Hershey Co vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.5 (market cap $34.83B), while Williams Companies Inc trades at $72.97 (market cap $90.70B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc is far larger — about 2.6× Hershey Co's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $90.70B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Energy |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $56.51 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $120.08B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 2.83% |
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.
WMB trades at $74.57, up 1.62% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported revenue of $11.95B in 2025 with a net income margin of 23.4% and recently secured a $5.34 billion Blackstone-led investment for power projects. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with a $86.00 price target and 79% buy ratings.
The outlook is supported by strategic investments in energy infrastructure and stable cash flows, but risks include high debt levels and sensitivity to natural gas prices. The stock offers a dividend yield and growth potential from LNG expansion, though recent earnings misses warrant monitoring execution on new projects.
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 →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →