Hershey's top-line resilience, with revenue up 6.6% in 2026Q2, is being overshadowed by severe cocoa-driven margin compression, as gross margin fell from 54.0% in 2024Q4 to 45.3% in 2026Q2. The company retains pricing power and brand strength, but elevated lev...
Price trend, volume and key moving averages
Start with the evidence for owning the stock and the risks that can break the thesis.
Revenue growth of 6.6% in 2026Q2 masks a sharp gross margin decline from 54.0% in 2024Q4 to 45.3%, with operating margin down to 23.1% from 32.5%, reflecting cocoa cost inflation outpacing pricing.
The Hershey Company reaffirmed its 2026 outlook, including mid-single-digit net and organic sales growth and very large reported earnings per share growth.
The company has strong market share and pricing power, which supports its margins and long-term growth.
Hershey is refreshing its sustainability approach to align with a growing salty snacks portfolio and tighter regulatory expectations.
Trailing total returns as of 9/24/2026, which may include dividends or other distributions. Benchmark is S&P 500 (^GSPC).
Check whether operating performance supports the current valuation.
Recent results and news deserve attention only when they alter the forward view.
| Quarter | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|
Q3 2026Latest Jul 30, 2026 | $1.90+32.9% vs $1.43 | $2.8B+5.8% vs $2.6B |
Q2 2026 Apr 30, 2026 | $2.35+15.2% vs $2.04 | $3.1B+2.5% vs $3.0B |
Q1 2026 Feb 5, 2026 | $1.71+22.1% vs $1.40 | $3.1B+3.7% vs $3.0B |
Q4 2025 Oct 30, 2025 | $1.30+21.5% vs $1.07 | $3.2B+2.0% vs $3.1B |
Engineers Gate Manager LP lowered its holdings in shares of Hershey Company (The) (NYSE: HSY) by 73.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,127 shares of the company's stock after selling 19,723 shares during
Hershey (HSY) concluded the recent trading session at $168.33, signifying a -1.44% move from its prior day's close.
Bank of America Corp DE purchased a new position in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE: HSY) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 1,566,662 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $274,871,000. Bank of America
Hershey froze its quarterly dividend for five straight cycles, and shareholders who only watched the yield number missed the warning buried in the income statement.
Benchmark HSY against direct peers instead of judging its metrics in isolation.
Key metrics vs top competitors for The Hershey Company (HSY)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $168.45 | $34.17B | 38.81 | 4.38% | 7.55% | 18.89% | 3.17% | |
| $61.44 | $78.42B | 32.51 | 5.75% | 8.86% | 13.44% | — | |
| $37.97 | $2.85B | 27.72 | 1.29% | 12.99% | 10.16% | — | |
| $0.85 | $8.02M | -1.52 | -7.04% | -19.84% | -100.52% | — | |
| $49.09 | $13.2B | 16.75 | 1.73% | 22.05% | 24.41% | — | |
| $35.82 | $19.12B | -223.88 | -5.45% | -0.48% | -0.98% | — |
The Hershey Company (HSY) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
Verify the primary filings, follow material updates, and answer the remaining questions.
The Hershey Company (HSY) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
Jul 30, 2026·SEC
Jun 9, 2026·SEC
May 28, 2026·SEC
Feb 17, 2026·SEC
Get notified when HSY posts new earnings or crosses analyst targets
Free. No account needed. Unsubscribe any time.
The Hershey Company (HSY) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
The Hershey Company (HSY) reported $12.16B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 205% increase from $3.99B in 1996.
The Hershey Company (HSY) grew revenue by 4.4% over the past year. Growth has been modest.
Yes, The Hershey Company (HSY) is profitable, generating $1.49B in net income for fiscal year 2025 (7.6% net margin).
Yes, The Hershey Company (HSY) pays a dividend with a yield of 3.17%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.
The Hershey Company (HSY) has a return on equity (ROE) of 18.9%. This is reasonable for most industries.
The Hershey Company (HSY) generated $2.54B in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.
