Hershey Co vs Medpace Holdings Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.11 (market cap $34.83B), while Medpace Holdings Inc trades at $528.29 (market cap $15.08B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 2.3× Medpace Holdings Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while Medpace Holdings Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | MEDP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $15.08B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $620.59 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $308.88 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $14.55B |
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.
MEDP trades at $527.93, down 1.82% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The company demonstrates strong profitability with 17.19% net margins and 77.25% ROE, though valuation ratios appear elevated with a P/E of 33.83. Recent earnings have consistently beaten expectations, and cash flow is projected to improve significantly in 2026. However, the stock faces headwinds from ongoing class action lawsuits and mixed analyst sentiment with 73.69% hold ratings.
MEDP presents a mixed investment case with strong fundamental performance offset by legal overhangs and premium valuation. The company's consistent earnings beats and projected cash flow improvement support upside potential, but investors should weigh the legal risks and cautious analyst stance against the robust operational metrics.
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 →Medpace Holdings, Inc. is a full-service clinical contract research organization (CRO) that provides comprehensive and scientifically-driven clinical development services to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. The company specializes in conducting global clinical trials for new drug and medical device approvals. Medpace's model emphasizes therapeutic expertise and a highly integrated approach to accelerate the clinical development process for its clients.
Read more on MEDP →