Hershey (HSY): analysis in plain words
Is Hershey cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Hershey (HSY) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in consumer staples. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Hershey according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Hershey (HSY) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $174.50 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.7x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +3.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 14.6% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.5x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 3.47% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $35.1 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Hershey figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any HSY figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Hershey makes money
Hershey sells chocolate, candy and salty snacks under brands like Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Kit Kat in the U.S., SkinnyPop and Dot's Pretzels. Its segments are North America Confectionery, the core of the business, North America Salty Snacks and International, selling through grocery, convenience and big-box stores.
Over the last 12 months, Hershey brought in revenue of $12.3 billion. For every 100 it sells, Hershey keeps 41.9 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 25.5 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 17,550 full-time employees, that is about $698,000 of revenue per employee.
Hershey against its sector
To know whether a Hershey figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Hershey with the median of the 17 consumer staples companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Hershey | consumer staples median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 19.7x | 21.3x (17) |
| Revenue growth | +3.0% | +3.6% (19) |
| Net margin | 14.6% | 12.8% (19) |
| Dividend yield | 3.47% | 3.19% (19) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 1.5x | 1.7x (19) |
In short, against the typical consumer staples company, Hershey grows more slowly. By size, Hershey ranks number 10 of 13 consumer staples companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Hershey
What works in favour of Hershey, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Hershey earns 38.0% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- For income seekers, Hershey pays a dividend yielding 3.47% at today's price, using 65% of its profit to fund it.
- Hershey generates real cash: $1.7 billion of free cash flow over 12 months, 4.8% of its stock market value.
The main risk for Hershey
The Hershey figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: customers switching to cheaper store brands and rising prices for the raw materials it buys.
Frequently asked questions about Hershey
Is it a good time to buy Hershey stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Hershey, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Hershey stock trades at $174.50, 27% below its 52-week high ($239.48) and 12% above its low ($156.16). Its P/E is 19.7x against a consumer staples median of 21.3x, and 18.4x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Hershey, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Hershey pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Hershey pays $5.81 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 3.47%. It uses 65% of its profit to pay it. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 2.25%. The consumer staples median on Fintols is 3.19%.
Is Hershey stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Hershey trades at 19.7x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the consumer staples median (21.3x). Including its debt, Hershey is valued at 12.3x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Hershey expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Hershey's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Hershey with Colgate-Palmolive, Mondelez and Altria, which are also in consumer staples. As of November 4, 2026, Colgate-Palmolive is worth $78.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 38.4; Mondelez is worth $85.3 billion and trades on a P/E of 21.3; Altria is worth $129.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 16.1. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Hershey below.
Hershey competitors
- Colgate-Palmolive (CL) analysis · Hershey vs Colgate-Palmolive comparison
- Mondelez (MDLZ) analysis · Hershey vs Mondelez comparison
- Altria (MO) analysis · Hershey vs Altria comparison
To understand Hershey better
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Hershey: consumer staples stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full HSY analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Hershey, not investment advice.