Hershey Co vs Shell PLC — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $169.85 (market cap $34.83B), while Shell PLC trades at $86.97 (market cap $235.24B). The key difference: Shell PLC is far larger — about 6.8× Hershey Co's market cap, and Shell PLC pays the higher dividend (3.63%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | SHEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $235.24B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Energy |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $94.15 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $70.31 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $287.77B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 3.63% |
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.
Shell (SHEL) trades at $86.20, down 1.28% on the day, with strong technical momentum as moving averages signal bullish sentiment. The company maintains solid fundamentals with a P/E of 13.6 and net income margin of 7.01%, though revenue has declined from $381.3B in 2022 to $266.9B in 2025. Recent developments include expansion in Caribbean LNG infrastructure and the pending $16.4B acquisition of ARC Resources, positioning for strategic growth despite Middle East production disruptions.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus at Buy (69%) and $114.13 price target, representing 32% upside. Key risks include geopolitical volatility affecting oil prices and ongoing production challenges. The stock offers value through discounted valuation metrics and dividend yield, though investors should monitor execution on growth initiatives and energy market stability.
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 →Shell is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. In 2021, it produced 1.7 million barrels of liquids and 8.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. At year-end 2021, reserves stood at 9.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, 50% of which consisted of liquids. Its production and reserves are in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and North and South America. The company operates refineries with capacity of 1.8 mmb/d located in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe and sells 15 mtpa of chemicals. Its largest chemical plants, often integrated with its local refineries, are in Central Europe, China, Singapore, and North America.
Read more on SHEL →