Hershey Co vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.11 (market cap $34.83B), while State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF trades at $179.7. The key difference: Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF pays none, and State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Hershey Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | XLK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | — |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $198.21 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $127.49 |
Enterprise Value | $39.63B | — |
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.
XLK trades at $175.71 with minimal daily movement (+0.07%), showing technical bearish signals while maintaining strong year-to-date performance of 33%. The ETF's technical indicators show selling pressure with bearish moving averages, though oscillators remain neutral. Recent news highlights XLK as the top-performing sector SPDR in 2026, driven by technology sector strength and institutional inflows.
Outlook remains positive given technology sector momentum and strong earnings expectations, though concentration risk and technical weakness warrant monitoring. The ETF benefits from sector leadership but faces headwinds from potential Fed policy shifts and market volatility. Current levels near pivot point resistance at $176 suggest near-term consolidation.
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 →XLK tracks the Technology Select Sector Index, providing targeted exposure to the largest and most influential technology companies within the S&P 500. It is a highly concentrated, liquid vehicle focused on software, semiconductors, and hardware leaders, serving as the primary benchmark for U.S. large-cap technology performance.
Read more on XLK →