Hershey Co vs Unilever plc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $180.55 (market cap $36.56B), while Unilever plc trades at $61.52 (market cap $134.06B). The key difference: Unilever plc is far larger — about 3.7× Hershey Co's market cap, and Unilever plc pays the higher dividend (3.65%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | UL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.56B | $134.06B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $74.59 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $55.05 |
Enterprise Value | $41.70B | $159.86B |
Dividend Yield | 3.19% | 3.65% |
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.
Unilever (UL) trades at $62.86, down 0.16% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The stock shows strong profitability with a net income margin of 18.75% and ROE of 53.32%, though recent quarters have seen EPS misses. Revenue declined to $50.50B in 2025, but cash flow from operations remains robust at $8.35B. News highlights include a planned $65 billion merger with McCormick's food business and strong Q2 2026 volume growth, prompting an upgraded outlook.
The outlook is mixed: valuation ratios like P/E of 20.84 are reasonable, and the merger could drive growth, but consistent earnings misses and a high P/B of 7.49 pose risks. Analyst sentiment is neutral with 51.36% hold ratings. Investors should weigh the transformative deal potential against execution risks and margin pressures in a volatile consumer goods market.
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 →Unilever is a diversified personal product (42% of 2021 sales by value), home care (20%), and packaged food (38%) company. Its brands include Knorr soups and sauces, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Lipton teas, Axe and Dove skin products, and the TRESemme haircare brand. The firm has been acquisitive in recent years
Read more on UL →