CleaRank Financial AI • AI-powered analysis using real-time market data from TwelveData
Analysis reviewed by Ryan Brothwell, Financial Journalist. Data refreshed daily. Not financial advice.
The Hershey Company (HSY) is currently trading at $164.25, below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($173.57 and $189.97), indicating a bearish technical trend. Recent earnings have shown strong beats, with EPS exceeding estimates by 32.87% in the latest reported quarter. However, the company faces headwinds from significant insider selling, totaling $279.9 million, although the majority of this is attributed to institutional divestiture by HERSHEY TRUST CO and MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL TRUST as part of corporate restructuring. The consensus rating among 23 analysts is a 'Buy' with a median price target of $200, implying an upside of 21.8%. Despite positive analyst sentiment and strong historical earnings performance, the current technical setup and the sheer volume of insider selling warrant a cautious approach.
HSY at a glance
The Hershey Company (HSY): Hold, 50/100 on CleaRank's AI score.
TrendDown: the price is below both its 50- and 200-day moving averages ($173.57 and $189.97).
EarningsHSY beat estimates in 3 of its last 3 quarters, yet fell the next day after 2 of those beats.
InsidersInsiders sold $279.9M and bought $445K over the last 18 months.
ValuationP/E of 22.3 against 24.2 for the Consumer Defensive sector: broadly in line with peers (-8%).
As of October 15, 2026, The Hershey Company (HSY) trades at $164.25. Wall Street's consensus target is $200.00 across 23 analysts. The 14-day RSI (daily closes) is 44, in neutral territory, and the price is below its 50-day simple moving average of $173.57.
Figures as of October 15, 2026.
Only on CleaRank
Figures we compute ourselves from HSY's own price, earnings and insider-filing history. Tap one to see it in context.
Valuation is broadly in line with sector peers (-8% difference), suggesting fair market pricing relative to industry standards.
HSY Financial Performance
Revenue vs. Earnings
Annual
Quarterly
Earnings Reality Check
In the last 3 quarters, HSY beat the analyst estimate 3 times; the stock fell in the first session after 2 of those beats.
HSY earnings surprises and the stock's reaction
Report
EPS estimate
EPS actual
Surprise
First session
5 sessions
Jul 30, 2026
$1.43
$1.90
+32.87%
-1.23%
+3.27%
Apr 30, 2026
$2.04
$2.35
+15.20%
-1.83%
+0.71%
Feb 5, 2026
$1.40
$1.71
+22.14%
+3.19%
+0.84%
The first session is the first full trading day on the news: the report day itself for a report before the open, the next day for one after the close. Surprise is actual EPS against the consensus estimate.
As of October 15, 2026, HSY has beaten the analyst EPS estimate in 3 of its last 3 reported quarters and fell in the first trading session after 2 of those beats; its latest report, on July 30, 2026, came in 32.87% above the estimate and the stock moved -1.23% in the first session.
HSY Analysis
Company's Health3/5
12-Month Analyst Target+21.77% above price
Median of 23 analysts (12-month)
$200.00
AI Analyst Consensus ScoreHold
The Hershey Company (HSY) is currently trading below its 50-day SMA of $173.57 and its 200-day SMA of $189.97, signaling a bearish trend. The 20-day EMA at $164.77 is also just above the current price, indicating immediate resistance. The 14-day RSI is at 44.21, reflecting neutral momentum, while the MACD is negative at -2.898, suggesting downward pressure. Volume has been below average recently, with the latest volume at 1.16 million compared to an average of 1.34 million, indicating a lack of strong conviction behind current price action. The current price action suggests a potential for further downside if the moving averages continue to act as resistance.
ProTips
The Hershey Company (HSY) is trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($173.57 and $189.97), suggesting a potential for further downside. Consider waiting for a confirmed break above these levels before initiating new positions.
With a dividend yield of 3.49%, HSY offers income to investors, but the current technical setup and insider selling warrant a cautious approach to new capital deployment.
Key Catalysts
NeutralInstitutional Divestiture by Hershey Trust
HERSHEY TRUST CO and MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL TRUST have been reducing their stakes, representing $252.3 million in sales. This is classified as corporate restructuring, not a bearish signal from management.
Source: Insider Filings
BullishStrong Earnings Beat
The Hershey Company (HSY) exceeded EPS estimates by 32.87% in its latest reported quarter (July 30, 2026), indicating strong operational performance.
Source: Company Earnings Report
BearishInsider Net Selling Pressure
Total insider sales of $279.9 million significantly outweigh purchases of $445.4 thousand, indicating net selling pressure from stakeholders.
Source: Insider Filings
Market Outlook
Analysts project revenue growth of 5.00% for the current year and 3.00% for the next, with an average 5-year annual growth rate of 11.5%. The company's strong profitability and brand loyalty are supportive factors. However, the current bearish technical trend, with the stock trading below key moving averages, and significant insider divestitures present near-term challenges that could temper immediate gains. A sustained move above the 50-day SMA would be a key indicator of a potential trend reversal.
Key Statistics
Market Cap
33.00B
P/E Ratio
22.27
EPS (TTM)
7.32
Dividend Yield
3.49%
52 Week High
239.48
52 Week Low
156.16
As of October 15, 2026, HSY trades at $164.25, with a market value of $33.00B, a P/E ratio of 22.27 and a dividend yield of 3.49%.
