HSYConsumer Defensive · ConfectionersThe 23 Wall Street analysts covering The Hershey Co. hold a median 12-month price target of $173 — -0.9% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 79 of 100 as at 4 Nov 2026 — inside the top quartile. The factors read stronger than the Street's target implies. That gap is the story on this page.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores The Hershey Co. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Issuance (92): The share count has been shrinking and the company is not leaning on new borrowing.
Momentum (47): The shares have been drifting down relative to others.
Size (7): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs systematic trader with 15+ years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on HSY, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits −0.9% from it.
Of the 20 most recent actions, 0 moved their price target up and 13 moved it down.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Equal-Weight | $178 → $171 |
| 31 Oct 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 30 Oct 2026 | BNP Paribas | Maintains | Outperform | $195 → $190 |
| 30 Oct 2026 | Evercore ISI Group | Maintains | Outperform | $210 → $200 |
| 30 Oct 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | $183 → $166 |
| 30 Oct 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | $206 → $190 |
| 30 Oct 2026 | TD Cowen | Downgrade | Hold | $198 → $173 |
| 30 Oct 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Neutral | $178 → $175 |
| 30 Oct 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | $170 → $160 |
| 16 Oct 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Equal-Weight | $200 → $178 |
| 16 Oct 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Equal-Weight | — |
| 15 Oct 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | — |
| 15 Oct 2026 | JP Morgan | Maintains | Neutral | $193 → $183 |
| 13 Oct 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 13 Oct 2026 | TD Cowen | Maintains | Buy | $210 → $198 |
| 5 Oct 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | $190 → $170 |
| 5 Oct 2026 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | — |
| 21 Aug 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | — |
| 21 Aug 2026 | RBC Capital | Maintains | Sector Perform | $212 → $206 |
| 3 Aug 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Equal-Weight | — |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
HSY appears in the Radar on the weeks it earns a place.
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Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 4 Nov 2026, The Hershey Co. returned +8.3% against +14.8% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
Download this chart as an image — free to reuse; link this page as the source.
Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 39% of US stocks
Cheaper than 42% of US stocks
Cheaper than 13% of US stocks
Cheaper than 30% of US stocks
Higher than 35% of US stocks
Higher than 85% of US stocks
Higher than 56% of US stocks
Higher than 84% of US stocks
Higher than 77% of US stocks
Higher than 91% of US stocks
Higher than 94% of US stocks
Higher than 89% of US dividend payers
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
The Hershey Co. has a market value of $34.4B and an enterprise value of $39.2B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $12.2B. The latest quarter grew 3.0% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: $1.5B, a 12.2% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $7.32.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $2.2B, after $428.4M of capital spending.
The Hershey Co. spent $439.4M on share buybacks and $1.1B on dividends in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.
Trailing P/E: 19.0×; forward P/E: 17.7× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Forward dividend yield: 3.48%, paying out 65% of earnings.
The Hershey Co. employs 17,550 people — $693K of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
| Company | Market cap | TKN rank |
|---|---|---|
| HSYThe Hershey Co. | $34.4B | 79 |
| MDLZMondelez International, Inc. | $86.9B | 61 |
| TRTootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | $2.9B | 43 |
| ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland Co.* | $34.1B | 81 |
| SYYSysco Corp.* | $36.8B | 61 |
| KVUEKenvue, Inc.* | $37.1B | — |
| ELThe Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.* | $39.1B | 91 |
* Nearest Consumer Defensive names by size — few confectioners companies of this scale trade in the US universe.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own The Hershey Co. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
The Motley Fool compared Colgate-Palmolive and Hershey, noting revenue growth for both companies. Hershey's revenue rose 6.7% to $12.2 billion, and its forward P/E is lower than Colgate's.
Why it matters — The comparison highlights Hershey's reported revenue growth and relative forward valuation for investors following HSY.
The article says Hershey trades 21% below its historical price-to-earnings multiple. It groups HSY with two other household-name dividend payers trading below long-run earnings multiples while covering their payouts with room to spare.
Why it matters — HSY watchers may note the article’s comparison of the company’s current valuation with its historical earnings multiple and its dividend coverage.
Hershey said it continues to expect 2027 sales growth within its long-term 2% to 4% range. Executives cautioned that consumer pressure and a weaker convenience-store channel could push results toward the lower end of that outlook.
Why it matters — Consumer conditions and convenience-store performance may influence where Hershey's 2027 sales growth falls within its stated range.
Higher cocoa and sugar prices are driving above-average cost inflation for candy, while consumers are trading down to smaller packages.
Why it matters — The combination of rising input costs and shifts toward smaller packages could affect Hershey's costs and consumer demand.
Hershey maintained its 2027 sales growth outlook of 2–4%, citing innovation and productivity gains. The company also pointed to weak consumer demand and rising costs as risks to margins.
Why it matters — The outlook and noted demand and cost pressures provide HSY watchers context on expected growth and margin risks.
The 23 Wall Street analysts covering The Hershey Co. have a median 12-month price target of $173, with estimates ranging from $159 to $230. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 23 analysts covering The Hershey Co., 7 rate it a Buy, 15 a Hold and 1 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks The Hershey Co. 79 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 4 Nov 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 4 Nov 2026, The Hershey Co. ranks 79 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Issuance (92 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 23 analysts implies -0.9% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks The Hershey Co. 79 out of 100 as at 4 Nov 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering The Hershey Co. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for HSY are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $159 to $230 over the next 12 months.
The Hershey Co. returned +8.3% over the 12 months to 4 Nov 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
The Hershey Company Common Stock represents ownership in The Hershey Company, a leading consumer packaged goods business focused on confectionery and snack foods. The company develops, manufactures, and markets a broad portfolio of chocolate and other confectionery products, along with salty snacks and related treats for everyday consumption.
The most recent item we track (The Motley Fool, 5 Nov 2026): "Colgate-Palmolive vs. Hershey: Which Consumer Goods Stock Is the Better Buy for 2027?". The Motley Fool compared Colgate-Palmolive and Hershey, noting revenue growth for both companies. Hershey's revenue rose 6.7% to $12.2 billion, and its forward P/E is lower than Colgate's.
The Hershey Company Common Stock represents ownership in The Hershey Company, a leading consumer packaged goods business focused on confectionery and snack foods. The company develops, manufactures, and markets a broad portfolio of chocolate and other confectionery products, along with salty snacks and related treats for everyday consumption. Its products are sold through grocery, convenience, mass retail, club, drug, and specialty channels, making it an important participant in the global packaged food market. The Hershey Company operates through North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International segments, reflecting its mix of branded sweets, snack offerings, and overseas distribution. Headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, The Hershey Company remains recognized for its portfolio of widely known household brands and its role in branded snacking and confectionery distribution.
CEO Mr. Kirk C. Tanner · 17,550 employees · United States · https://www.thehersheycompany.com
