Hershey Co vs IONQ Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $171.51 (market cap $34.83B), while IONQ Inc trades at $35.35 (market cap $12.78B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 2.7× IONQ Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while IONQ Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | IONQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $12.78B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $82.09 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $26.59 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $10.78B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | — |
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.
IONQ trades at $34.24, down 1.55% with a bearish technical signal despite bullish oscillators. The company shows strong revenue growth projections from $130M in 2025 to $187M in 2026, but remains unprofitable with a net loss of $510M in 2025. Analyst consensus is split with a $73.75 price target representing 115% upside potential. Recent news highlights IonQ's leadership in quantum computing platform development and government validation.
The stock offers significant upside potential based on analyst targets but faces execution risks in achieving profitability. High valuation multiples (P/E 89.18, P/S 58.73) reflect growth expectations, while negative cash flow from operations and competitive threats in quantum computing present substantial risks for investors.
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 →IonQ is a leader in quantum computing, developing world-class quantum systems. Its technology aims to solve complex problems across finance, healthcare, and materials science that are beyond classical computers.
Read more on IONQ →