Compare Hershey Co (HSY) vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock (WTRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Hershey Co vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $165.89 (market cap $32.76B), while Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock trades at $39.82 (market cap $11.15B). The key difference: Hershey Co is far larger — about 2.9× Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock's market cap, and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock pays the higher dividend (3.67%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Hershey Co for 135 Days and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock for 0 Days on average.
| HSY | WTRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.76B | $11.15B |
Volume | 1,118,576 | 1,760,234 |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Utilities |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $42.00 |
52-Week Low | $157.61 | $36.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 135 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $37.89B | $19.66B |
Dividend Yield | 3.56% | 3.67% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HSY trades at $164.25, up 0.25% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite recent earnings beats. The stock shows strong profitability with 38.38% gross margins and 32.81% ROE, though 2025 net income declined to $883M. Analyst consensus is mixed with 68.57% hold ratings but a $203.69 price target suggesting 24% upside. Recent news highlights dividend resumption and international leadership changes.
HSY presents a value opportunity with reasonable valuation multiples (P/E 22.27) and dividend yield, but faces headwinds from cocoa cost pressures and technical weakness. The stock's investment case hinges on margin recovery and successful execution of brand investments amid competitive consumer staples landscape.
WTRG trades at $39.29, up 0.36% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows mixed earnings performance with two beats and one miss in recent quarters, while maintaining strong profitability margins (21.6% net income margin). Analyst consensus is bullish with a $44.50 price target, supported by ongoing acquisitions and pending merger developments with American Water.
The stock presents a stable utility investment with moderate growth potential through strategic acquisitions, though near-term earnings volatility and integration risks from the pending merger warrant caution. Current valuation at 20.15 P/E appears reasonable given the company's consistent cash flow generation and defensive sector positioning.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
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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 Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock
Essential Utilities Inc. is a holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities, operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands. It serves customers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Read more on WTRG →
