Hershey Co vs McKesson Corporation — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $183 (market cap $36.56B), while McKesson Corporation trades at $878 (market cap $105.14B). The key difference: McKesson Corporation is far larger — about 2.9× Hershey Co's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.19%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | MCK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.56B | $105.14B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $995.69 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $659.01 |
Enterprise Value | $41.70B | $111.67B |
Dividend Yield | 3.19% | 0.42% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hershey (HSY) trades at $184.19, up 0.79% with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows consistent earnings beats with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.90 exceeding expectations by 33%, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.69 billion for 2025. Technical indicators show bullish momentum with the current price near resistance at $184, supported by positive moving average signals. The company maintains robust profitability with 38.38% gross margins and 32.81% ROE, though net income declined to $883 million in 2025 from previous highs.
HSY presents a favorable risk-reward profile with analyst consensus target of $196.78 offering 7% upside potential. Recent margin recovery from favorable cocoa contracts and dividend growth support bullish sentiment, though volume declines and competitive pressures in salty snacks remain concerns. With 68.57% of analysts maintaining Hold ratings, the stock offers steady growth potential but requires monitoring of consumer demand trends and input cost management.
McKesson (MCK) trades at $877.87, down 0.23% on the day, with strong technical momentum indicated by bullish moving averages and ADX signals. The company reported robust Q1 2027 results with EPS of $9.93 beating estimates by 20% year-over-year, driven by specialty drug growth and oncology performance. Revenue reached $105.4 billion, up 8%, prompting management to raise full-year adjusted EPS guidance. Analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 24 buy ratings and a $990.67 price target, representing 13% upside potential.
MCK presents a compelling investment case with consistent earnings beats, raised guidance, and strong operational cash flow of $6.9 billion projected for 2026. Key risks include margin pressure from the low 1.12% net income margin, high accounts payable of $55.33 billion, and negative shareholder equity of -$2.07 billion. The stock's valuation at 24.19 P/E appears reasonable given growth prospects, but investors should monitor debt levels and pharmaceutical pricing dynamics.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →McKesson is a leading wholesaler of branded, generic, and specialty pharmaceutical products to pharmacies (retail chains, independent, and mail order), hospitals networks, and healthcare providers. Along with AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, the three account for well over 90% of the U.S. pharmaceutical wholesale industry. McKesson is currently divesting from its pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution in Europe and Canada in order to redeploy capital to strategic growth areas in the U.S. (oncology network and ecosystem, and biopharma services). Additionally, the company supplies medical-surgical products and equipment to healthcare facilities and provides a variety of technology solutions for pharmacies.
Read more on MCK →