The Hershey Company (HSY) — Stock Score Summary

The Hershey Company (HSY) has a MoatMap StockRank of 58/100 based on Quality (64/100), Value (24/100), and Momentum (56/100) factor scores. The current signal is HOLD. Hershey is a legendary consumer compounder with an incredible brand moat and high ROIC. However, it is currently facing a severe, non-transitory headwind from hyper-inflation in cocoa prices, which tests its pricing power limits in the near term.

The Hershey Company is a leading global confectionery manufacturer, producing and marketing a wide array of chocolate and non-chocolate candies, along with baking ingredients and snack products. Its dominant market share in North America is underpinned by iconic, highly recognized brands such as Hershey's, Reese's, and Kit Kat (U.S. rights), which command immense consumer loyalty. This formidable brand equity and extensive distribution network provide a significant competitive moat.

Key Financial Metrics

Price$177.66
Market Cap$40.0B
P/E (TTM)34.02
P/E (Forward)18.42
Price/Book7.83
Return on Equity23.2%
Return on Invested Capital13.4%
Debt/Equity120.01
Gross Margin35.0%
Operating Margin21.3%
Revenue Growth10.6%
Dividend Yield3.2%
Free Cash Flow$1.5B

The Hershey Company operates in the Confectioners industry, part of the Consumer Defensive sector (United States).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Hershey Company’s (HSY) StockRank?
MoatMap’s StockRank for The Hershey Company (HSY) is 58/100, with a Hold signal. It is a composite of Quality (64), Value (24), and Momentum (56) factor ranks across MoatMap’s 19,000+ stock universe.
Does The Hershey Company have an economic moat?
The Hershey Company (HSY) has a Quality factor score of 64/100. The Quality factor combines ROIC, Piotroski F-Score, and leverage — the financial fingerprints of a durable competitive advantage. A Quality score above 70 typically indicates a company with the characteristics of a moated business.
Is The Hershey Company a buy, hold, or sell?
MoatMap’s current signal for The Hershey Company (HSY) is Hold, based on a StockRank of 58/100. Signals are derived mechanically from the StockRank composite and should be one input among many — combine with your own thesis on management, competitive position, and valuation.
What sector is The Hershey Company in?
The Hershey Company (HSY) operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically the Confectioners industry (United States).
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