Hershey Company (The) (HSY)
NYSEConsumer StaplesFood ConfectionersSnapshot 2026-09-04
$173.15-1.09%
Close 2026-09-04 · 1-day change
NYSEConsumer StaplesFood ConfectionersSnapshot 2026-09-04
Research Workspace
Put HSY beside peers and holdings, graph the same metric, and keep your notes with the evidence.
Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
Industries move in repeating boom-and-bust cycles. This shows where this stock’s industry sits in that cycle, stage by stage (recovery → expansion → supercycle → steady → deceleration → contraction), from its fundamentals (orders, revenue, capital spending), not the stock’s price.
A booming industry is a tailwind for the names in it; a contracting one is a headwind. Companies in the same industry tend to rise and fall together with the cycle, the way a tide lifts and lowers every boat in the harbor at once, so a large part of a stock’s swing can come from where its industry sits rather than from the company itself. It’s context for reading the company’s results, not a buy/sell call. Full explanation →
Packaged Foods & Meats: fringe margins under pressure (0q confirmed)
The stage band shows the industry’s cycle over the chart’s timeline (each color a stage); a ▼ marks a quarter its growth inflected down — amber is an unconfirmed watch, red is confirmed the next quarter. Use “Overlay cycle on chart” to tint the price chart by stage. The industry’s fundamentals, not a signal on this stock.
Primary pillar under pressure — net sales growth of at least 3% annually: FY26 revenue growth guidance 3.0-3.5% vs 3.0% target.
View ThesisRevenue is growing steadily — about 8% over the past year.
View GrowthMiddle-of-the-pack quality for its industry.
View QualityManagement screens strong on capital allocation, earnings delivery, the balance sheet.
View ManagementExpectations look high — the market is pricing in about 41% growth a year, above the roughly 3% analysts expect, leaving little room for error.
View ValuationModerate volatility — typically moves about 1% a day.
View RiskHershey's growth relies on maintaining net sales growth of at least 3% annually. Recent financial performance shows strong results, with Q2 revenue growth at 6.6%. The stock trades at 24× P/E versus a peer median of 12.5×, indicating the market prices in more growth than expected. The market is pricing in elevated expectations, which appear unjustified given the competitive landscape. A specific risk is the potential for guidance cuts, with a 12% miss probability for the next quarter. Peer multiples imply a price about 41% below where it trades. This read is provisional; the thesis is on watch.
Trailing returns as of 2026-09-04. HSY is total return (includes dividends); the S&P 500 benchmark is price return (the index excludes dividends).
Based on 23 analysts currently covering HSY (as of Sep 2026).
Based on 10 Wall Street analysts offering 12-month price targets for HSY in the last 4 months.
Continue this research
Compare HSY with peers and holdings, graph the same reported metric, keep your questions beside the evidence, and return when the facts change.
Free account required to save the handoff. No credit card.
| Compare | Company | Living FV | P/E | Revenue % | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSY Selected company | Graph | Compare | Trend | Review | |
| Peer Add a competitor | Graph | Compare | Trend | Review | |
| Holding Compare a holding | Graph | Compare | Trend | Review |
Selected metric trend
Quarterly · checked companies · value or % of revenue
A consensus fair price across 11 valuation methods, at three horizons. As of 2026-09-04. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
Today's peer multiple on trailing earnings, with no growth credited. This is the headline read.
Adds projected growth, so it leans optimistic by design. Read it as upside context, not a base case.
A price-focused, side-by-side fair-value read versus Packaged Foods & Meats — fair value, gap to price, and forward P/E.
Compare the value case
Put HSY next to peers and holdings, compare Living FV and multiples, then graph the driver behind the difference.
Threatens: Increase net sales growth
Market share concerns could hinder net sales growth.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
End-of-day figures as of 2026-09-04. EPS is implied from price ÷ P/E. Not investment advice.
Current $173.15
The last 12 months of price, then the range of analyst 12-month targets from today’s $173.15.
Analyst ratings and price targets are third-party Wall Street estimates, not QuarterlyIQ’s view. Not investment advice.
A long-thesis check that carries the widest uncertainty of the three horizons.
Below average on quality vs scored peers
Direction of the business behind the multiple. Bands are backend reads; trailing-12-month basis.
Recall may impact sales and brand reputation.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Supply chain progress supports net sales growth objective.
Advances: Manage capital expenditures
Steady dividend supports capital allocation objectives.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Strong Q2 results support net sales growth objective.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Price hikes contributing to sales growth and exceeding expectations.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Sales rise from salty snacks enhances overall growth.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Focus on top cities likely boosts net sales growth.
