Hershey Co vs Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? Hershey Co trades at $170.95 (market cap $34.83B), while Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $84.17. The key difference: Hershey Co pays a 3.38% dividend while Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund is trading nearer its 52-week high, Hershey Co nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HSY | XLP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $34.83B | — |
Sector | Consumer Staples | — |
52-Week High | $236.28 | $90.00 |
52-Week Low | $162.31 | $75.61 |
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.
XLP trades at $84.86, down 0.39% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The ETF maintains a 2.6% dividend yield and shows strength in defensive positioning amid market volatility. Analyst consensus is unanimously positive with 2 buy ratings and no hold or sell recommendations.
The consumer staples ETF offers defensive exposure during economic uncertainty, with technical indicators supporting near-term upside potential. Key risks include sector concentration and competition from broader alternatives. Current levels near pivot point resistance at $86 represent the immediate technical challenge.
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes companies that have been identified as Consumer Staples companies by the GICS®. It is non-diversified.
Read more on XLP →