Hershey Company (The) (HSY)
NYSEConsumer StaplesConfectionersSnapshot 2026-07-07
$175.95-0.88%
Close 2026-07-07 · 1-day change
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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.
The reason to own it still holds.
View ThesisRevenue growth is accelerating — up about 12% 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 35% 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 depends on strong net sales from new products and recent performance. Revenue grew 10.6% year over year in Q1 2026, with a 14.6% earnings surprise. It trades at 27× P/E, which is 2.1× the peer median of 13×. The market is pricing in more growth than expected, making it look expensive. If Hershey cuts guidance, the stock could drop, with a 12% miss probability. Peer multiples imply a price about 35% below where it trades. This read is provisional.
Trailing returns as of 2026-07-07. 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 Jul 2026).
Based on 7 Wall Street analysts offering 12-month price targets for HSY in the last 4 months.
A consensus fair price across 12 valuation methods, at three horizons. Current price $175.95. As of 2026-07-08. 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.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
New product launch could drive 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 2026-07-07. EPS is implied from price ÷ P/E. Not investment advice.
Current $175.95
The last 12 months of price, then the range of analyst 12-month targets from today’s $175.95.
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.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Reviving a classic may boost sales and brand loyalty.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Limited edition product may attract consumer interest.
Advances: Increase net sales growth
Strong Q1 results indicate effective sales growth.