Dollar General Corp. vs Hershey Co — how do they compare? Dollar General Corp. trades at $119.66 (market cap $26.49B), while Hershey Co trades at $183.8 (market cap $36.56B). The key difference: Hershey Co is the larger of the two by market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.19%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DG | HSY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.49B | $36.56B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $156.26 | $236.28 |
52-Week Low | $95.94 | $162.31 |
Enterprise Value | $40.93B | $41.70B |
Dividend Yield | 1.97% | 3.19% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Dollar General (DG) trades at $119.40, down 2.44% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite recent weakness. The stock shows strong fundamentals with a P/E of 16.98 and P/S of 0.62, while consistently beating earnings expectations in recent quarters. Revenue growth continues with $40.61B in 2025, though profit margins have compressed from 7.01% in 2022 to 2.77% in 2025. Analyst consensus remains positive with 52% buy ratings and a $128.45 price target, representing 7.6% upside potential.
DG presents a compelling value opportunity with reasonable valuation metrics and consistent earnings beats, though margin compression and competitive pressures pose risks. The stock's current price near support levels combined with positive analyst sentiment suggests potential for recovery, but investors should monitor margin trends and competitive dynamics in the discount retail sector.
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
A leading American discount retailer, Dollar General operates over 18,000 stores in 47 states, selling branded and private-label products across a wide variety of categories. In fiscal 2021, 77% of net sales came from consumables (including paper and cleaning products, packaged and perishable food, tobacco, and health and beauty items), 12% from seasonal merchandise (such as toys, greeting cards, decorations, and gardening supplies), 7% from home products (for example, kitchen supplies, small appliances, and cookware), and 4% from basic apparel. Stores average roughly 7,400 square feet, and about 75% of Dollar General locations are in towns of 20,000 or fewer people. The firm emphasizes value, with most of its items sold at everyday low prices of $5 or less.
Read more on DG →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 →