Hershey Co vs International Business Machines Corp — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $169.85 (market cap $34.83B), while International Business Machines Corp trades at $211.26 (market cap $200.20B). The key difference: International Business Machines Corp is far larger — about 5.7× Hershey Co's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | IBM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $200.20B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $329.23 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $211.20 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $258.21B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 3.17% |
Volume | — | 4,481,527 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hershey (HSY) trades at $171.72, showing modest daily gains of 0.18%. The stock faces bearish technical signals with recent price action near support at $170, while fundamentals reveal mixed performance with strong earnings beats but compressed margins. Recent Q1 2026 EPS of $2.35 exceeded expectations by 15%, though net income margin declined to 7.55% in 2025 from 19.82% in 2024 due to cocoa cost pressures. The company maintains solid cash flow generation with $2.28B operating cash flow in 2025.
Hershey presents a cautious opportunity as margin recovery begins in Q2 2026, with analyst consensus target of $208.42 offering 21% upside. However, volume concerns and competitive pressures pose near-term risks. The 3.3% dividend yield provides income support while investors await evidence of sustained sales volume recovery and margin expansion in upcoming earnings.
IBM stock trades at $213.81, down 25% following disappointing Q2 2026 preliminary results that missed revenue and EPS estimates. The company maintains strong profitability with 58.4% gross margins and 15.6% net income margin, but faces execution challenges as customers shift spending toward AI infrastructure. Technical indicators show bearish momentum with support at $210 and resistance at $216, while analyst consensus remains positive with a $287.85 price target despite recent downgrades.
IBM's long-term fundamentals remain solid with consistent earnings beats and strong cash flow generation, but near-term headwinds from AI spending shifts create uncertainty. The stock offers value at current levels with attractive valuation multiples, though investors face execution risk and competitive pressure in the evolving AI landscape.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) provides computer solutions. The Company offers application, technology consulting and support, process design and operations, cloud, digital workplace, and network services, as well as business resiliency, strategy, and design solutions. IBM serves clients worldwide.
Read more on IBM →