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Darling Ingredients Inc.. (DAR) Fundamental Analysis & AI Grade 2026

DAR NYSE Fats & Oils DE CIK: 0000916540
Update Pending • Analysis: May 9, 2026 • SEC Data: 2026-04-04
Combined AI Grade
C
78% Confidence
AGREEMENT
C
78% Conf
B
77% Conf

📊 DAR Key Takeaways

Revenue: $1.6B
Net Margin: 8.7%
Free Cash Flow: $-227.5M
Current Ratio: 1.58x
Debt/Equity: 0.83x
EPS: $0.83
AI Grade: C with 78% confidence
Darling Ingredients Inc.. (DAR) receives a C fundamental grade with 78% confidence from our AI analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $1.6B, net profit margin of 8.7%, and return on equity (ROE) of 2.8%, Darling Ingredients Inc.. demonstrates mixed fundamentals in the Energy sector. Below is our complete DAR stock analysis for 2026.

Is Darling Ingredients Inc.. (DAR) a Good Investment?

Claude

Darling Ingredients faces severe financial distress despite revenue growth. Interest coverage of 0.9x indicates the company cannot cover debt service from operating income, while deeply negative free cash flow of -$227.5M reveals unsustainable capital intensity. EPS collapsed 77.5% and net income was flat despite 7.4% revenue growth, signaling deteriorating profitability and margin compression.

ChatGPT

Darling Ingredients shows solid revenue growth and strong cash generation, with free cash flow materially outpacing reported net income. However, profitability has weakened sharply at the bottom line, margins are thin, and interest coverage of 1.1x leaves little cushion against financing or operating pressure. The fundamentals support resilience, but not enough quality or earnings strength for a more bullish rating.

Darling Ingredients Inc.. Key Strengths (DAR)

Claude
  • + Revenue growth of 7.4% YoY demonstrates market demand and operational scale
  • + Operating profitability of $226.8M with 14.6% operating margin shows core business can generate earnings
  • + Current ratio of 1.58x provides near-term liquidity cushion for operational needs
ChatGPT
  • + Revenue grew 7.4% year over year, indicating the business still has underlying demand and scale momentum
  • + Operating cash flow of $1.06B and free cash flow of $679.24M show strong cash conversion relative to reported earnings
  • + Liquidity is acceptable with a 1.50x current ratio and 0.99x quick ratio, while equity still supports the balance sheet

DAR Stock Risks: Darling Ingredients Inc.. Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Interest coverage ratio of 0.9x - operating income insufficient to service debt obligations, indicating financial distress
  • ! Free cash flow of -$227.5M with capital expenditures of $380.5M far exceeding operating cash flow of $153M, creating unsustainable cash burn
  • ! EPS plunged 77.5% YoY while net income remained flat, revealing margin compression and mounting financial charges that offset revenue gains
ChatGPT
  • ! Net margin of 1.0%, ROE of 1.3%, and ROA of 0.6% indicate very weak profitability and low returns on capital
  • ! Diluted EPS fell 77.5% year over year despite revenue growth, suggesting earnings quality and cost structure pressure
  • ! Interest coverage of 1.1x and long-term debt of $3.86B create meaningful financial risk if operating income weakens further

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Interest coverage ratio - must exceed 1.5x for viability
  • * Free cash flow sustainability - whether capex can be reduced or OCF improved
  • * Net margin trend - tracking whether profitability can improve with current revenue base
ChatGPT
  • * Operating margin and interest coverage
  • * Free cash flow consistency versus net income and debt reduction progress

Darling Ingredients Inc.. (DAR) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$1.6B
Net Income
$134.3M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.83
Free Cash Flow
$-227.5M
Total Assets
$10.6B
Cash Position
$116.0M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

Darling Ingredients Inc.. presents a mixed fundamental picture. Review the detailed metrics above to form your own investment thesis.

