Results of Operations

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM  8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 17, 2026 HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-2402 41-0319970 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 1 Hormel Place , Austin , Minnesota 55912-3680 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)   ( 507 ) 437-5611 Registrant’s telephone number, including area code Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)  Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:   ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)   ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)   ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))   ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock $0.01465 par value HRL New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).  Emerging growth company   ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Item 2.02     Results of Operations and Financial Condition . On February 17, 2026, Hormel Foods Corporation (the “Company”) issued a press release that included certain preliminary results for the first quarter ended January 25, 2026, and provided information regarding the Company’s guidance for its 2026 fiscal year. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits . (d)    Exhibits Exhibit Number Description 10.1 Press release issued February 17, 2026. 104 The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL.   SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION Dated: February 17, 2026 By: /s/ Paul R. Kuehneman Name: Paul R. Kuehneman Title: Interim Chief Financial Officer and Controller