Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)
Archer-Daniels-Midland processes and trades agricultural commodities such as grains, oilseeds, and food ingredients.
Consumer Staples stock comparison
ADM vs SYY: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare Archer-Daniels-Midland Company with Sysco Corporation using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Consumer
- Industry
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-02-17
ADM vs SYY: quick comparison
| Company fact | ADM | SYY |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | Sysco Corporation |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Founded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| SEC industry | Fats & Oils | Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | June 27 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-17 | 10-K · 2025-08-22 |
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
ADM and SYY have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Economic trends research theme inside the Consumer Staples sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Sysco Corporation (SYY)
Sysco is the largest US foodservice distributor, supplying food and equipment to restaurants and institutions.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. ADM is classified by the SEC as Fats & Oils, while SYY is classified as Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
The comparison is free
Use the filings to compare ADM vs SYY. Use membership for the investment call that sits on top of them.
Which thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study ADM when…
- Input-cost inflation and pricing power
- Private-label competition and volume trends
- Currency, given large international revenue
- Defensive rotation when growth slows
Study SYY when…
- Input-cost inflation and pricing power
- Private-label competition and volume trends
- Currency, given large international revenue
- Defensive rotation when growth slows
Shared research themes
Economic trends
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.ADM's fiscal year ends December 31, while SYY's ends June 27. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House Clerk snapshot contains 0matched transaction rows for ADMand 0 for SYY. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
ADM primary filings
SYY primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
ADM vs SYY FAQs
Are ADM and SYY direct competitors?
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company and Sysco Corporation sit in the same Consumer Staples sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, ADM or SYY?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this ADM vs SYY comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices, then use the primary filings here to test the business thesis.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-08-12. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-08-12. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
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