Hershey Co vs Moody's Corporation — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.11 (market cap $34.83B), while Moody's Corporation trades at $494.8 (market cap $88.28B). The key difference: Moody's Corporation is far larger — about 2.5× Hershey Co's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | MCO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $88.28B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $539.61 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $412.23 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $94.08B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 0.82% |
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.
MCO trades at $505.12, down 1.12% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings near 76. The company shows strong fundamentals with Q1 2026 EPS beating estimates at $4.33, revenue growth to $7.72B in 2025, and robust profitability margins including a 31.69% net income margin. Recent news highlights AI integration initiatives and dividend sustainability, with a $1.03 dividend paid in June 2026.
Outlook remains positive given analyst consensus of $551.17 price target and 56% buy ratings, though valuation multiples like P/E of 36.65 pose risks if growth slows. Key risks include high debt levels and market sensitivity to credit cycles, but institutional support and recurring revenue model provide stability for long-term 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 →Moody's, along with S&P Ratings, is a leading provider of credit ratings on fixed income securities. Moody's ratings segment, known as Moody's Investors Service or MIS, includes corporates, structured finance, financial institutions, and public finance ratings. MIS represents a majority of the firm's revenue and profits. Moody's other segment is Moody's Analytics and consists of Research, Data, and Analytics or RD&A and Enterprise Risk Solutions or ERS. RD&A's products include credit research, quantitative credit scores, economic research, business intelligence, know your customer (KYC) tools, commercial real estate data and analytical tools, and training services. ERS includes risk management software solutions to financial institutions.
Read more on MCO →