Hershey Company (HSY)

Over the past six months, The Hershey Co. (HSY) stock has experienced a slight decline of approximately 1.52%, but saw an increase of about 6.29% to 7.16% in the most recent month. As of June 23, 2025, the share price was $173.13, representing a 7.57% decrease from its price on June 24, 2024. Analyst ratings have seen adjustments, including an upgrade from Citigroup and a downgrade from Piper Sandler, with Morgan Stanley initiating coverage with an Equal-Weight recommendation. The company's earnings for the last quarter were reported at $2.09 per share, surpassing estimations. Insider selling activity has been noted, and rising cocoa prices have impacted investor sentiment.

Demand for Hershey's products exhibits significant seasonality, with holidays like Halloween, Easter, and the winter holiday season driving approximately one-quarter to one-third of total sales. Halloween is particularly important, with production planning beginning a year in advance. Valentine's Day also shows concentrated demand. In July 2022, Hershey announced it would not be able to fully meet consumer demand for Halloween and winter holidays due to capacity constraints and supply chain issues, leading to prioritization of year-round products. The company has since focused on increasing inventory levels and production capacity.

The Hershey Company, founded in 1894 and headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is a leading producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Its product portfolio includes iconic brands such as Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Kit Kat (in the US), Jolly Rancher, and Twizzlers. Hershey has strategically diversified into the snack market through acquisitions, adding brands like SkinnyPop popcorn, Pirate's Booty baked puffs, and ONE Protein Bars.

The Hershey Company's headquarters are located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. Hershey has a significant international presence, marketing its products in approximately 70 to 80 countries worldwide. Its business operations span across North America, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. The company also manages global retail operations, including Hershey's Chocolate World locations in Hershey, Pennsylvania, New York City, Chicago, Niagara Falls, Shanghai, Dubai, and Singapore.

The Hershey Company has maintained a strong brand reputation, being recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere for the second consecutive year. Hershey has been consistently listed among the top 50 companies for diversity for five years and ranked No. 1 in the Food, Beverage and Tobacco industry category on the JUST 100 companies list and is a certified Great Place to Work. The company's brand refresh was honored with a gold medal for "Best Implementation of a Brand Development project in North America". Hershey continues to face scrutiny regarding labor issues in cocoa-producing regions, despite initiatives like "Cocoa for Good" and commitment to responsible sourcing.

The ownership structure of The Hershey Co. is primarily dominated by institutional investors, holding approximately 59.57% to 88% of the company's stock, with retail investors holding about 12% to 37.30%, and insiders owning around 3.14%. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and State Street Corp. The largest individual shareholder is Trust Co Hershey, holding 1.04% of the company's shares. The Milton Hershey School Trust is also a significant shareholder, owning 28% of outstanding shares.