AES Corp vs Hershey Co — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.72 (market cap $10.49B), while Hershey Co trades at $183.8 (market cap $36.56B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 3.5× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | HSY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.49B | $36.56B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $236.28 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $162.31 |
Enterprise Value | $40.75B | $41.70B |
Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 3.19% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, down slightly by 0.03%, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company shows strong profitability with a 14.34% net income margin and 45.05% ROE, supported by recent earnings beats. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders in June 2026, dominates recent news, alongside a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share.
The outlook is heavily influenced by the acquisition, offering a near-term upside to the $15 buyout price, but regulatory and shareholder approval risks remain. Long-term fundamentals are solid with projected revenue growth to $13.1 billion in 2026, though high debt levels and integration challenges post-acquisition pose risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a buy consensus of 43%.
Hershey (HSY) trades at $183.19, up 0.24% with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with Q2 2026 EPS beating estimates by 33% and revenue growth of 4.5-5% guidance. Recent earnings show significant margin recovery to 45.3% as cocoa prices decline, supporting the stock's premium valuation at 24.86 P/E. Analyst consensus price target of $196.78 suggests 7.4% upside potential from current levels.
HSY presents a compelling investment case with improving fundamentals, dividend growth resumption, and margin expansion. However, risks include volume declines in salty snacks, competitive pressures, and potential cocoa price volatility. The stock's current technical overbought condition near resistance at $184 warrants caution despite positive earnings momentum and institutional support.
Trailing returns across standard periods
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Hershey is a leading confectionery manufacturer in the U.S. (around a $25 billion market), controlling around 46% of the domestic chocolate space (per IRI). Beyond its namesake label, the firm's mix has expanded over the last 85 years and now consists of 100 brands, including Reese's, Kit Kat, Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey's products are sold in about 80 countries, albeit with just a high-single-digit percentage of sales coming from markets outside the U.S., including Brazil, India, and Mexico. The firm has sought inorganic opportunities to extend its reach beyond its core confection business, adding Amplify Snack Brands and its Skinny Pop ready-to-eat popcorn to its mix and Pirate Brands (including the Pirate's Booty, Smart Puffs, and Original Tings brands) over the past few years.
Read more on HSY →