Margins Test the Return Potential
UndervaluedDCF
Equity analysis

Tyson Foods Inc (TSN) Margins Test the Return Potential

Jul 12, 2026Equity Analysis

Can thin margins still earn decent returns on capital?

Trailing P/E
44.06
Price
57.83
ROE
2.5
Gross Margin
6.9

Is protein processing still profitable?

Tyson Foods is a packaged food producer focused on protein, selling products tied to meat processing and prepared foods. The company operates at large scale, supplying food through broad distribution channels in the US. Its business is built around turning agricultural inputs into branded and unbranded food items for retail and foodservice customers. Revenue is primarily driven by volume and pricing across its protein categories.

Can slim margins sustain returns on capital?

Fundamentals

For fiscal 2025, reported in USD, revenue was about USD 54.4 billion, alongside EBIT of roughly USD 1.1 billion and net income of about USD 507 million. Revenue grew 2.1% year over year, while profitability remained slim, with a 6.9% gross margin flowing through to a 1.88% operating margin and a 0.81% net margin over the trailing period.

Cash on hand was about USD 1.2 billion against total debt of roughly USD 7.9 billion. Depreciation and amortization were around USD 1.1 billion, capital expenditures were about USD 107 million, and the company’s cash flow proxy was roughly USD 1.8 billion, reflecting how much of operating earnings converts into cash after reinvestment. Returns looked muted in the trailing figures, with ROE at 2.50%.

Is the market discounting future recovery?

DCF / Multiples

At USD 57.83, the share price sits below the fair value range implied by the DCF model’s weaker-to-stronger outcomes. The headline multiples add context: a P/E of 44.06 prices the stock off a relatively small trailing earnings base, while an EV/EBITDA of 11.30 anchors valuation more to operating cash earnings than net income.

Returns hinge on margin recovery

Takeaway

The valuation case leans heavily on better returns on capital. That likely requires wider margins and steadier earnings conversion. If margins stay thin, the earnings base can remain fragile. Debt is meaningful, so consistency in cash generation matters. Overall, the setup looks interesting, but not low-effort.

Disclaimer
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Fair Value Rankings

Market Price vs Intrinsic Value

Quick access to the most undervalued and overvalued stocks, ranked by their discount or premium to DCF-based fair value.

Undervalued

Stocks trading below fair value

View full ranking
1
Newmont Corporation
NEM
+79%
discount
2
Plains All American Pipeline LP
PAA
+78%
discount
3
Delta Air Lines Inc
DAL
+78%
discount
Overvalued

Stocks trading above fair value

View full ranking
1
Roku Inc
ROKU
+389%
premium
2
Waters Corp
WAT
+381%
premium
3
Lam Research Corp
LRCX
+378%
premium
INDEX
VDIX
ValueDetect Intrinsic eXpectations Index
Overvalued market
View index

VDIX measures whether the market is expensive or cheap relative to intrinsic value. For each company, ValueDetect estimates fair value using a discounted cash flow (DCF) model, then compares it with the current share price to derive a RiskRatio. These signals are capped, weighted by market capitalization, and aggregated into a single market-wide score.

Current score-0.78Negative = market trades above fair value
1-day move0.00Rising score = improving valuation conditions
7-day average-0.75Smoothed market valuation signal
Latest observation12 July 2026The latest weighted reading suggests that the market is trading above DCF-based intrinsic value in aggregate.
Next actions

What would you like?

Continuously expanding company coverage — prioritized by user demand.

Suggest a company to analyze

Help shape what we analyze next.

We'll send a confirmation email to verify your request — not for marketing.

New analyses are added regularly. Request processing times may vary.