Hershey Co vs PulteGroup, Inc. — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $180.66 (market cap $36.56B), while PulteGroup, Inc. trades at $129.16 (market cap $25.22B). The key difference: Hershey Co is the larger of the two by market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.19%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | PHM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.56B | $25.22B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $142.56 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $110.11 |
Enterprise Value | $41.70B | $25.64B |
Dividend Yield | 3.19% | 0.79% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hershey (HSY) trades at $182.75, up 0.22% with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental momentum. The stock shows consistent earnings beats with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.90 exceeding expectations by 33%, while revenue growth trends upward to $11.69 billion in 2025. Analyst consensus targets $196.78 with 69% hold ratings, reflecting cautious optimism amid margin recovery from favorable cocoa contracts and dividend growth.
The outlook remains positive with earnings rebound and pricing power, though risks include volume declines and competitive pressures. Current valuation at 24.86 P/E appears reasonable given 32.81% ROE and improving cash flow trends. Institutional sentiment is mixed with recent insider sales offset by upward guidance revisions.
PulteGroup (PHM) trades at $130.05, down 2.14% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The stock shows mixed earnings performance, beating Q2 2026 estimates but missing in Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. Recent news highlights operational expansion into Northwest Florida and corporate recognition as a Great Place to Work, while financials indicate solid profitability with an 11.62% net margin and a P/E of 13.53.
Outlook remains cautiously optimistic with a consensus price target of $137.20, suggesting modest upside. Risks include margin pressure from housing market affordability challenges and volatile cash flows. Institutional sentiment leans neutral with 50% hold ratings, reflecting balanced Wall Street views amid industry headwinds.
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 →PulteGroup Inc is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States, operating in 40 markets across 23 states. The company mainly builds single-family detached homes (85% of unit sales) and offers products to entry-level, move-up, and active-adult buyers. PulteGroup offers homebuyers mortgage financing and title agency services through its financial services segment. The company is headquartered in Atlanta.
Read more on PHM →