Hershey Co vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.5 (market cap $34.83B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $234.57 (market cap $52.55B). The key difference: Nucor Corporation is the larger of the two by market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $52.55B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $266.35 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $131.78 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $57.19B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 0.97% |
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.
Nucor (NUE) trades at $231.86, down 2.01% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $263.11. Recent earnings beat expectations in Q1 2026 with EPS of $3.23 versus $2.82 forecast, though Q4 2025 missed. Revenue trends show recovery from $30.7B in 2024 to $32.5B in 2025, with net income margin improving to 6.82% in 2026 projections. The company maintains a strong balance sheet with a debt-to-asset ratio of 20.23% in 2025 and recently announced a joint venture to support AI power infrastructure.
Outlook remains positive driven by higher steel prices and strategic expansions, but risks include cyclical demand weakness and volatile cash flows. Analyst sentiment is bullish with 62.5% buy ratings, supporting potential upside from current levels, though investors should monitor execution on Q2 2026 earnings expected at $4.45 EPS.
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 →Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →