Estee Lauder Companies Inc vs Hershey Co — how do they compare? Estee Lauder Companies Inc trades at $88.21 (market cap $31.76B), while Hershey Co trades at $183.9 (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.
| EL | HSY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $31.76B | $36.56B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $119.61 | $236.28 |
52-Week Low | $67.23 | $162.31 |
Enterprise Value | $37.93B | $41.70B |
Dividend Yield | 1.59% | 3.19% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EL trades at $88.56, up 1.57% today, with a bullish technical trend and strong recent earnings beats. The stock shows robust gross margins of 74.71% but faces profitability challenges with a negative net income margin. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $91.67 price target, while recent news highlights new product launches and institutional accumulation.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic given earnings momentum and brand strength, but high valuation multiples and inconsistent cash flow pose risks. Investors should weigh growth potential against margin pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity in the beauty 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
Estee Lauder is the world leader in the global prestige beauty market, participating across skincare (56% of fiscal 2022 sales), makeup (26%), fragrance (14%), and haircare (4%) categories, with popular brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, MAC, La Mer, Jo Malone, Aveda, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Origins, Dr. Jart+, and The Ordinary. The firm operates in 150 countries, with 26% of fiscal 2022 revenue stemming from the Americas, 43% from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and 31% from Asia-Pacific. The company sells its products through department stores, travel retail, multi-brand specialty beauty stores, brand-dedicated freestanding stores, e-commerce, salons/spas, and perfumeries.
Read more on EL →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 →