Hershey Co vs S&P500 ETF — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $183 (market cap $36.56B), while S&P500 ETF trades at $772.34. The key difference: Hershey Co pays a 3.19% dividend while S&P500 ETF pays none, and S&P500 ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Hershey Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.56B | — |
Sector | Consumer Staples | — |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $773.22 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $631.99 |
Enterprise Value | $41.70B | — |
Dividend Yield | 3.19% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Hershey (HSY) trades at $184.19, up 0.79% with a bullish technical outlook and strong fundamental performance. The stock shows consistent earnings beats with Q2 2026 EPS of $1.90 exceeding expectations by 33%, while revenue growth remains steady at $11.69 billion for 2025. Technical indicators show bullish momentum with the current price near resistance at $184, supported by positive moving average signals. The company maintains robust profitability with 38.38% gross margins and 32.81% ROE, though net income declined to $883 million in 2025 from previous highs.
HSY presents a favorable risk-reward profile with analyst consensus target of $196.78 offering 7% upside potential. Recent margin recovery from favorable cocoa contracts and dividend growth support bullish sentiment, though volume declines and competitive pressures in salty snacks remain concerns. With 68.57% of analysts maintaining Hold ratings, the stock offers steady growth potential but requires monitoring of consumer demand trends and input cost management.
SPY, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, trades at $772.47, down 0.08% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages but overbought RSI readings. The ETF's valuation metrics are not applicable as it tracks the S&P 500 index, and it announced a $1.90 dividend payable in July 2026. Recent news highlights the S&P 500 reaching record highs amid mixed sentiment, with some analysts cautioning on high valuations while others project further gains.
The outlook for SPY is cautiously optimistic, driven by strong market momentum and corporate earnings, but faces risks from elevated valuations and potential inflation pressures. Investment opportunity lies in broad U.S. equity exposure, while key risks include market volatility and economic data surprises.
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 →The ETF is designed to track the performance of the securities and the stocks in the S&P 500 Index. To maintain the composition and weightings, the advisor adjusts the ETF from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the index target.
Read more on SPY →