditor for fiscal 2026, approved on an advisory basis named executive officer compensation, and approved the 2026 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan.
Hormel Foods Corporation director and employee reports new equity awards. On 01/02/2026, the reporting person received 5,558 shares of Hormel Foods common stock as an award of restricted stock units under the Hormel Foods Corporation 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan, at a stated price of $0. These restricted stock units vest three years after the grant date.
On the same date, the reporting person was granted stock options to purchase 36,000 shares of Hormel Foods common stock at an exercise price of $23.39 per share, also under the 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan. These options vest in four equal annual installments after the grant date, with the first installment vesting on January 2, 2027, and expire on 01/02/2036. Following these transactions, the reporting person beneficially owned 43,057.4199 shares directly and 4,566.723 shares indirectly through a 401(k) plan.
Hormel Foods Corporation reported an insider equity award for its interim CEO and director. On 01/02/2026, the reporting person received stock options for 436,300 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $23.39 per share under the Hormel Foods Corporation 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan. Following the grant, the insider beneficially owned 436,300 derivative securities, held directly. The options vest in two equal installments, with half vesting on October 25, 2026 and the remaining half on April 25, 2027, aligning compensation with longer-term company performance.
Hormel Foods Corporation is asking stockholders to vote at its 2026 annual meeting on electing 12 directors, ratifying Ernst & Young LLP as auditor for the year ending October 25, 2026, approving named executive officer pay on an advisory basis, and approving a new 2026 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan. The meeting will be held in person on January 27, 2026, in Austin, Minnesota, with an independent Chairman and a board that is predominantly independent.
Fiscal 2025 was challenging: net sales reached $12.1 billion, up 2 percent, but operating income fell 33 percent and net earnings declined 41 percent, driving diluted EPS down to $0.87 from $1.47, largely due to input cost inflation and impairment charges. Despite these pressures, Hormel paid record dividends of $633 million. Incentive payouts reflected weaker results, with annual bonuses generally at 66–71% of target and a three-year cash long-term incentive paying zero, and the company is restructuring benefits, ending its Operators’ Share Plan after 2025 and adjusting pension and profit-sharing programs.
Hormel Foods Corp reported an insider stock sale by a company director. On 12/11/2025, the director sold 13,400 shares of Hormel common stock at $24 per share in an open market transaction coded as a sale. After this transaction, the director beneficially owns 82,088 shares of Hormel common stock in direct ownership.
An insider of Hormel Foods (HRL) filed a notice of proposed sale of 13,400 common shares, to be sold through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC on the NYSE. The filing lists an aggregate market value of $321,600 for these shares and notes that the issuer has 550,107,295 shares of common stock outstanding, showing the sale is small relative to the total.
The shares to be sold were acquired over time through equity compensation: 5,563 shares from an option exercise on 01/08/2019, 6,723 shares from an option exercise on 01/10/2020, and 1,114 shares of restricted stock dated 01/28/2025. The approximate sale date indicated is 12/11/2025. By signing the notice, the seller represents they are not aware of material adverse, nonpublic information about the company.
Hormel Foods Corporation reported an insider equity award for a group vice president. On December 9, 2025, the officer received 7,618 shares of common stock as a restricted stock unit award under the Hormel Foods Corporation 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan, with the award vesting three years after the grant date.
On the same date, the officer was also granted stock options on 49,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $23.63 per share, expiring on December 9, 2035. These options vest in four equal annual installments after the grant date, with the first installment vesting on December 9, 2026. Following these transactions, the officer beneficially owned 52,596.381 shares directly, plus additional shares through a 401(k) plan and a JEPST plan.
Hormel Foods Corporation reported an equity compensation grant to its interim CFO and Controller. On 12/09/2025, the officer received 12,696 shares of common stock as a restricted stock unit award under the Hormel Foods Corporation 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan, with the award vesting three years after the grant date. The filing also reports a grant of stock options to purchase 34,100 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $23.63 per share, expiring on 12/09/2035, vesting in four equal annual installments starting on December 9, 2026. Following these transactions, the officer beneficially owns 27,815.949 shares directly, plus additional indirect holdings through a 401(k) plan, JEPST plan, and a spouse’s JEPST plan.