Hershey Co vs Union Pacific Corporation — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $169.9 (market cap $34.83B), while Union Pacific Corporation trades at $294.65 (market cap $175.89B). The key difference: Union Pacific Corporation is far larger — about 5× Hershey Co's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | UNP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $175.89B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Industrials |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $301.75 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $214.91 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $206.36B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 1.86% |
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.
Union Pacific (UNP) trades at $296.00, down 1.91% amid mixed technical signals. The stock shows strong fundamentals with 29.2% net margins and 40.69% ROE, while Q1 2026 earnings beat expectations. Analysts maintain a bullish consensus with a $311.07 price target. Recent news highlights the Norfolk Southern merger progress and upcoming Q2 earnings, with institutional buying supporting positive sentiment despite regulatory and legal overhangs.
Outlook remains positive given earnings momentum and operational efficiency, but risks include merger regulatory scrutiny, pending class action litigation, and cyclical freight demand. The stock offers value near consensus targets with dividend growth, though investors should weigh execution risks against solid profitability trends.
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 →Omaha, Nebraska-based Union Pacific is the largest public railroad in North America. Operating on more than 30,000 miles of track in the western two thirds of the U.S., UP generated roughly $22 billion of revenue in 2021 by hauling coal, industrial products, intermodal containers, agriculture goods, chemicals, and automotive goods. UP owns about one fourth of Mexican railroad Ferromex and derives about 10% of its revenue hauling freight to and from Mexico.
Read more on UNP →