Hershey Co vs Philip Morris International Inc. — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $171.66 (market cap $34.83B), while Philip Morris International Inc. trades at $191.86 (market cap $300.37B). The key difference: Philip Morris International Inc. is far larger — about 8.6× Hershey Co's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | PM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $300.37B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $192.98 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $144.33 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $346.86B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 3.05% |
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.
Philip Morris International (PM) trades at $192.72, down 0.13% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst consensus. Recent financials show robust revenue growth to $40.65B in 2025 and net income of $11.35B, though a Q4 2025 earnings miss and a recent $500M impairment charge highlight near-term pressures. The stock's P/E of 27.17 and P/S of 7.25 reflect premium valuation, supported by a 68% buy rating from analysts and a $194.00 consensus price target.
Outlook remains positive with steady cash flow and dividend payments, but risks include regulatory challenges from rising illicit cigarette trade in Europe and cost pressures. The stock offers stability through high margins and brand strength, yet investors should weigh valuation against earnings volatility and macroeconomic headwinds.
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 →Philip Morris International is an international tobacco company with a product portfolio primarily consisting of cigarettes and reduced-risk products, including heat-not-burn, vapor and oral nicotine products, which are sold in markets outside the United States. The company diversified away from nicotine products with the acquisition of Vectura, a provider of innovative inhaled drug delivery solutions, in 2021.
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