Stock Analysis
The Hershey CompanyHSY
P/E 23.05×· 5Y range 8.59–34.56×· top 6% of history
Sector: Consumer Defensive · Industry: Sugar & Confectionery Products
AnalystsHold28 analystsP/E 23.1× sits at the 94th percentile of its 5.086926762491444-year history.
Cash covers 19% of debt · FY 2025.
PMP Verdict
High quality, but expensive
Strengths
- Quality90
- Profitability85
Risks
- Valuation52
- Growth32
Excellent business. Weak entry price.
Bull Case
- ✓Altman Z 4.1 — safe-zone balance sheet
- ✓ROE 32.1% — efficient capital deployment
What's happening with HSY
Profile
Strong earnings quality, moat and profitability; growth lags behind.
How is each axis scored?
- Valuation52/100 · Moderate
- P/E vs own history (94th pct)0/25
- FCF yield (6.5%)20/25
- P/S (2.8x)20/25
- EV/EBIT (17.7x)12/25
- Growth32/100 · Weak
- Revenue CAGR (6.8%)12/25
- Net income CAGR (-12.1%)0/25
- EPS CAGR 5Y (-11.6%)0/25
- Fwd implied growth (29.6%)20/25
- Profitability85/100 · Strong
- ROIC (19.8%)20/25
- ROE (32.1%)25/25
- Net margin (12.2%)20/25
- Operating margin (17.8%)20/25
- Financial Health67/100 · Moderate
- Altman Z (4.09)25/25
- Current ratio (1.19)12/25
- Interest coverage (7.4x)18/25
- Net cash / debt (D/A 29%)12/25
- Quality90/100 · Strong
- Piotroski F (5/9)15/25
- Beneish M (-2.74)25/25
- FCF conversion (150%)25/25
- Margin stability (σ 4.7%)25/25
- Moat88/100 · Strong
- ROIC >12% years (10/10 yrs)25/25
- Median gross margin (45.2%)20/25
- FCF-positive years (10/10 yrs)25/25
- Worst-year net margin (worst 7.6%)18/25
Risk Flags
- ⚠P/E 23.1× at top 6% of 5-year history
About The Hershey Company
Hershey is a leading US confectionery manufacturer (in a $55 billion market, according to Euromonitor), controlling more than 35% of the domestic chocolate aisle. Show more
Beyond its namesake label, the firm's portfolio has expanded over the last 85 years and now comprises 100 brands, including Reese's, Kit Kat, Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey's products are sold in about 80 countries, though only a high-single-digit percentage of sales comes from markets outside the US, including the UK, Brazil, India, and Mexico. The firm has sought inorganic opportunities to extend its reach beyond its core confectionery business, adding Amplify Snack Brands and its Skinny Pop ready-to-eat popcorn to its portfolio, as well as Pirate Brands, Dot's Pretzels, and LesserEvil over the past few years.
Headquarters: HERSHEY, PA · Employees: 19,595 · Website ↗
Price History
Weekly Candlestick Chart — up to 5Y
Key Metrics
Financial snapshot · Tap any metric for its definition and grade
TTM Snapshot
trailing twelve months · YoYValuation
52CP/E (TTM)23.0xB
Grade B: FairPrice / TTM EPS (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 8.6x–34.6x · 94th pct
P/FCF9.9xA
Grade A: CheapPrice / Free Cash Flow per share (Finnhub). Inverse of FCF yield — negative when FCF is negative
FCF Yield6.5%A
Grade A: ValueTTM (OCF − CapEx) / Market Cap — vs own 5Y history: 5.1%–11.4% · 11th pct
P/S (TTM)2.82xB
Grade B: FairPrice / TTM Revenue (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 1.4x–3.2x · 94th pct
EV/EBIT17.7xB
Grade B: FairEnterprise value / TTM EBIT (D&A not in our data) — capital-structure neutral — vs own 5Y history: 7.8x–24.4x · 93rd pct
EV/Sales3.9xB
Grade B: FairEnterprise Value / TTM Revenue (Finnhub) — capital-structure neutral sales multiple
Forward P/E17.8xB
Grade B: FairPrice / next-year EPS estimate — shows whether the TTM multiple is rich or just front-loading growth
P/B Ratio7.39xC
Grade C: ExpensivePrice to Book Value. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
PEG Ratio1.20B
Grade B: FairFinnhub PEG — their P/E basis ÷ expected EPS growth. Suppressed when their P/E diverges >2× from our TTM P/E (different basis)
Dividend Yield6.57%C
Grade C: HighTTM dividend yield (Finnhub) — annual dividends / price. None = no dividend; very high yield can signal distress
Payout Ratio206.9%D
Grade D: UnsustainableDividends / Net Income (Finnhub) — share of earnings paid out; >90% or negative = unsustainable
Profitability
85AROIC19.8%A
Grade A: MoatNOPAT (EBIT less ~21% tax) / invested capital (equity + debt − cash). Flagship quality metric — durable >15% signals a moat
ROE32.1%A
Grade A: StrongReturn on Equity. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
ROA10.3%A
Grade A: StrongReturn on Assets (Finnhub) — Net Income / Total Assets; how efficiently assets produce profit
Net Margin12.2%A
Grade A: HighNet Income / Revenue
Operating Margin17.8%C
Grade C: AverageTTM EBIT / TTM Revenue
Gross Margin38.4%C
Grade C: AverageGross Profit / Revenue
