Why These 3 Meat Stocks Are Drawing Attention in Today's Protein-Driven Market

The protein market is on fire right now, and meat stocks are among the biggest beneficiaries. Here’s what’s driving the momentum and which names you should be watching.

The Shift Reshaping the Meat Industry

Consumer appetite for protein-rich foods keeps climbing, especially among fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals. At the same time, plant-based alternatives are gaining serious ground, forcing traditional meat producers to adapt fast. The companies winning this race are the ones diversifying their portfolios, investing in production capacity, and automating operations—but they’re also battling cost headwinds from feed prices, transportation, and labor expenses.

Despite these pressures, the Zacks Food – Meat Products industry ranks #10 among over 250 industries (top 4%), signaling solid near-term prospects. Analysts have been gradually boosting confidence in the group, with consensus earnings estimates up 0.4% since early January 2025.

The Valuation Story

Here’s an interesting disconnect: while the industry carries strong fundamentals, it’s trading cheaper than the broader market. At 13.10X forward P/E, the meat industry trades well below the S&P 500’s 20.48X multiple. The five-year range has been 12.24X to 21.76X (median 16.62X), suggesting the sector could have room to expand.

Performance-wise, the industry declined 7.9% over the past year versus the S&P 500’s gain of 8.9%—a gap that could signal undervaluation for patient investors.

Three Meat Stocks Worth Your Radar

Pilgrim’s Pride (PPC) – The Growth Leader

Ranked #1 (Strong Buy) by Zacks, Pilgrim’s Pride specializes in chicken and pork products and has been firing on all cylinders. The company is driving growth through portfolio diversification, branded product expansion, and aggressive capacity investments. Key metrics tell the story: EPS consensus estimate jumped from $5.13 to $5.28 over 30 days, trailing earnings surprises average 25.7%, and shares have rocketed 51.4% over the past year. This is the name showing the most momentum among the three.

Tyson Foods (TSN) – The Diversified Giant

Tyson (Zacks Rank #2, Buy) remains the industry’s heavyweight champion with a multi-protein strategy spanning chicken, beef, and pork. The company leverages iconic brands like Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm for household penetration while deploying AI and digital tools to optimize supply chains. EPS consensus edged from $3.80 to $3.83 in 30 days, with trailing earnings surprises around 52%. The stock gained 7.3% over the past year—more modest than Pilgrim’s Pride but reflecting a mature, resilient business model built for long-term holds.

Beyond Meat (BYND) – The Plant-Based Play

Beyond Meat (Zacks Rank #2, Buy) represents the alternative protein thesis. Consumer demand for sustainable, healthier options is real, and BYND is responding through innovation and production efficiency gains. The company has been consolidating manufacturing and investing in automation to boost margins. While the stock plunged 59.6% over the past year, there’s a bright spot: the loss-per-share estimate has narrowed sharply from $2.66 to $1.58 over 30 days—a potential inflection point for those willing to take on the volatility.

The Bottom Line

The meat stocks list is divided: Pilgrim’s Pride is the growth darling, Tyson offers stability, and Beyond Meat represents the speculative upside in plant-based disruption. With the industry underperforming the broader market while maintaining strong fundamentals and reasonable valuations, this sector warrants closer attention for value-oriented investors positioning for the protein economy.