Head-To-Head Survey: Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE:FDP) & CHS (NASDAQ:CHSCP)

CHS (NASDAQ:CHSCP) and Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE:FDP) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, institutional ownership and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares CHS and Fresh Del Monte Produce”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
CHS	$35.46 billion	N/A	$597.92 million	N/A	N/A
Fresh Del Monte Produce	$4.32 billion	0.45	$90.70 million	$1.88	21.93

CHS has higher revenue and earnings than Fresh Del Monte Produce.

Profitability

This table compares CHS and Fresh Del Monte Produce’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
CHS	1.75%	7.06%	3.09%
Fresh Del Monte Produce	2.10%	7.63%	5.01%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

64.8% of Fresh Del Monte Produce shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of CHS shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 31.6% of Fresh Del Monte Produce shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility & Risk

CHS has a beta of 0.26, indicating that its share price is 74% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fresh Del Monte Produce has a beta of 0.28, indicating that its share price is 72% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for CHS and Fresh Del Monte Produce, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
CHS	0	0	0	0	0.00
Fresh Del Monte Produce	0	0	1	0	3.00

Summary

Fresh Del Monte Produce beats CHS on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CHS

CHS Inc., an integrated agricultural company, engages in the provision of grains, food, and energy resources to businesses and consumers worldwide. It is involved in the operation of petroleum refineries and pipelines; the supply, marketing, and distribution of refined fuels; the blending, sale, and distribution of lubricants; and the supply of propane, asphalt, and other natural gas liquids. The company also processes and sells crude oil into refined petroleum products under the Cenex brand name to member cooperatives and other independent retailers through a network of approximately 1,500 sites and provides transportation services. In addition, it processes and markets grains and oilseeds and offers seeds, crop nutrients, crop protection products, animal feed, animal health products, refined and renewable fuels, as well as refined oils, meal, soy flour, and processed sunflower products. Additionally, it produces and distributes edible oil-based products. CHS Inc. was formerly known as Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives and changed its name to CHS Inc. in August 2003. The company was incorporated in 1936 and is based in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

About Fresh Del Monte Produce

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and distributes fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fresh and Value-Added Products, Banana, and Other Products and Services. The company offers pineapples, fresh-cut fruit, fresh-cut vegetables, melons, and vegetables; non-tropical fruits, such as grapes, apples, citrus, blueberries, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and kiwis; other fruit and vegetables, and avocados; and prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, other beverages, and meals and snacks. It also engages in the sale of poultry and meat products; and third-party freight services business. The company offers its products under the Del Monte brand, as well as under other brands, such as UTC, Rosy, Just Juice, Fruitini, Pinkglow, Del Monte Zero, Honeyglow, Rubyglow, Honey Miniglow, Bananinis, Mann, Mann’s Logo, Arcadian Harvest, Nourish Bowls, Broccolini, Caulilini, Better Burger Leaf, Romaleaf, and other regional brands. It markets and distributes its products to retail stores, club stores, convenience stores, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice operators. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. was founded in 1886 and is based in George Town, Cayman Islands.