Hershey Co vs Warner Music Group Corp — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $169.8 (market cap $34.83B), while Warner Music Group Corp trades at $28.06 (market cap $14.64B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 2.4× Warner Music Group Corp's market cap, and Hershey Co pays the higher dividend (3.38%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | WMG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | $14.64B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Media |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $34.72 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $23.65 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | $18.84B |
Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 2.71% |
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.
Warner Music Group (WMG) trades at $28.08, down 0.88% on the day, with a bearish technical signal and mixed earnings history. Revenue growth is steady, reaching $6.71B in 2025, but net income margin has declined to 5.44%. Recent developments include a strategic renewal with NetEase Cloud Music and the acquisition of AI startup Sureel AI, enhancing IP monetization capabilities in the evolving music industry.
The stock offers a 44% upside to the consensus price target of $40.40, supported by strong analyst buy ratings (66.66%), but faces risks from competitive pressures and margin compression. Investors should weigh the high P/E ratio of 33.73 against growth initiatives and cash flow improvements projected for 2026.
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 →Warner Music Group is the third largest of the three major global record labels, with Vivendi's Universal Music in first and Sony Music in second. Warner's larger segment, recorded music, consists of iconic labels like Atlantic Records, Warner Records, and Parlophone Records and popular artists such as Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, and Blake Shelton. Warner Chappell, the firm's publishing arm, is the home to over 65,000 composers and songwriters with over a million copyrights represented. Warner is controlled by Access Industries, which owns an 84% economic interest and 99% of voting rights.
Read more on WMG →