Hershey Co vs GeneDx Holdings Corp — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.11 (market cap $34.83B), while GeneDx Holdings Corp trades at $60.5 (market cap $1.80B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 19.4× GeneDx Holdings Corp's market cap, and Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while GeneDx Holdings Corp pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | WGS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $1.80B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $167.51 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $34.51 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $1.80B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | — |
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.
GeneDx Holdings (WGS) trades at $60.65, down 4.46% amid a bearish technical signal and negative profitability. Recent earnings showed a Q1 2026 miss after two prior beats, with revenue growth but widening losses projected for 2026. The stock faces significant headwinds from multiple securities class action lawsuits alleging misrepresentations, with a deadline of August 3, 2026.
Despite a high analyst buy consensus (90.9%) and a $75.40 price target implying 24% upside, risks are elevated due to litigation, negative margins, and a high EV/EBITDA of 161.17. The upcoming Q2 2026 results on August 3 will be critical for investor confidence, but the legal overhang and fundamental challenges suggest cautious near-term outlook.
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 →GeneDx is a patient-centered health intelligence company that specializes in transforming healthcare through the application of genomics. It combines advanced technology with one of the world's largest rare disease genomic datasets to provide clinical-grade exome and genome sequencing, enabling precise and rapid diagnosis for patients with complex medical conditions.
Read more on WGS →