DAR Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin 26.1%
Operating Margin 14.6%
Net Margin 8.7%
ROE 2.8%
ROA 1.3%
FCF Margin -14.7%

DAR vs Energy Sector: How Darling Ingredients Inc.. Compares

How Darling Ingredients Inc.. compares to Energy sector averages

Net Margin
DAR 8.7%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
DAR Sector
ROE
DAR 2.8%
vs
Sector Avg 14.0%
DAR Sector
Current Ratio
DAR 1.6x
vs
Sector Avg 1.3x
DAR Sector
Debt/Equity
DAR 0.8x
vs
Sector Avg 0.6x
DAR Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is Darling Ingredients Inc.. Stock Overvalued? DAR Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, Darling Ingredients Inc.. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Energy sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
2.8%
Sector avg: 14%
Net Profit Margin
8.7%
Sector avg: 12%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
0.83x
Sector avg: 0.6x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

Darling Ingredients Inc.. Balance Sheet: DAR Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
1.58x
Quick Ratio
1.03x
Debt/Equity
0.83x
Debt/Assets
53.5%
Interest Coverage
0.87x
Long-term Debt
$4.1B

DAR Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

DAR 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $4.7B, Net Income $312.6M, EPS $1.86. Year 2022: Revenue $6.5B, Net Income $296.8M, EPS $1.78. Year 2023: Revenue $6.8B, Net Income $650.9M, EPS $3.90. Year 2024: Revenue $6.8B, Net Income $737.7M, EPS $4.49. Year 2025: Revenue $6.8B, Net Income $647.7M, EPS $3.99.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Darling Ingredients Inc..'s revenue has grown significantly by 43% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $3.99 reflects profitable operations.

DAR Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
-14.7%
Free cash flow / Revenue

DAR Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Darling Ingredients Inc.. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q1 2026 $1.4B -$26.2M $-0.16
Q3 2025 $1.4B $5.9M $0.04
Q2 2025 $1.5B $12.7M $0.08
Q1 2025 $1.4B -$26.2M $-0.16
Q3 2024 $1.4B $16.9M $0.11
Q2 2024 $1.5B $78.9M $0.49
Q1 2024 $1.4B $81.2M $0.50
Q3 2023 $1.6B $125.0M $0.77

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

Darling Ingredients Inc.. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$153.0M
Cash generated from operations
Capital Expenditures
$380.5M
Investment in assets
Dividends
None
No dividend program

DAR SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Darling Ingredients Inc.. (CIK: 0000916540)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
May 11, 2026 8-K dar-20260511.htm View →
May 8, 2026 4 xslF345X06/ownership.xml View →
May 8, 2026 4 xslF345X06/ownership.xml View →
May 8, 2026 4 xslF345X06/ownership.xml View →
May 8, 2026 4 xslF345X06/ownership.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about DAR

What is the AI rating for DAR?

Darling Ingredients Inc.. (DAR) has a Combined AI Grade of C from Claude (C) and ChatGPT (B) with 78% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are DAR's key strengths?

Claude: Revenue growth of 7.4% YoY demonstrates market demand and operational scale. Operating profitability of $226.8M with 14.6% operating margin shows core business can generate earnings. ChatGPT: Revenue grew 7.4% year over year, indicating the business still has underlying demand and scale momentum. Operating cash flow of $1.06B and free cash flow of $679.24M show strong cash conversion relative to reported earnings.

What are the risks of investing in DAR?

Claude: Interest coverage ratio of 0.9x - operating income insufficient to service debt obligations, indicating financial distress. Free cash flow of -$227.5M with capital expenditures of $380.5M far exceeding operating cash flow of $153M, creating unsustainable cash burn. ChatGPT: Net margin of 1.0%, ROE of 1.3%, and ROA of 0.6% indicate very weak profitability and low returns on capital. Diluted EPS fell 77.5% year over year despite revenue growth, suggesting earnings quality and cost structure pressure.

What is DAR's revenue and growth?

Darling Ingredients Inc.. reported revenue of $1.6B.

Does DAR pay dividends?

Darling Ingredients Inc.. does not currently pay dividends.

Where can I find DAR SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Darling Ingredients Inc.. (CIK: 0000916540) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is DAR's EPS?

Darling Ingredients Inc.. has a diluted EPS of $0.83.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined grade reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

What is DAR's fundamental grade?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in June 2026, Darling Ingredients Inc.. has a C grade with 78% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above for full context. This is not investment advice.

Is DAR stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for DAR: ROE of 2.8% (sector avg: 14%), net margin of 8.7% (sector avg: 12%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.

What is DAR's AI grade for 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Darling Ingredients Inc.. a combined C grade for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is DAR's free cash flow?

Darling Ingredients Inc..'s operating cash flow is $153.0M, with capital expenditures of $380.5M. FCF margin is -14.7%.

How does DAR compare to other Energy stocks?

Vs Energy sector averages: Net margin 8.7% (avg: 12%), ROE 2.8% (avg: 14%), current ratio 1.58 (avg: 1.3).

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: May 9, 2026 | Data as of: 2026-04-04 | Powered by Claude AI