Hershey Co vs Vital Farms Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $183 (market cap $36.56B), while Vital Farms Inc trades at $11.45 (market cap $496.50M). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 73.6× Vital Farms Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.19% dividend while Vital Farms Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | VITL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.56B | $496.50M |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $52.41 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $8.28 |
Enterprise Value | $41.70B | $583.51M |
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.
Vital Farms (VITL) trades at $11.52, up 2.31% today, amid bearish technical signals and challenging fundamentals. The stock shows oversold conditions with RSI at 29.21, while recent Q2 2026 results revealed a $0.47 per share loss despite beating revenue estimates. The company secured $125 million in financing to navigate industry oversupply pressures and elevated costs affecting profitability.
While analyst consensus remains positive with a $13.00 price target and no sell ratings, near-term headwinds from margin compression and net cash outflows pose significant risks. The stock's valuation appears reasonable with P/E of 11.77 and P/S of 0.67, but investors should monitor execution on cost management and revenue stabilization for sustainable recovery.
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 →Vital Farms is a leading provider of ethically produced, pasture-raised eggs and butter in the United States. Operating as a Public Benefit Corporation, it manages a network of over 650 family farms to deliver high-welfare food products. It leverages a scalable 'asset-light' partnership model that prioritizes transparency and animal welfare to meet the growing consumer demand for clean-label and sustainable food sources.
Read more on VITL →