Does DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. (DAR) 29.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 39, returns on capital 24, balance-sheet safety 0, capital discipline 55.

Is DAR stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $45.38 per share versus a recent price of $63.10 — 39% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has DAR's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 29.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.

DAR · Consumer Staples · $10.0B mkt cap · FY2025 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power39

Median gross margin 23.2% over 10y, very stable.

Returns on capital24

Median ROIC 7.2%, above the 9% hurdle in 40% of years.

Balance-sheet safety0

Net debt/EBITDA 4.9x, interest coverage 1x.

Capital discipline55

Owner earnings +2.8%/yr, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

39% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $647.7M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $45.38
Recent price: $63.10
Discount to value: 39% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

19 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. booked $6.1B of revenue in FY2025 in the Consumer Staples sector and kept 24.0% of it as gross profit — a moderate-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 1.0% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $807.5M (FY2008) to $6.1B (FY2025) — about 12.7% a year compounded over 17 years.

It earned 3.2% on invested capital in FY2025, with a median of 7.2% across 18 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 24/100.

The balance sheet carried $3.9B of total debt in FY2025 against $190.8M of owner earnings — roughly 20.6 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 0/100.

The share count rose 35.8% between FY2010 and FY2025 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 55/100.

Put together: Capital Discipline is the strongest of the four filters (55/100) and Balance-Sheet Safety the weakest (0/100), which is how DAR lands at 30/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$6.1B FY2025

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods24.0% FY2025

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed3.2% FY2025

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$190.8M FY2025

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in DAR’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale29.8 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — DAR has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Consumer Staples context

#45 of 66 scored Consumer Staples companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#43TAP MOLSON COORS BEVERAGE CO30.5 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#44CAG CONAGRA BRANDS, INC.30.2 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#46FRPT FRESHPET, INC.29.5 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#47POST Post Holdings, Inc.27.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare DAR with its nearest peers →All Consumer Staples companies on the Index →

Common questions about DAR

Does DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2025 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. (DAR) 29.8 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 39, returns on capital 24, balance-sheet safety 0, capital discipline 55.
Is DAR stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $45.38 per share versus a recent price of $63.10 — 39% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has DAR's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 29.8 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell DAR. See the disclaimer.