Hershey Co vs Prudential Financial Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.5 (market cap $34.83B), while Prudential Financial Inc trades at $118.06 (market cap $40.97B). The key difference: Prudential Financial Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Prudential Financial Inc pays the higher dividend (4.75%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | PRU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $40.97B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Financials |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $119.07 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $92.00 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $68.03B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 4.75% |
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.
Prudential Financial (PRU) trades at $118.04, down 0.87% on the day, showing mixed technical signals with a bullish overall trend but overbought RSI indicators. Fundamentally, the company demonstrates solid profitability with 5.5% net income margin and 11.08% ROE, though revenue declined from $70.7B in 2024 to $61.0B in 2025. Recent earnings show beats in Q3 2025 and Q1 2026, with Q2 2026 results expected August 4, 2026.
The stock presents a value opportunity with attractive valuation multiples (P/E 12.26, P/S 0.67) but faces headwinds from analyst skepticism (67.57% hold rating) and a consensus price target of $102.50 below current levels. Key risks include revenue volatility and high debt levels, while catalysts include retirement market growth and international expansion driving long-term earnings potential.
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 →Prudential Financial is a large, diversified insurance company offering annuities, life insurance, retirement plan services, and asset management products. While it operates in a number of countries, the vast majority of revenue is generated in the United States and Japan. The company's investment management business, PGIM, contributes approximately 15% of its earnings and has over $1.5 trillion in assets under management. The U.S. businesses are responsible for about 45% of earnings and can be classified into Institutional Retirement Strategies, Individual Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life Insurance, and Assurance IQ. Finally, the international business segment of the company contributes approximately 40% of earnings with a strong market position in Japan.
Read more on PRU →