FCF Margin18.3%A
Grade A: HighFCF / Revenue
True FCF Margin17.7%A
Grade A: HighTTM (OCF − CapEx − SBC) / TTM Revenue — SBC treated as a real cost
Growth
32DRevenue CAGR6.8%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual revenue growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
Net Income CAGR-12.1%D
Grade D: LowCompound annual net income growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
EPS CAGR (5Y)-11.6%D
Grade D: LowCompound annual EPS growth over up to 5Y of per-share earnings (own statements). Null when either endpoint EPS ≤ 0
Implied EPS Growth29.6%C
Grade C: MedAnalyst forward EPS (normalized basis) vs our GAAP TTM EPS — different bases, so extreme values usually mark cyclically depressed TTM earnings, not real growth
Dilution (5Y)—
Share count change over 5Y
SBC / Net Income4.7%A
Grade A: LowStock-based comp/Net income. >30% = dilution risk
SBC / Revenue0.6%A
Grade A: LowTTM stock-based comp / TTM Revenue
Financial Health
67BAltman Z-Score4.09A
Grade A: SafeBankruptcy risk. >3 Safe, <1.8 Distress
Current Ratio1.19xC
Grade C: OkCurrent Assets/Liabilities
Quick Ratio0.62xC
Grade C: Ok(Current Assets − Inventory) / Current Liabilities (Finnhub) — stricter liquidity test, excludes inventory
Interest Coverage7.4xC
Grade C: OkEBIT/Interest. >10 Strong
Debt Repayment1.8yA
Grade A: FastYears to repay net debt via FCF
Net Debt/EBIT1.8xA
Grade A: LowLeverage. <2x Low, >4x High
Debt/Equity1.06xC
Grade C: MedDebt / Equity: <1 Conservative, >2 Risky. Not meaningful with non-positive equity; shown as unavailable rather than low debt.
Cash / Debt0.19xD
Grade D: ThinCash covers how much of total debt. >1 = could repay all debt from cash
Quality
90A+Piotroski F-Score5/9C
Grade C: AverageFinancial strength 0–9. >7 Strong
Beneish M-Score-2.74A
Grade A: SafeEarnings manipulation risk. < -2.22 Safe
FCF Conversion149.6%A
Grade A: StrongFCF / Net Income
Margin Stability4.7%A
Grade A: StableEBIT margin std deviation. Lower = stable
Capex / Revenue3.5%A
Grade A: Asset-lightTTM CapEx / TTM Revenue — high % = capital-hungry business
Asset Turnover0.87xC
Grade C: AverageRevenue / Total Assets (Finnhub) — how efficiently the asset base generates sales
Insider Transactions
SEC Form 4 · 8 recordsP/S codes are the directional signal; grants, option exercises and tax withholding carry none. Form 4 doesn't flag 10b5-1 plans — scheduled sales may appear within open-market sells.
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -80 | |
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -4649 | |
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -2476 | |
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -2783 | |
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -12 |
Show 3 more filingsShow fewer filings
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -139 | |
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -741 | |
HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL Filed | HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL | SellOpen market sale | -4997 |
More metrics — Moat, Per Share, Balance Sheet, MarketHide additional metrics
Moat
88AROIC >12% Years10/10 yrsA
Grade A: DurableShare of completed fiscal years with ROIC > 12% — measures multi-year capital-return durability
Gross Margin (Med.)45.2%A
Grade A: DurableMedian annual gross margin across available fiscal years — pricing-power durability
FCF-Positive Years10/10 yrsA
Grade A: DurableShare of completed fiscal years with positive free cash flow
Net Margin Floor7.6%A
Grade A: DurableWeakest annual net margin across completed fiscal years — recession/downcycle resilience
Per Share
EPS (TTM)$7.41
Own TTM net income / shares — same earnings basis as P/E
Cash / Share$5.41
Cash & short-term investments per share (Finnhub)
Book Value / Share$31.19
Shareholders' equity per share (Finnhub). Negative = accumulated losses / heavy buybacks
Balance Sheet
Total Debt$4.90B
Total debt obligations (short + long term)
Cash & Equiv.$925.86M
Cash and short-term investments
Net Debt$3.97B
Total Debt minus Cash. Negative = Net Cash position
Total Equity$4.64B
Shareholders' equity (book value)
Asset / Liability1.51xC
Grade C: AdequateTotal Assets / Total Liabilities
Market
Market Cap$34.26B
Current Market Capitalization
Beta0.09B
Grade B: DefensivePrice sensitivity vs the market (Finnhub) — 1.0 moves with market, >1.2 amplifies swings
How grades work: each metric is graded A–D against fixed thresholds (tap a row for the meaning). Card grades map the pillar score to A+–E — a card grade is that pillar's own score, not an average of the rows shown.
