Hershey Company (HSY)

HSY's stock has experienced fluctuations, with a share price of $179.38 as of October 24, 2025, a 1.04% decline from the previous year, but a marginal increase of 11.28% over the past six months as of August 20, 2025. Hershey reported second-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.21, surpassing estimates, with a 26.0% revenue increase year-over-year, reaching $2.61 billion. Analysts are cautious due to rising cocoa prices affecting margins. In Q1 2025, the confectionery segment value declined by 26.6% due to lower sales volumes and rising production costs, leading to adjustments in product sizes. Analyst ratings for HSY stock are generally cautious, with an average "Hold" rating.

Demand for Hershey's products is seasonal, with holidays like Halloween, Easter, and the winter holiday season driving approximately one-quarter of the company's business. Halloween accounts for about 10% of annual sales. Chocolate syrup demand peaks in the summer during s'mores season. The company aligns marketing and inventory with these seasonal demands. In 2022, Hershey warned of potential supply shortages for Halloween and Christmas due to capacity constraints, despite expecting high sales growth.

The Hershey Company is a multinational confectionery company based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, operating in the Consumer Staples sector, specifically the Food Products and Confectionery industry. Hershey manufactures, distributes, and sells chocolate and sugar-based confections, snacks, and grocery items, including iconic brands like Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat (under license in the U.S.), and Twizzlers. Hershey has expanded into the salty snack market through acquisitions like SkinnyPop and Dot's Pretzels, and also offers baking ingredients and chocolate syrups.

The Hershey Company's products are distributed and sold in over 80 countries worldwide, with its main markets being the U.S. and Canada. The company operates manufacturing plants in the United States, Mexico, and India.

The Hershey Company has a strong brand recognition built over more than 125 years, which contributes to customer trust in its products. The company actively engages in marketing campaigns and sales strategies to promote its products and maintain brand loyalty. Hershey also emphasizes sustainability and responsible sourcing through initiatives like its "Cocoa for Good" program. Recent collaborations, such as the REESE'S and OREO® brands partnership, and promotional events involving Shaquille O'Neal have positively impacted brand visibility.

The Hershey Company is primarily held by institutional owners, accounting for 88% of the shares, with major holders including Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. The Milton Hershey School Trust is the largest single shareholder, owning 28% of shares outstanding. Individual investors hold a 12% stake, while insider ownership accounts for 17.17% of total shares outstanding as of October 14, 2025, with key insider stakeholders including Kirk Tanner, Rohit Grover, and Charles R Raup.