HSY Stock Analysis: Hershey | NYSE
Confectioners | NYSE, USA | Market Cap: 37.015m USD | 12M Return: 7.1% | US4278661081 | Charts, Fundamentals & Technical Analysis
Avg Turnover: 258M
EPS Trend: -89.3%
Qual. Beats: 5
Rev. Trend: 69.4%
Qual. Beats: 1
Warnings
Tailwinds
No distinct edge detected
Seasonality 11.6 years of data
How good or bad each month usually is (without trend). The score below shows how much you can trust it: 0 = pure chance, >40 gets interesting and >55 is strong.
The Hershey Company is a U.S.-based confectionery and snack manufacturer founded in 1894 and headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It operates through three segments-North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International-and produces chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery, gum and mints, protein bars, pantry items (such as baking ingredients and syrups), and salty snacks including popcorn and pretzels. The company sells a broad portfolio of well-known brands, including Hersheys, Reeses, Kisses, Cadbury, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, SkinnyPop, Dots Homestyle Pretzels, and ONE Bar, and distributes its products through grocery chains, mass merchandisers, wholesale clubs, convenience stores, drug stores, vending operators, and other retailers. Hershey exports to approximately 65 countries worldwide and is listed on the NYSE under the ticker HSY.
As a large-cap consumer staples issuer, Hersheys business model is anchored in non-cyclical, repeat-purchase demand for branded food and snack products, which typically supports relatively stable revenue even during economic downturns. Its international segment, combined with ownership of globally recognized brands such as Cadbury and Kit Kat, provides geographic and category diversification beyond its core U.S. confectionery market.
- Cocoa and dairy cost inflation squeezes confectionery margins
- Salty snacks segment expansion drives revenue diversification
- International growth and Cadbury licensing accelerate emerging market sales
| Net Income: 1.49b TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: 0.18 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 6.64 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 4.96% < 20% (prev 13.57%; Δ -8.60% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.19 > 3% & CFO 2.66b > Net Income 1.49b |
| Net Debt (5.21b) to EBITDA (2.61b): 1.99 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 1.18 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (204.3m) vs 12m ago 0.53% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 38.11% > 18% (prev 40.12%; Δ -2.01% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 88.08% > 50% (prev 82.77%; Δ 5.31% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: 9.71 > 6 (EBIT TTM 2.08b / Interest Expense TTM 214.8m) |
| A: 0.04 (Total Current Assets 3.96b - Total Current Liabilities 3.35b) / Total Assets 14.0b |
| B: 0.42 (Retained Earnings 5.81b / Total Assets 14.0b) |
| C: 0.15 (EBIT TTM 2.08b / Avg Total Assets 13.8b) |
| D: 0.48 (Book Value of Equity 4.56b / Total Liabilities 9.41b) |
| Altman-Z'' = 3.16 = A |
| DSRI: 1.03 (Receivables 907.4m/820.2m, Revenue 12.2b/11.3b) |
| GMI: 1.05 (GM 40.12% / 38.11%) |
| AQI: 1.05 (AQ_t 0.45 / AQ_t-1 0.42) |
| SGI: 1.08 (Revenue 12.2b / 11.3b) |
| TATA: -0.08 (NI 1.49b - CFO 2.66b) / TA 14.0b) |
| Beneish M = -2.88 (Cap -4..+1) = A |
As of August 22, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 186.46 with a total of 719,751 shares traded. Over the past week, the price has changed by +1.22%, over one month by +10.14%, over three months by -1.29% and over the past year by +7.09%.
Current recommended Stop Loss: 175.20 (which is 6% or 2.7 ATR below the current price).
Hershey has received a consensus analysts rating of 3.04. Therefore, it is recommended to hold HSY.
- StrongBuy: 3
- Buy: 1
- Hold: 17
- Sell: 2
- StrongSell: 2
| Analysts Target Price | 205.8 | 10.4% |
P/E Trailing = 25.4448
P/E Forward = 21.7865
P/S = 3.043
P/B = 8.0477
P/EG = 1.0372
Revenue TTM = 12.2b USD
EBIT TTM = 2.08b USD
EBITDA TTM = 2.61b USD
Long Term Debt = 4.61b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 925.7m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 6.00b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 388.2m
Net Debt = 5.21b USD (calculated: Debt 6.00b - CCE 791.2m)
Enterprise Value = 42.2b USD (37.0b + Debt 6.00b - CCE 791.2m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 9.71 (Ebit TTM 2.08b / Interest Expense TTM 214.8m)
EV/FCF = 16.59x (Enterprise Value 42.2b / FCF TTM 2.54b)
FCF Yield = 6.03% (FCF TTM 2.54b / Enterprise Value 42.2b)
FCF Margin = 20.92% (FCF TTM 2.54b / Revenue TTM 12.2b)
Net Margin = 12.24% (Net Income TTM 1.49b / Revenue TTM 12.2b)
Gross Margin = 38.11% ((Revenue TTM 12.2b - Cost of Revenue TTM 7.53b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 45.32% (prev 39.39%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 3.02 (Enterprise Value 42.2b / Total Assets 14.0b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 3.58% (Interest Expense 214.8m / Debt 6.00b)
Taxrate = 22.54% (433.3m / 1.92b)
NOPAT = 1.61b (EBIT 2.08b * (1 - 22.54%))
Current Ratio = 1.18 (Total Current Assets 3.96b / Total Current Liabilities 3.35b)
Debt / Equity = 1.31 (Debt 6.00b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 4.56b)
Debt / EBITDA = 1.99 (Net Debt 5.21b / EBITDA 2.61b)
Debt / FCF = 2.05 (Net Debt 5.21b / FCF TTM 2.54b)
Total Stockholder Equity = 4.62b (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = 10.78% (Net Income 1.49b / Total Assets 14.0b)
RoE = 32.20% (Net Income TTM 1.49b / Total Stockholder Equity 4.62b)
RoCE = 22.56% (EBIT 2.08b / Capital Employed (Equity 4.62b + L.T.Debt 4.61b))
RoIC = 14.76% (NOPAT 1.61b / Invested Capital 10.9b)
WACC = 5.10% (E(37.0b)/V(43.0b) * Re(5.48%) + D(6.00b)/V(43.0b) * Rd(3.58%) * (1-Tc(0.23)))
Discount Rate = 5.48% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: -29.90 | Cagr: -0.43%
[DCF] Terminal Value 77.97% ; FCFF base≈2.16b ; Y1≈2.47b ; Y5≈3.64b
[DCF] Fair Price = 338.9 (EV 54.8b - Net Debt 5.21b = Equity 49.6b / Shares 146.3m; r=8.35% [WACC [floored]]; 5y FCF grow 15.0% → 2.50% )
EPS Correlation: -89.33 | EPS CAGR: -13.96% | SUE: 2.09 | # QB: 5
Revenue Correlation: 69.43 | Revenue CAGR: 2.85% | SUE: 1.32 | # QB: 1
EPS current Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=2.12 | Chg30d=-7.33% | Revisions=-84% | Analysts=17
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=8.49 | Chg30d=+0.75% | Revisions=+55% | GrowthEPS=+34.5% | GrowthRev=+5.1%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=9.87 | Chg30d=-0.19% | Revisions=+5% | GrowthEPS=+16.3% | GrowthRev=+2.5%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: -7% (up=24, down=28)