Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) — Earnings Call X-Ray
Our AI read all 38 of HRL's earnings calls (2016–2025) and answered the same battery of questions about each one. Every past call is free; the newest quarter unlocks with a free account.
Previous Call Grade
F
Q1 2025
Calls Analyzed
38
2016–2025
Avg Candor
6.9/9
evasion 3/9
Call-by-call analysis
🔒 Q2 2025 earnings call
2025-05-29
NEWEST
Guidance: ■■■■■Demand: ■■■■■■
Margins: ■■■■Backlog: ■■■■
■ analysts, ■■ questionsexpected move ±■■%
Management ■■■■■■ guidance against ■■■■■■■■ demand and ■■■■■■■ margins. The delivery was ■■■■■■■■ and ■■■■ in specifics, with ■■■ questions left hanging.
🔒 The Q2 2025 call grade is ready
The full 37-point AI read of HRL's newest earnings call — grade, expected move, and every question answered — is free with an account.
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F
Q1 2025 earnings call
2025-02-27
Management held guidance steady against steady demand and contracting margins.
Guidance: maintainedDemand: stableMargins: contractingPricing: raisingCapex: flat 9 analysts · 20 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Volume step-up ahead⚑ Reads rehearsedDirection beats results
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
NO Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
NO Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
YES Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
YES Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
D
Q4 2024 earnings call
2024-12-04
Management held guidance steady against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was rich in specifics.
Guidance: maintainedDemand: stableMargins: expandingPricing: under pressureCapex: increasing 9 analysts · 16 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsed
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
NO Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
D
Q3 2024 earnings call
2024-09-04
Management lowered guidance against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid.
Guidance: loweredDemand: mixedMargins: stablePricing: under pressureCapex: flat 7 analysts · 13 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsedHidden segment
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
YES Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
B+
Q2 2024 earnings call
2024-05-30
Management raised guidance against mixed demand signals and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.
Guidance: raisedDemand: mixedMargins: expandingPricing: raisingCapex: flat 8 analysts · 16 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsed
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
C+
Q1 2024 earnings call
2024-02-29
Management held guidance steady against steady demand and expanding margins. The delivery was unusually candid.
Guidance: maintainedDemand: stableMargins: expandingPricing: raisingCapex: flat 8 analysts · 14 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition✓ Skeptic reassured✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubts⚑ Reads rehearsed
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
YES Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
NO Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
NO Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
YES Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
C
Q4 2023 earnings call
2023-11-29
Management gave no formal guidance against mixed demand signals and contracting margins. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.
Demand: mixedMargins: contractingPricing: under pressureHeadcount: growingCapex: flat 6 analysts · 11 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hanging✓ Guidance underwritable✓ Resolves doubtsHidden segmentDirection beats results
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
YES Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
YES Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
YES Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
YES Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
F
Q3 2023 earnings call
2023-08-31
Management lowered guidance against mixed demand signals. The delivery was unusually candid, rich in specifics.
Guidance: loweredDemand: mixedMargins: stablePricing: under pressureCapex: increasing 6 analysts · 11 questions
⚑ Critic ammunition⚑ Question left hangingDirection beats results
All 20 questions our AI answered about this call
NO Would a skeptical short-seller find this call reassuring?
NO Would a careful investor underwrite management's guidance?
YES Is management's confidence proportionate to the evidence presented?
NO Does the call resolve more doubts than it creates?
YES Is there something a critic could fairly use against the company?
NO Is a claimed advantage dependent on scale they lack?
YES Does an obvious question remain unanswered?
NO Is a product early in its life but growing very fast?
NO Do they serve a small fraction of their addressable customers?
NO Is volume about to step up rather than grow gradually?
NO Are high fixed costs currently underutilised?
NO Is pricing recovering from a depressed level?
YES Do current results look bad while the direction looks better?
NO Are deferred revenue or customer prepayments growing?
NO Is consolidation happening among their peers?
NO Is a founder still running the company?
NO Does the final speaker sound like they are summarizing a finished story?
NO Is a fast-growing segment obscured by a declining one?
NO Does the CFO speak more than the CEO?
NO Does the call read rehearsed rather than lived?
Earlier calls
| Call | Date | Grade | Guidance | Demand | Margins | Candor | Evasion |
|---|
| Q2 2023 |
2023-06-01 |
C |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2023 |
2023-03-02 |
F |
lowered | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q4 2022 |
2022-11-30 |
D |
maintained | stable | contracting |
7/9 |
4/9 |
| Q3 2022 |
2022-09-01 |
D |
lowered | stable | contracting |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q2 2022 |
2022-06-02 |
C+ |
maintained | stable | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2022 |
2022-03-01 |
C |
maintained | accelerating | contracting |
7/9 |
4/9 |
| Q4 2021 |
2021-12-09 |
C+ |
maintained | stable | expanding |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q3 2021 |
2021-09-02 |
D |
lowered | accelerating | contracting |
7/9 |
4/9 |
| Q2 2021 |
2021-05-20 |
B |
raised | accelerating | contracting |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q1 2021 |
2021-02-18 |
B+ |
raised | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q4 2020 |
2020-11-24 |
C |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
4/9 |
| Q3 2020 |
2020-08-25 |
C+ |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q2 2020 |
2020-05-21 |
D |
withdrawn | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2020 |
2020-02-20 |
C+ |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q4 2019 |
2019-11-26 |
B |
maintained | mixed | stable |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q3 2019 |
2019-08-22 |
C+ |
maintained | mixed | stable |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q2 2019 |
2019-05-23 |
D |
lowered | mixed | contracting |
8/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2019 |
2019-02-21 |
C |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q4 2018 |
2018-11-20 |
C+ |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q3 2018 |
2018-08-23 |
C |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
4/9 |
| Q2 2018 |
2018-05-24 |
C+ |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2018 |
2018-02-22 |
C+ |
raised | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q4 2017 |
2017-11-21 |
D |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
5/9 |
| Q3 2017 |
2017-08-24 |
D |
lowered | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
4/9 |
| Q2 2017 |
2017-05-25 |
C |
maintained | mixed | contracting |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2017 |
2017-02-23 |
D |
lowered | mixed | contracting |
8/9 |
3/9 |
| Q4 2016 |
2016-11-22 |
B |
lowered | stable | expanding |
7/9 |
2/9 |
| Q3 2016 |
2016-08-18 |
B |
raised | accelerating | expanding |
6/9 |
3/9 |
| Q2 2016 |
2016-05-18 |
B |
raised | mixed | expanding |
7/9 |
3/9 |
| Q1 2016 |
2016-02-16 |
B+ |
raised | mixed | expanding |
7/9 |
2/9 |
Research question bank — earlier calls
During our 1,600-question research program, batches of experimental hypotheses were tested directly against some of HRL's earlier calls. The YES answers — the rare hits — are shown; click any question to see every company that matched it. Full list: the question bank.
D
Q3 2017 earnings call
2017-08-24
12 more research questions answered NO
How to read this page
The grade is a transparent composite of call quality — candor, specificity, low evasion, low stress, whether the call resolves more doubts than it creates, and the guidance action — not a buy or sell signal. The expected move is a volatility estimate from the one signal that survived our out-of-sample tests: how a stock's own reaction and pre-call volatility predict the size (not direction) of its next move. Full detail, including everything that failed: methodology.
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Not investment advice. Artul.ai publishes AI-generated earnings-call quality grades and expected-volatility estimates — never buy or sell recommendations. We tested over 1,600 predictive hypotheses against 165,000 transcripts; the honest result, including what failed, is documented in our
methodology.