Hershey Co vs Macy's Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $169.96 (market cap $34.83B), while Macy's Inc trades at $23.57 (market cap $6.13B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 5.7× Macy's Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | M | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $6.13B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $25.96 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $11.90 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $9.95B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 3.29% |
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.
Macy's (M) trades at $23.39, down 1.22% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The stock shows attractive valuation metrics including a P/E of 9.79 and P/S of 0.29, while recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations. Positive sentiment is driven by the 'Bold New Chapter' turnaround strategy, with Berkshire Hathaway's new 3.04 million-share position adding institutional confidence.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $24.83 offering 6% upside potential. Key opportunities include luxury brand expansion and digital transformation, while risks involve margin pressure from store closures and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock presents value characteristics with growth catalysts from operational improvements.
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 →Founded in 1858 and based in New York City, Macy's operates 570 stores under the Macy's nameplate, 58 stores under the Bloomingdale's nameplate, and 160 freestanding Bluemercury specialty beauty stores (as of the end of fiscal-year 2021). Macy's also operates e-commerce sites and licenses two Bloomingdale's stores in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Women's apparel, accessories, shoes, cosmetics, and fragrances comprised 59% of Macy's 2021 sales.
Read more on M →