HERSHEY CO HSY
HERSHEY CO (HSY) earns a Piotroski F-score of 4/9 (mixed financial health), with an Altman Z″ in the safe zone. It pays a dividend yielding 2.99% (safety: at-risk). FY2025 revenue was $11.7B at a 7.6% net margin.
Quality score trend · recomputed for each fiscal year
Each year's score is computed from that year's filing — a rising Piotroski F or Altman Z″ means improving financial health, a fall is worth a look.
Beneish M-score: -2.8 — low (below −2.22 — no manipulation red flag) . A statistical screen for earnings manipulation, not proof — and it doesn't apply to most banks/insurers.
Analyst price target
Recent analyst actions
| Date | Firm | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | Barclays | Equal-Weight (main) |
| 2026-07-31 | UBS | Neutral (main) |
| 2026-07-31 | JP Morgan | Neutral (main) |
| 2026-07-31 | Wells Fargo | Equal-Weight (main) |
| 2026-07-23 | Evercore ISI Group | Outperform (main) |
| 2026-07-22 | Stifel | Hold (main) |
Wall Street analyst consensus — a sentiment gauge, not our scoring.
Forward estimates · earnings calendar →
Consensus analyst estimates and scheduled dates — forward-looking, may change.
Smart money · insiders, last 12 months
Open-market insider purchases minus sells (SEC Form 4) — real buying with their own money is a bullish “smart money” signal; grants and option exercises are excluded.
How it ranks in Manufacturing · percentile among 1957 companies
Percentile vs other Manufacturing companies we cover — e.g. “stronger than 90%” means only 10% score higher on that measure.
Piotroski F breakdown · 4/9 tests passed
- Positive return on assets
- Positive operating cash flow
- Rising ROA
- Cash flow exceeds net income
- Lower long-term debt
- Rising current ratio
- No share dilution
- Rising gross margin
- Rising asset turnover
Altman Z″ components · safe zone
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Working capital / assets | 0.042 |
| Retained earnings / assets | 0.4 |
| EBIT / assets | 0.105 |
| Equity / liabilities | 0.509 |
Sector peers · similar-size Manufacturing companies compare side by side →
| Ticker | Company | Piotroski F | Altman Z″ | P / E | Revenue growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSY | HERSHEY CO | 4/9 | 2.82 | 41.1 | +4.4% |
| JBSS | SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC | 2/9 | 5.85 | 17.3 | +3.8% |
| TR | TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES INC | 6/9 | 5.03 | 29.5 | +1.3% |
| RMCF | Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. | 2/9 | -1.79 | — | -7% |
| VFS | VinFast Auto Ltd. | 4/9 | -13.01 | — | +57.9% |
| TM | TOYOTA MOTOR CORP/ | 7/9 | 2.55 | — | -1% |
| HMC | HONDA MOTOR CO LTD | 6/9 | 2.79 | — | +19.9% |
About HERSHEY CO
The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. The company offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; protein bars; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels. It provides its products primarily under the Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Jolly Rancher, Almond Joy, Brookside, barkTHINS, Cadbury, Good & Plenty, Heath, Kit Kat, Payday, Rolo, Twizzlers, Sour Strips, Whoppers, York, Ice Breakers, Breath Savers, Bubble Yum, Lily's, SkinnyPop, Pirates Booty, Dot's Homestyle Pretzels, and ONE Bar brands, as well as under the Pelon Pelo Rico, IO-IO, and Sofit brands. The company markets and sells its products to wholesale distributors, chain grocery stores, mass merchandisers, chain drug stores, vending companies, wholesale clubs, convenience stores, dollar stores, concessionaires, and department stores. It exports its products in approximately 65 countries worldwide. The Hershey Company was founded in 1894 and is based in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
FAQ
Is HSY financially healthy?
HERSHEY CO's Piotroski F-score is 4/9 (8–9 is excellent, 0–3 weak), and its Altman Z″ distress score is in the safe zone.
Does HSY pay a dividend, and is it safe?
Yes. HERSHEY CO pays a dividend yielding about 2.99% with a 122.9% payout ratio, rated “at-risk” for safety.
How profitable is HSY?
In FY2025, HERSHEY CO had a net margin of 7.6% and a return on equity of 19.0%.
What is HSY's P/E ratio?
HERSHEY CO's trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is about 41.1×, based on its latest annual earnings.
What is the analyst price target for HSY?
The average Wall-Street price target for HERSHEY CO is $205.81, about 11.7% above the recent price, from 21 analysts (consensus: buy).
Is HSY a good stock to buy?
Stocktoria doesn't give buy or sell advice, but here is the data on HERSHEY CO: a Piotroski F-score of 4/9, an Altman Z″ in the safe zone, a P/E of about 41.1×, a dividend yield of 2.99%. Weigh these quality and valuation signals against your own goals.
Computed from company filings · US · as of 2025-12-31. Facts plus Stocktoria's own computed scores — not investment advice.