Hershey Co vs Annaly Capital Management, Inc. — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.36 (market cap $34.83B), while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. trades at $22.58 (market cap $16.63B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 2.1× Annaly Capital Management, Inc.'s market cap, and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. pays the higher dividend (13.22%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | NLY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $16.63B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $24.40 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $19.96 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | — |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 13.22% |
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.
NLY trades at $22.73, down 1.22% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beat history. The stock shows a low P/E of 7.42 and a 13% dividend yield, supported by recent analyst upgrades. Revenue grew to $2.24B in 2025, with net income margin at 91.17%, though cash flow from operations declined to $693M. The consensus price target is $24.80, implying 9% upside.
Outlook remains positive given earnings momentum and high yield, but risks include interest rate sensitivity and elevated debt-to-asset ratio of 23.55. Institutional sentiment is bullish with 57% buy ratings, though macroeconomic shifts could pressure mortgage REIT performance.
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 →Annaly Capital Management Inc is an American mortgage real estate investment trust. The company segments its operations into Residential and Commercial real estate investments. While Annaly's Residential assets are primarily comprised of agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures, it is primarily invested in commercial mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities in its Commercial unit through its subsidiary, Annaly Commercial Real Estate Group. Agency mortgage-backed securities and debentures make up the majority of the company's overall portfolio. Most of the company's counterparties are located in the U.S. Annaly generates nearly all of its revenue from the spread between interest earned on its assets and interest payments made on its borrowings.
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