Hershey Co vs Marqeta Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.36 (market cap $34.83B), while Marqeta Inc trades at $17.25 (market cap $1.85B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 18.8× Marqeta Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while Marqeta Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | MQ | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $1.85B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $27.32 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $15.04 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $1.15B |
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.
Marqeta (MQ) trades at $17.45, down slightly by 0.23% today. The stock shows a bullish technical signal with strong moving average support, though RSI levels indicate mixed momentum. Fundamentally, the company reported revenue of $624.88M in 2025 (source: company filing 2025) but a net loss of $13.93M, with profitability metrics like net margin at 0.33% remaining thin. A recent 1-for-4 reverse stock split was effective July 1, 2026 (source: Business Wire 2026-06-29), aimed at boosting the share price amid restructuring efforts.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic with analyst consensus price target at $19.00 (source: MarketBeat 2026), implying potential upside, but high valuation ratios (P/E 436.88) and ongoing profitability challenges pose risks. Investor sentiment is mixed, balancing growth initiatives in Europe against competitive and operational headwinds.
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 →Headquartered in Oakland, California, and founded in 2010, Marqeta provides its clients with a card-issuing platform that offers the infrastructure and tools necessary to offer digital, physical, and tokenized payment options without the need for a traditional bank. The company's open APIs are designed to allow third parties like DoorDash, Klarna, and Block to rapidly develop and deploy innovative card-based products and payment services without the need to develop the underlying technology. The company generates revenue primarily through processing and ATM fees for cards issued on its platform.
Read more on MQ →