Compare Hershey Co (HSY) vs Vital Farms Inc (VITL) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Hershey Co vs Vital Farms Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.5 (market cap $34.83B), while Vital Farms Inc trades at $13.36 (market cap $590.45M). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 59× Vital Farms Inc's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while Vital Farms Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | VITL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $590.45M |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $52.41 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $8.28 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $593.26M |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | — |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
Vital Farms (VITL) trades at $13.76, up 1.55% with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company shows solid profitability with 6.1% net margin and 15.44% ROE, though recent earnings missed expectations in two of the last three quarters. Analyst consensus is positive with 56% buy ratings and a $13.50 price target, while news highlights declining short interest and ongoing class action lawsuits.
The stock presents a mixed outlook with strong fundamentals offset by legal risks and earnings volatility. Valuation appears reasonable with P/E of 13.02 and P/S of 0.79, but investors should weigh the class action litigation's potential impact against the company's operational strength in the natural foods sector.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Hershey Co
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 →About Vital Farms Inc
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 →
