HSY
Consumer DefensiveThe Hershey Company · Food Confectioners · $40B
What is The Hershey Company?
The Hershey Company is one of North America's most recognized confectionery and snack manufacturers, built on iconic candy and snack brands sold across grocery, convenience, and mass-retail channels worldwide.
Hershey manufactures and sells chocolate, non-chocolate confectionery, gum, mints, and salty snacks through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. Revenue flows primarily through wholesale distributors, grocery chains, mass merchandisers, drug stores, and convenience stores.
Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the company has operated for well over a century.
- Chocolate and non-chocolate candy (Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Kit Kat, Almond Joy)
- Gum and mint refreshment products (Ice Breakers, Breath Savers, Bubble Yum)
- Salty snacks and popcorn (SkinnyPop, Dot's Homestyle Pretzels, Pirates Booty)
- Pantry and baking items (baking ingredients, toppings, syrups)
Is HSY a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates HSY as Below Average overall.
Hershey's Quality and Valuation pillars both register as Neutral, reflecting a business with recognizable brands and a relatively stable cost structure — neither a standout nor a clear drag.
The Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars all score Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation, constrained expansion prospects, and meaningful headwinds relative to sector peers.
See the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does HSY pay dividends?
Yes — The Hershey Company pays a dividend.
Hershey pays a regular dividend, consistent with its long history as a consumer staples company. The dividend reflects the company's relatively stable cash generation, though investors should weigh payout sustainability against the Weak Risk pillar profile.
When does HSY report earnings?
The Hershey Company reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
Hershey has faced pressure from input cost inflation and shifting consumer demand, themes reflected in its Weak Growth pillar. Revenue trends have been uneven relative to broader consumer defensive peers.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit The Hershey Company's investor relations page directly.
HSY Price History
+22.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in The Hershey Company?
Based on The Hershey Company's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hershey do?
The Hershey Company manufactures and sells confectionery products, salty snacks, gum, mints, and pantry items. Its brands — including Hershey's, Reese's, SkinnyPop, and Kit Kat — are distributed through grocery, convenience, and mass-retail channels across the US and internationally.
Does HSY pay dividends?
Yes, Hershey pays a regular dividend. As a consumer staples company with a long operating history, it has maintained a dividend program. Investors should review the company's investor relations page for current yield and payout details.
When does HSY report earnings?
Hershey reports on a quarterly cadence. Our data source does not publish specific upcoming earnings dates — check the company's investor relations page or a financial calendar for the next scheduled release.
Is HSY a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates HSY as Below Average, driven by Weak scores across Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars. The Quality and Valuation pillars are Neutral. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals — the full analysis is available to Pro members.
Is HSY overvalued?
HSY's Valuation pillar scores as Neutral, suggesting the market price is neither clearly stretched nor deeply discounted relative to the company's fundamentals. The full valuation metrics are available in the Pro breakdown.
How does HSY compare to its competitors?
Hershey competes with Kellanova (K), Mondelez International (MDLZ), and Tootsie Roll Industries (TR) in the packaged food and confectionery space. UQS Score rates each company independently — see the competitor cards on this page for side-by-side quality comparisons.
What is HSY's market cap bracket?
Hershey is classified as a large-cap company, placing it among the more established names in the consumer defensive sector.
Is HSY a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, HSY's Below Average UQS Score — with Weak Moat, Growth, and Risk pillars — suggests meaningful structural challenges. Brand recognition alone does not guarantee durable competitive advantage. Pro members can access the complete pillar analysis to assess long-term fit.
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- ✓Track score changes over time as new data is released
Pro Analysis
HSY — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 45.5 | 61.6 | 38.0 | 31.8 | 35.6 | 59.4 | +2.5 |
| May 7, 2026 | 43.0 | 54.5 | 38.0 | 31.8 | 29.6 | 60.2 | 0.0 |
| May 4, 2026 | 43.0 | 54.5 | 38.0 | 31.8 | 29.6 | 60.8 | 0.0 |
| May 3, 2026 | 43.0 | 54.5 | 38.0 | 31.7 | 29.6 | 60.8 | +0.2 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 42.8 | 54.5 | 38.0 | 31.7 | 29.6 | 59.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 42.8 | 54.5 | 38.0 | 31.7 | 29.6 | 59.3 | +0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 42.7 | 54.5 | 38.0 | 31.7 | 29.6 | 58.4 | -2.2 |
| Apr 16, 2026 | 44.9 | 54.6 | 38.0 | 31.7 | 29.6 | 73.0 | +0.1 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 44.8 | 54.2 | 38.0 | 31.6 | 29.6 | 73.0 | +0.2 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 44.6 | 54.0 | 38.0 | 31.6 | 29.6 | 72.5 | +0.1 |
HSY — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 61.6/100 (25%)The Hershey Company shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 31.8/100 (20%)The Hershey Company faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 35.6/100 (15%)The Hershey Company has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 60.1/100 (15%)The Hershey Company trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 38/100 (25%)The Hershey Company possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for HSY.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the HSY UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for The Hershey Company is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses The Hershey Company's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether The Hershey Company is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.