Danone vs Post Holdings: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Danone had ~$30.8B of annual revenue in FY2025 and ~$2.1B of net income. Post Holdings had $8.2B of annual revenue in FY2025 and $335.7M of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Danone
- Latest annual revenue
- ~$30.8B (FY2025)
- Net income
- ~$2.1B
- Net margin
- 6.7%
- Revenue growth
- +3.0% a year, FY2021–FY2025
Post Holdings
- Latest annual revenue
- $8.2B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $335.7M
- Net margin
- 4.1%
- Revenue growth
- +5.5% a year, FY2016–FY2025
Financial summary
Danone
After activist investors pushed out Emmanuel Faber in 2021, CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique's Renew Danone plan shifted the focus to volume-led growth, margin rebuilding and portfolio pruning. The numbers have followed: recurring operating margin rose from 12.2% in 2022 to 13.4% in 2025, recurring EPS reached EUR3.80 and the 2025 dividend was raised 4.7% to EUR2.25. Reported net income - Group share fell 9.7% to ~$2.06B (EUR1.825B) in 2025 because non-recurring charges rose to ~$819M (EUR725M) at operating level. In H1 2026 recurring EPS grew 0.9% to EUR1.92 and free cash flow was ~$1.02B (EUR0.9B). Danone S.A. is a massive multinational food-products corporation, holding a robust market valuation generally exceeding $40 billion.
Post Holdings
Post Holdings grew net sales from $4.71 billion in fiscal 2020 to $8.158 billion in fiscal 2025, mostly through acquisitions such as the Smucker pet food brands (2023), Perfection Pet Foods (2023), Potato Products of Idaho (March 2025) and 8th Avenue Food & Provisions (July 2025). Fiscal 2025 net earnings were $335.7 million. For the nine months to June 30, 2026, net sales rose to $6.166 billion and Adjusted EBITDA to $1.191 billion, while net earnings fell 15% to $242.1 million on higher interest costs. Post does not pay a dividend and repurchased 9.1 million shares for $908.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2026. Management narrowed fiscal 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $1.56-$1.57 billion. Post Holdings, Inc. is a major American consumer packaged goods holding company operating heavily in the center-store grocery space, commanding a market valuation typically over $7 billion.
Revenue and profit by year
Danone
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$30.8B | ~$2.1B | 6.7% | -0.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$30.9B | ~$2.3B | 7.4% | -0.9% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$31.2B | ~$986.5M | 3.2% | -0.2% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$31.3B | ~$1.1B | 3.4% | +13.9% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$27.4B | ~$2.1B | 7.8% | — | Source |
Post Holdings
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 (partial year) | $6.2B | $242.1M | — | — | Source |
| FY2025 | $8.2B | $335.7M | 4.1% | +3.0% | Source |
| FY2024 | $7.9B | $366.7M | 4.6% | +13.3% | Source |
| FY2023 | $7B | $301.3M | 4.3% | +19.5% | Source |
| FY2022 | $5.9B | $756.6M | 12.9% | +17.5% | Source |
| FY2021 | $5B | $166.7M | 3.3% | +5.7% | Source |
| FY2020 | $4.7B | $800,000 | 0.0% | -17.1% | Source |
| FY2019 | $5.7B | $124.7M | 2.2% | -9.2% | Source |
| FY2018 | $6.3B | $467.3M | 7.5% | +19.7% | Source |
| FY2017 | $5.2B | $48.3M | 0.9% | +4.0% | Source |
| FY2016 | $5B | -$3.3M | -0.1% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Danone
- Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (EDP)~50%
Yogurts, fermented drinks, desserts, coffee creamers and plant-based alternatives under Activia, Actimel, Oikos, Danette, Alpro, Silk and International Delight. Danone's largest category by sales.
- Specialized Nutrition~30%
Infant and early-life nutrition (Aptamil, Nutrilon, Cow & Gate) and adult and pediatric medical nutrition (Nutricia, Fortimel, Neocate, Kate Farms). Danone's highest-margin category.
