Hershey Co vs Novavax Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $183 (market cap $36.56B), while Novavax Inc trades at $7.96 (market cap $1.31B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 27.9× Novavax Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.19% dividend while Novavax Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | NVAX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.56B | $1.31B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $11.19 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $6.22 |
Enterprise Value | $41.70B | $889.30M |
Dividend Yield | 3.19% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hershey (HSY) trades at $184.19, up 0.79% with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows consistent earnings beats with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.90 exceeding expectations by 33%, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.69 billion for 2025. Technical indicators show bullish momentum with the current price near resistance at $184, supported by positive moving average signals. The company maintains robust profitability with 38.38% gross margins and 32.81% ROE, though net income declined to $883 million in 2025 from previous highs.
HSY presents a favorable risk-reward profile with analyst consensus target of $196.78 offering 7% upside potential. Recent margin recovery from favorable cocoa contracts and dividend growth support bullish sentiment, though volume declines and competitive pressures in salty snacks remain concerns. With 68.57% of analysts maintaining Hold ratings, the stock offers steady growth potential but requires monitoring of consumer demand trends and input cost management.
NVAX trades at $7.95, up 0.76% on the day, with a bullish technical signal despite mixed indicators. The company reported a net income of $440.30M for 2025, a significant turnaround from prior losses, and has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent news highlights Q2 2026 results and a raised revenue outlook, driven by licensing milestones with Sanofi.
The outlook is cautiously optimistic given strong analyst buy ratings (73.92%) and improved financials, but risks include persistent negative cash flows, high debt, and competitive vaccine market pressures. Investment appeal hinges on execution of partnerships and cost management to sustain profitability.
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 →Novavax, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company. The Company creates novel vaccines to address a broad range of infectious diseases worldwide using proprietary virus-like particle (VLP) technology.
Read more on NVAX →