HSY
NYSE · Food Products
Hershey Co/The
$217.00
+1.80 (+0.84%)
Performance
1D
—
1W
—
1M
—
3M
+17.81%
6M
+17.86%
1Y
+28.77%
YTD
+18.96%
Open$215.84
Previous Close$215.20
Day High$217.64
Day Low$212.18
52W High$234.87
52W Low$150.04
Volume—
Avg Volume2.97M
Market Cap44.54B
P/E Ratio50.42
EPS$4.01
SectorFood Products
Technical Indicators
Full analysis →
SMA 50
$196.16
Above
SMA 200
$182.14
Above
RSI (14)
73.8
Overbought
Trend
Golden Cross
Bullish
Analyst Ratings
Hold
29 analysts
Price Target
-30.4% upside
Current
$217.00
$217.00
Target
$150.97
$150.97
$103.67
$150.97 avg
$185.83
Key Financials
| FY 2026 | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 9.21B | 8.86B | 26.68B |
| Net Income | 695.61M | 602.43M | 2.04B |
| Profit Margin | 7.6% | 7.2% | 7.7% |
| EBITDA | 1.11B | 1.01B | 3.14B |
| Free Cash Flow | — | — | 1.34B |
| Rev Growth | +3.9% | +3.9% | +2.9% |
| Debt/Equity | 1.17 | 1.17 | 0.28 |
Dividend
Dividend Yield2.64%
Annual Dividend$5.33
Payout Ratio48.8%
Frequencyquarterly
Ex-DividendMar 12, 2026
Pay DateMar 27, 2026
About Hershey Co/The
The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate and confectionery manufacturers in North America, headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, producing and marketing a broad portfolio of snack and confectionery products. The company's iconic brands include Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat (under license from Nestle), Jolly Rancher, and SkinnyPop, and it operates across two segments: North America Confectionery and North America Salty Snacks. Hershey distributes its products through mass merchandisers, grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retail channels. Its flagship brands are among the most recognized confectionery names in the United States.
Food Products Peers
| Symbol | Name | Price | Change | P/E | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDLZ | Mondelez International Inc-A | $57.43 | +0.44% | 30.4 | 74.57B |
| ADM | Archer-Daniels-Midland Co | $71.66 | +0.31% | 29.3 | 31.58B |
| KHC | Kraft Heinz Co/The | $21.51 | +0.89% | — | 25.76B |
| GIS | General Mills Inc | $36.17 | -1.71% | 9.3 | 23.63B |
| TSN | Tyson Foods Inc-Cl A | $61.45 | +0.92% | 110.4 | 22.07B |
| BG | Bunge Global Sa | $125.40 | +1.06% | 29.3 | 23.88B |
HSY Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hershey do?
Hershey runs two distinct consumer businesses under one roof. Its North America Confectionery segment—home to Reese's, Kit Kat (under license), Jolly Rancher, and the Hershey's bar—sells through mass retail, grocery, and convenience stores with the kind of shelf placement and consumer loyalty that takes decades to build. Its North America Salty Snacks segment, built through acquisitions of SkinnyPop popcorn and Dot's Pretzels, allows the company to compete year-round in snacking beyond seasonal candy windows.
Is HSY stock a good investment?
Hershey's near-term earnings have been pressured by historically elevated cocoa prices, which compress margins across its confectionery business in ways that are difficult to fully offset through price increases. The Reese's brand remains the best-selling candy in the United States, providing durable demand. Salty snacks diversification reduces dependence on the volatile cocoa cost structure. The company has historically traded at a premium to food peers, reflecting brand quality, but cocoa headwinds have weighed on recent sentiment.
Who are Hershey's main competitors?
Mars Inc.—owner of M&M's, Snickers, Twix, and Dove—is the primary rival for US chocolate market share and remains privately held. Mondelez International competes globally with Cadbury, Toblerone, and Milka brands. Nestlé owns Kit Kat outside North America and competes across multiple snack categories. Ferrero (Nutella, Ferrero Rocher) and Lindt compete in premium chocolate segments where Hershey has historically been less present.
Does Hershey pay dividends?
Hershey has paid dividends since 1930 and has a strong track record of annual increases. The Hershey Trust, which controls the company through supervoting shares, has a financial interest in sustained dividend payments, creating an unusual structural reinforcement of the dividend commitment. The quarterly payout has grown alongside earnings over decades, and the yield becomes more attractive when cocoa-driven earnings pressure causes the stock to trade at lower multiples.
How much does HSY stock cost right now?
HSY last closed at $217.00, up 0.84% in the most recent trading session. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between a low of $150.04 and a high of $234.87. The current price represents 79% of its 52-week range, which helps investors gauge where the stock sits relative to its recent trading history.
What is the analyst consensus for HSY?
Among 29 analysts covering HSY, the consensus rating is Hold — 10 rate it a buy, 18 hold, and 1 sell. The average price target sits at $150.97, implying 30% downside from the current price. Keep in mind that analyst targets reflect 12-month expectations and can shift quickly after earnings reports or major company events.
Does Hershey Co/The make money?
Hershey Co/The generated $9.21B in revenue during fiscal year 2026, with $695.61M reaching the bottom line as net income. The net profit margin of 7.6% reflects the competitive nature of its industry.
Is HSY stock expensive based on earnings?
HSY trades at a P/E ratio of 50.42 on trailing earnings of $4.01 per share. That's well above the S&P 500 historical average of ~20-25x, which typically signals that investors are pricing in aggressive future growth. Comparing this multiple against Food Products sector peers gives better context than the broad market alone, since P/E norms vary significantly across industries.
Is HSY stock going up or down?
Performance varies across timeframes, reflecting shifting market conditions. Returns by timeframe: +17.81% (3M), +17.86% (6M), +28.77% (1Y), +18.96% (YTD). Comparing these figures against the S&P 500 and sector benchmarks helps determine whether HSY is outperforming or lagging the broader market.