Hershey Co vs NetApp Inc. — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.34 (market cap $34.83B), while NetApp Inc. trades at $164.17 (market cap $31.57B). The key difference: Hershey Co and NetApp Inc. are close in size by market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | NTAP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $31.57B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $181.08 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $94.11 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $30.72B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 1.29% |
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.
NetApp (NTAP) trades at $161.16, down 1.66% on the day, near its pivot point of $164. The stock exhibits a bullish technical trend with strong moving average signals. Fundamentally, the company shows robust profitability with a net income margin of 18.43% and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent strategic moves include the acquisition of DataPelago to bolster AI data infrastructure capabilities, signaling growth focus.
The outlook for NTAP is positive, driven by AI-driven demand and consistent earnings outperformance, though risks include competitive pressures and reliance on enterprise spending. Analyst consensus leans bullish with a price target of $167.45, offering modest upside from current levels.
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 →NetApp is a leading provider of enterprise data management and storage solutions. The company's three operating business units are products, software maintenance, and hardware maintenance. NetApp transitioned from a data center storage firm to a company with software data management solutions for multicloud environments. The California-headquartered company sells globally and has approximately 10,000 employees.
Read more on NTAP →