Financials as of Jun 2026 · Ratio snapshot Oct 17, 2026
Key Insights: The Hershey Company (HSY)
HSY is up 1.27% at the last close. Piotroski F-Score of 5/9 indicates mixed fundamentals for The Hershey Company. Altman Z-Score of 4.09 sits comfortably in the safe zone (≥ 2.99), indicating low bankruptcy risk. Beneish M-Score of -2.74 suggests a low likelihood of earnings manipulation.
- The Hershey Company converts about 18% of revenue into free cash flow — strong cash generation.
- Takes ~1.8 years to repay net debt from free cash flow.
- Return on equity of 32.1% is well above the market average.
- The stock currently yields 6.6% in dividends.
See how HSY ranks on the Capex Tracker — top 50 capital spenders compared.
Recent Market Moves
See all HSY moves →| Date | Session | Price | Move | Z-Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15 | Pre-market | 167.85 | +2.19% | 2.36 |
| Oct 15 | Regular | 169.15 | +2.98% | 3.15 |
| Oct 15 | After-hours | 168.68 | +2.70% | 2.86 |
| Oct 8 | Regular | 162.81 | +1.54% | 2.04 |
| Oct 8 | After-hours | 164.56 | +2.63% | 3.15 |
Frequently Asked Questions about HSY
What is the current The Hershey Company (HSY) stock price?
HSY is trading at $170.83 at the last market close, up 1.27% on the session. PreMarketPrice tracks HSY pre-market, intraday and after-hours prices.
Is HSY stock a buy right now?
PreMarketPrice's quantitative model rates The Hershey Company's financial health at 67/100. This is a data-driven snapshot of fundamentals, not investment advice.
Is HSY stock overvalued?
The Hershey Company trades at a trailing P/E of 23.0 and our valuation score rates it 52/100 (higher = cheaper vs. its own history). See the Valuation History and Key Metrics sections for forward P/E, EV/EBITDA and PEG context.
When does The Hershey Company report earnings?
No confirmed earnings date is currently scheduled for HSY. The Earnings section lists recent reports and updates as dates are announced.
What sector does The Hershey Company operate in?
The Hershey Company operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, within the Sugar & Confectionery Products industry. The Related Stocks section lists sector peers for comparison.
What does The Hershey Company do?
Hershey is a leading US confectionery manufacturer (in a $55 billion market, according to Euromonitor), controlling more than 35% of the domestic chocolate aisle.
About The Hershey Company (HSY) Stock
The Hershey Company (HSY) is a US-listed stock operating in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically the Sugar & Confectionery Products industry. As of the latest update, The Hershey Company is trading at $170.83, up 1.27% on the day with a market capitalization of $34.3 billion. The financial health score for HSY is 67/100, which indicates good financial strength based on profitability, leverage, liquidity, and growth metrics. This page provides real-time pre-market pricing, earnings calendar, financial health analysis, and valuation metrics for HSY stock.
HSY Stock Analysis & Key Metrics
On PreMarketPrice, you can track The Hershey Company (HSY) across multiple dimensions:
- Pre-market price & movement: Real-time HSY stock price with percentage change, updated continuously during pre-market and regular trading hours.
- Valuation & P/E history: Historical P/E, P/S, and P/B ratios for HSY with trend analysis and normalized valuation multiples.
- Financial statements: Revenue, net income, assets, liabilities, and equity for The Hershey Company across multiple reporting periods.
- Financial health score: A composite score of 67/100 based on Altman Z-Score, Piotroski F-Score, profitability, and leverage metrics for HSY.
- Sector peers: Compare HSY against 4 other consumer defensive stocks on key financial metrics.
Is HSY a Good Stock to Buy?
This page provides data-driven analysis to help you evaluate The Hershey Company (HSY) as an investment. The financial health score of 67/100 suggests good financial fundamentals. Valuation metrics show whether the stock is trading above or below its historical average.However, this is not financial advice — always do your own research before investing.
Data on this page is sourced from real-time market feeds, Polygon.io, and Finnhub.The Hershey Company (HSY) trades on NYSE/NASDAQ. Pre-market trading occurs 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET. Regular market hours are 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET.