TR
Consumer DefensiveTootsie Roll Industries, Inc. · Food Confectioners · $3B
What is Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.?
Tootsie Roll Industries is one of America's most recognizable confectionery companies, producing candy brands that have been household names for generations. Founded in 1896 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company sells its products across the United States and internationally.
The company manufactures and sells a wide range of candy and confectionery products through wholesale distributors, supermarkets, dollar stores, mass merchandisers, drug chains, vending operators, e-commerce merchants, and the U.S. military. Its distribution network spans the United States, Canada, Mexico, and select international markets. Revenue comes entirely from branded confectionery sales, with no meaningful diversification outside candy.
Tootsie Roll Industries was founded in 1896 and remains headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
- Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops — the company's flagship chewy and lollipop candies
- Junior Mints, Charleston Chew, and Andes chocolate mints
- Dots, Blow-Pop, and Charms lollipop lines
- Dubble Bubble, Razzles, and Cry Baby novelty gum and candy
- Cella's chocolate-covered cherries and Sugar Daddy caramel pops
Is TR a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates TR as Below Average overall.
The clearest bright spot in TR's profile is its Risk pillar, which scores Strong — reflecting the company's conservative balance sheet and the relatively stable demand that comes with selling low-cost, everyday candy. Consumer Defensive positioning provides some insulation from economic cycles.
Growth and Moat both register as Weak, suggesting the business is not expanding meaningfully and lacks strong competitive differentiation relative to larger peers. Valuation is Elevated, meaning the market appears to be pricing in more than the fundamentals currently support.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does TR pay dividends?
Yes — Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. pays a dividend.
Tootsie Roll Industries pays a regular dividend, consistent with its long history as a mature Consumer Defensive business. The company has maintained dividend payments over many decades, reflecting its preference for returning cash to shareholders rather than pursuing aggressive reinvestment or acquisitions. Income-oriented investors often view TR's dividend as a modest but dependable feature of the stock.
When does TR report earnings?
Tootsie Roll Industries reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for U.S.-listed equities.
Given the company's Weak Growth pillar, recent quarters have reflected a business generating steady but largely flat results. Seasonal candy demand — particularly around Halloween — continues to influence quarterly revenue patterns. The stable Risk profile suggests the company manages costs and leverage conservatively.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Tootsie Roll Industries' investor relations page directly.
TR Price History
+68.6% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.?
Based on Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.'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.
TR Long-term Outlook
TR's fundamental outlook is shaped by two competing forces: a stable, low-risk business model on one side, and weak growth prospects paired with an elevated valuation on the other. The confectionery market offers limited organic expansion, and Tootsie Roll's narrow brand portfolio makes it difficult to capture new consumer segments. Without a meaningful catalyst for growth, the Risk pillar's strength may not be enough to offset the drag from Valuation and Moat.
Growth drivers
- Resilient demand for low-cost candy in dollar stores and mass retail channels
- Potential modest international expansion in Canada, Mexico, and select markets
- Brand nostalgia sustaining repeat purchases across multiple generations
Key risks
- Elevated valuation leaves limited margin of safety if earnings disappoint
- Weak moat makes the brand portfolio vulnerable to private-label and competitor pressure
- Stagnant growth trajectory limits long-term compounding potential
TR vs Peers
Tootsie Roll Industries operates in a competitive confectionery landscape alongside both large diversified food companies and specialty sugar producers.
Rogers Sugar focuses on refined sugar and maple products in Canada, making it a commodity-oriented peer rather than a branded candy company.
Kellanova is a much larger diversified snack and food company with a broader global footprint and more diversified revenue streams than TR.
Hershey competes directly in confectionery but operates at significantly greater scale, with stronger brand investment and a wider international presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tootsie Roll Industries do?
Tootsie Roll Industries manufactures and sells branded confectionery products including Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, Junior Mints, Dots, Blow-Pop, and many other candy lines. The company distributes through supermarkets, dollar stores, mass merchandisers, vending operators, and e-commerce channels across the U.S. and internationally.
Does TR pay dividends?
Yes, Tootsie Roll Industries pays a regular dividend. The company has maintained dividend payments for many decades, consistent with its mature Consumer Defensive business model. It is generally considered a modest income-generating stock rather than a high-yield play.
When does TR report earnings?
Tootsie Roll Industries reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for U.S.-listed companies. Seasonal patterns — especially Halloween-driven demand — can influence quarter-to-quarter results. For exact dates, check the company's investor relations page.
Is TR a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates TR as Below Average overall. While the Risk pillar is Strong, reflecting a conservative balance sheet and stable demand, the Growth and Moat pillars are both Weak, and Valuation is Elevated. Investors should weigh those trade-offs carefully before making a decision.
Is TR overvalued?
TR's Valuation pillar is rated Elevated in the UQS framework, suggesting the current market price may not offer a meaningful margin of safety relative to the company's fundamentals. This is particularly notable given the Weak Growth profile. Full valuation metrics are available to UQS Pro members.
How does TR compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like Hershey and Kellanova, Tootsie Roll operates at a much smaller scale with a narrower brand portfolio and limited international reach. Its Moat pillar scores Weak, indicating it lacks the competitive advantages that larger confectionery players have built through scale, marketing spend, and distribution breadth.
What is TR's market cap bracket?
Tootsie Roll Industries is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it well below mega-cap consumer staples giants but above smaller specialty food producers. Mid-cap status means it receives less institutional analyst coverage than large-cap peers.
Who founded Tootsie Roll Industries?
Tootsie Roll Industries traces its origins to 1896, when Leo Hirshfield began selling a chewy chocolate candy in New York. The company has evolved significantly since then and is now headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Detailed founding history is widely available through public sources.
Is TR a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, TR's profile is mixed. The Strong Risk pillar and consistent dividend history are positives for patient investors. However, the Weak Growth and Moat pillars, combined with an Elevated Valuation, suggest the business may struggle to compound value meaningfully over time without a strategic shift.
What is the main competitive advantage of Tootsie Roll Industries?
Tootsie Roll's primary advantage is brand nostalgia — its products have been sold for over a century and carry strong name recognition among American consumers. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, suggesting nostalgia alone does not translate into durable pricing power or market share protection.
What sector does TR belong to?
TR is classified in the Consumer Defensive sector. This means its products — everyday candy and confectionery — tend to see relatively stable demand regardless of economic conditions, which contributes to the company's Strong Risk pillar rating within the UQS framework.
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Pro Analysis
TR — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 43.2 | 46.2 | 27.0 | 22.0 | 100.0 | 36.8 | +0.2 |
| May 22, 2026 | 43.0 | 46.2 | 27.0 | 22.0 | 100.0 | 35.5 | +0.9 |
| May 7, 2026 | 42.1 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 35.1 | +0.1 |
| May 3, 2026 | 42.0 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 34.8 | -0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 42.1 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 35.1 | +0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 42.0 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 34.8 | +0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 41.9 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 34.0 | -1.2 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 43.1 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 41.9 | 0.0 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 43.1 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 41.8 | 0.0 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 43.1 | 45.9 | 27.0 | 18.0 | 100.0 | 42.1 | -0.2 |
TR — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 46.2/100 (25%)Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
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
— 22.0/100 (20%)Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. 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.
Risk
— 100.0/100 (15%)Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. carries minimal financial risk with conservative leverage and strong solvency.
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
— 36.9/100 (15%)Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. has a mixed valuation — some metrics suggest fair value while others appear stretched.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 27/100 (25%)Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. 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 TR.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the TR UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. 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 Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.'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 Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. 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.