Hershey Co vs PepsiCo, Inc. — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $162.13 (market cap $32.66B), while PepsiCo, Inc. trades at $126.15 (market cap $174.89B). The key difference: PepsiCo, Inc. is far larger — about 5.4× Hershey Co's market cap, and PepsiCo, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.61%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Hershey Co for 135 Days and PepsiCo, Inc. for 107 Days on average.
| HSY | PEP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.66B | $174.89B |
Volume | 1,578,237 | 23,968,864 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $170.44 |
52-Week Low | $157.61 | $123.64 |
Typical Hold Time | 135 Days | 107 Days |
Enterprise Value | $37.79B | $215.61B |
Dividend Yield | 3.57% | 4.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hershey (HSY) trades at $160.34, down 0.29% on the day, with the stock showing bearish technical signals despite strong recent earnings beats. The company maintains solid profitability with a 12.24% net margin and 32.81% ROE, though 2025 net income declined to $883 million from prior years. Analyst consensus remains cautious with 65.72% hold ratings, but the $204.62 price target suggests 27.6% upside potential. Recent corporate developments include international leadership changes and ongoing brand investments to drive demand.
HSY presents a mixed investment case with attractive valuation upside but near-term headwinds. The stock's current price near support levels offers entry opportunity for dividend investors, with the recent dividend resumption signaling management confidence. However, commodity cost pressures and competitive threats in the consumer staples space create execution risks. Institutional ownership trends show mixed signals with both new positions and reductions in Q2 2026.
PepsiCo (PEP) trades at $125.80, up 1.74% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including four consecutive quarterly EPS beats. Revenue grew to $93.93B in 2025, with a net margin of 10.78% and robust cash flow. Analyst consensus is a Buy with a $146.77 price target, though recent news highlights pricing pressures in snacks.
The outlook is mixed: strong profitability and institutional support offer upside, but bearish technicals and consumer pushback on high prices pose near-term risks. Execution on North American turnaround and margin expansion will be critical for sustained growth amid competitive and macroeconomic challenges.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 →PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies globally. It makes, markets, and sells a slew of brands across the beverage and snack categories, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Lays, and Ruffles. The firm uses a largely integrated go-to-market model, though it does leverage third-party bottlers, contract manufacturers, and distributors in certain markets. In addition to company-owned trademarks, Pepsi manufactures and distributes other brands through partnerships and joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks. The firm segments its operations into five primary geographies, with North America (comprising Frito-Lay North America, Quaker Foods North America, and North America beverages) constituting around 60% of consolidated revenue.
Read more on PEP →