- Waters~20%
Natural mineral, functional and flavored waters including Evian, Volvic, Badoit, Aqua, Mizone and Bonafont.
Post Holdings
- Post Consumer Brands
Not formally reported
Cereal, granola, pet food, nut butters, and pantry products.
- Weetabix
Not formally reported
U.K. cereal and breakfast products.
- Foodservice
Not formally reported
Egg products and foodservice ingredients.
- Refrigerated Retail
Not formally reported
Bob Evans side dishes, sausage and egg products. The Crystal Farms dairy business was sold on May 1, 2026.
Business model and strategy
Danone
How it makes money
Danone makes money by selling branded, health-positioned food and drinks through supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals and online channels in more than 120 markets. Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (yogurts, fermented drinks, coffee creamers, plant-based milks) is the largest category by sales;
Growth strategy
Renew Danone Chapter 2 targets mid-single-digit like-for-like growth by scaling high-growth health platforms: high-protein yogurt and drinks, adult medical nutrition in the U.S. and Europe, gut-health and microbiome products, and functional nutrition.
Competitive advantage
Danone's edge is scientific credibility tied to brands: decades of microbiome and early-life nutrition research behind Activia, Actimel, Aptamil and Nutricia, plus prescription and hospital channels in medical nutrition that are hard for mass-market rivals to enter.
Post Holdings
How it makes money
Post makes money by manufacturing and selling packaged food through four segments. Post Consumer Brands sells branded and private-label cereal and granola (Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Malt-O-Meal), pet food (Rachael Ray Nutrish, Nature's Recipe, 9Lives, Kibbles 'n Bits) and Peter Pan peanut butter to grocery, mass and club retailers.
Growth strategy
Post grows mainly by buying businesses and integrating them into existing plants and sales teams. Recent moves include the $1.2 billion purchase of Smucker pet food brands (April 2023), Perfection Pet Foods for $235 million (December 2023), Potato Products of Idaho (March 2025) and 8th Avenue Food & Provisions (July 2025).
Competitive advantage
Post's edge is scale in less glamorous categories plus a capital-allocation discipline that treats acquisitions, debt and buybacks as interchangeable uses of cash. Michael Foods is a major supplier of value-added eggs to foodservice, Weetabix is the UK's number-one selling ready-to-eat cereal brand, and Post Consumer Brands covers both branded and private-label cereal, which lets it sell to shoppers who trade down.
Questions about Danone vs Post Holdings
Which company has higher revenue — Danone S.A. or Post Holdings, Inc.?
Danone S.A. had ~$30.8B (FY2025), while Post Holdings, Inc. had $8.2B (FY2025). By latest annual revenue, Danone S.A. is the larger business, with Post Holdings, Inc. showing a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Danone S.A. vs Post Holdings, Inc.?
Danone S.A.'s market capitalisation stands at $43.5B, while Post Holdings, Inc.'s is $4.7B. Danone S.A. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Post Holdings, Inc..
How does revenue per employee compare for Danone S.A. and Post Holdings, Inc.?
Danone S.A. has $343k / employee in revenue per employee, while Post Holdings, Inc. has $619k / employee. Headcounts may use different dates, so the ratio alone does not establish which business operates more efficiently.
How do Danone S.A. and Post Holdings, Inc. make money?
Danone S.A. and Post Holdings, Inc. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Danone S.A.: Danone makes money by selling branded, health-positioned food and drinks through supermarkets, pharmacies, hospitals and online channels in more than 120 markets. Post Holdings, Inc.: Post makes money by manufacturing and selling packaged food through four segments.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Danone S.A. or Post Holdings, Inc.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Danone S.A. trades at 1.4x P/S and Post Holdings, Inc. at 0.6x P/S. Danone S.A. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Post Holdings, Inc.. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Danone S.A. bigger than Post Holdings, Inc.?
By last reported revenue, Danone S.A. (~$30.8B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Post Holdings, Inc. ($8.2B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Danone vs Post Holdings overview