Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Releases FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) updated its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided EPS guidance of 8.360-8.520 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 8.430. The company issued revenue guidance of $12.2 billion-$12.3 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $12.3 billion.

Hershey Stock Down 1.2%

NYSE:HSY traded down $2.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $175.15. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 764,851 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,023,066. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. Hershey has a 1 year low of $161.43 and a 1 year high of $239.48. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $179.54 and a 200-day moving average of $196.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.53 billion, a PE ratio of 32.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.11.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.43 by $0.47. Hershey had a net margin of 9.12% and a return on equity of 28.98%. The firm had revenue of $2.79 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.63 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.21 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Hershey has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.360-8.520 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Hershey will post 8.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a $1.452 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $5.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Hershey’s payout ratio is presently 108.19%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HSY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Hershey from $204.00 to $191.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 13th. BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Hershey in a report on Monday, April 13th. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group set a $190.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Hershey from $247.00 to $227.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group set a $240.00 target price on Hershey in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and sixteen have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $203.50.

Insider Transactions at Hershey

In other Hershey news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total value of $255,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 53,195 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $9,043,150. This represents a 2.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Hershey

Here are the key news stories impacting Hershey this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Hershey reported second-quarter revenue of $2.79 billion, up 6.6% year over year and ahead of the $2.63 billion consensus estimate. Adjusted EPS of $1.90 exceeded expectations of approximately $1.43, supported by pricing, margin recovery and supply-chain optimization. Hershey Reports Second-Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: North America Confectionery sales rose 4.2%, while North America Salty Snacks sales increased 22.9% to $387.8 million, helped by the LesserEvil acquisition. Management said Reese’s, Dot’s Pretzels and other core brands continued to show steady demand. Hershey beats quarterly sales estimates
• Positive Sentiment: The company narrowed its 2026 outlook to approximately $12.2 billion-$12.3 billion in revenue and $8.36-$8.52 in EPS, keeping the forecast near the upper end of its prior range. Potential cocoa-cost relief in 2027 could provide additional margin support. Hershey reports higher Q2 sales, earnings; tightens 2026 outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Hershey maintained its quarterly dividend at $1.452 per share, equivalent to an annualized yield of roughly 3.3%, preserving the stock’s income appeal. Hershey Keeps Its Dividend Steady
• Neutral Sentiment: Brokerages continue to assign Hershey a consensus “Hold” rating, suggesting the earnings improvement is balanced by valuation and operating risks. Hershey Receives Consensus Recommendation of Hold
• Negative Sentiment: Higher prices drove sales growth but masked an 8% volume decline, raising concerns that consumers may be resisting further price increases. The volume pressure helps explain why the stock traded lower despite the earnings beat. Hershey Q2 earnings beat, raises annual outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Hershey remains exposed to cocoa-price volatility, cautious consumer spending and supply-chain challenges in salty snacks. Recent insider selling and a share price still above its 12-month low may also limit enthusiasm among investors focused on near-term risk.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hershey

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Integrated Advisors Network LLC grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 1,520 shares of the company’s stock worth $277,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at $257,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 36.8% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 1,368 shares of the company’s stock valued at $249,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the period. First National Bank of Omaha purchased a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter worth $226,000. Finally, FIL Ltd purchased a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter worth $169,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Company Profile

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is a leading North American chocolatier and snack manufacturer headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The company develops, produces and markets a wide range of confectionery and snack products for retail, foodservice and international customers. Hershey’s business spans manufacturing, branded product marketing, packaging and distribution across grocery, convenience, mass merchant and e-commerce channels.

Hershey’s product portfolio centers on chocolate and sugar confectionery, including core brands such as Hershey’s, Reese’s, Hershey’s Kisses and Twizzlers, alongside non-chocolate snacks and confectionery brands.