The Hershey Company (HSY) exhibits a P/E ratio of 22.27, which is slightly below the sector median of 24.2, suggesting a modest valuation discount relative to peers. The company boasts a strong return on equity of 32.81% and a healthy profit margin of 12.24%, both exceeding sector medians. However, its debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30 is higher than the sector average, indicating a more leveraged balance sheet. Despite strong profitability metrics, the current price action and insider selling trends temper the bullish fundamental outlook.
Earnings & Growth Analysis
The Hershey Company (HSY) has demonstrated a consistent track record of beating earnings estimates. Most recently, reported on July 30, 2026, EPS came in at $1.90, significantly surpassing the estimate of $1.43 by 32.87%, although the stock saw a 1.23% decline. Prior quarters also showed positive surprises, with EPS exceeding estimates by 15.2% and 22.14% respectively. Revenue growth has been reported at 6.6%, with analyst estimates projecting a 5.00% increase for the current year and 3.00% for the next year. This pattern of strong earnings beats suggests operational resilience, but the market reaction has been mixed.
Key Risks
The stock is trading below its key 50-day and 200-day moving averages, suggesting a bearish technical trend that could lead to further price depreciation. While analyst targets suggest upside, the current price action and the volume of divestitures by major shareholders present a considerable risk to near-term performance.
Technical Indicators i
RSI (14-day)
44.21
MACD (12, 26)
-2.90
SMA (50-day)
173.57
SMA (200-day)
189.97
Technical RatingBearish
RSI
Neutral
SMA Cross
Bearish
Price vs SMA
Bearish
MACD
Bearish
Moving averages show a lagging Death Cross (50-day: $173.57, 200-day: $189.97), price is trading below the 50-day SMA.
As of October 15, 2026, with HSY at $164.25, its 14-day RSI is 44.2 (neutral territory), its 50-day simple moving average is $173.57 and its 200-day is $189.97.
Calculated by CleaRank on daily closes as of October 15, 2026: Wilder's 14-day RSI, 50- and 200-day simple moving averages, MACD line (12, 26).
Market Correlations
How this stock moves relative to other assets
Based on 1 year of daily price data. Correlations may vary over different time periods.
S&P 500 (SPY)+0.01
Weak correlation
Nasdaq 100 (QQQ)-0.11
Weak correlation
Bitcoin (BTC)-0.16
Weak correlation
Gold (XAU)+0.06
Weak correlation
As of October 15, 2026, HSY's 1-year correlation of daily returns is +0.01 with S&P 500 (SPY), -0.11 with Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), -0.16 with Bitcoin (BTC) and +0.06 with gold (XAU).
Check Custom Correlation
How does any other asset move with HSY? One year of daily closes, Pearson correlation.
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HSY Wall Street View
12-month price targets
Low $170.00Median $200.00 (+21.8%)High $250.00
The price, $164.25, sits below every analyst's target.
Ratings
Buy 8Hold 14Sell 13 months ago: 8 of 23 buy
Recent rating actions
Recent analyst rating actions on HSY
Date
Firm
Action
Rating
Oct 5, 2026
Wells Fargo
Maintains
Equal-Weight
Aug 21, 2026
RBC Capital
Maintains
Sector Perform
Aug 3, 2026
Barclays
Maintains
Equal-Weight
Jul 31, 2026
UBS
Maintains
Neutral
Jul 31, 2026
JP Morgan
Maintains
Neutral
Jul 31, 2026
Wells Fargo
Maintains
Equal-Weight
As of October 15, 2026, 23 Wall Street analysts cover HSY: 8 rate it a buy or strong buy, 14 a hold and 1 a sell or strong sell. Their 12-month price targets range from $170.00 to $250.00, with a median of $200.00, 21.8% above the price of $164.25.
Source: TwelveData analyst consensus. Targets and ratings belong to the analysts, not to CleaRank.
HSY Trade Plans
Specific entry, exit, and risk management levels
Select Your Trade Bias
Risk Tolerance
Conservative2%Aggressive
Portfolio Value
$
Position Size: Enter portfolio size →
Entry Strategies pick an entry style
Conservative
$162.61
Slight discount to current
Wait for small dip
Aggressive
$164.25
At current price
Enter now if confident
Risk Management
STOP LOSS
$157.16
MAX LOSS
-3.4%
Volatility-Adjusted Stop Loss
Calculated based on RSI (44.2) and current market volatility
These levels come from HSY's moving averages and recent volatility, not from a forecast. Educational levels, not financial advice; the full disclaimer is at the foot of the page.
Growth of $10,000
A $10,000 investment in HSY in October 2016 would be worth about $16,979 today, compared with about $36,237 for the same investment in the S&P 500 benchmark. This is price change only; dividends paid along the way would add to it.
Compare with Another Ticker
HSY Drawdowns & Recovery
Worst fall, last 10 years
-46.1%
May 2023 to February 2025
Recovery
Not yet
still 40.1% below the May 2023 peak
From the 10-year high
-40.1%
highest close, May 2023
1-year holds that gained
56%
of every 1-year window
As of October 15, 2026, HSY's worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years was -46.1% (May 2023 to February 2025); it is still 40.1% below that peak, and 56% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
From weekly closing values. A drawdown is the fall from the highest value reached so far to a later low.
Monte Carlo Projection (10yr)
CleaRank's 10-year Monte Carlo simulation projects that a $10,000 investment in HSY today could grow to about $17,757 by 2036 in the base case, with a 90th-percentile outcome near $45,204 and a 10th-percentile outcome around $6,975. The simulation models price only; at today's 3.49% yield, dividends would add to these figures. Projections are statistical simulations, not guarantees.
HSY Stock Price Prediction: 2030
CleaRank's simulation projects a price near $207 for HSY by 2030 in the base case, from $164 today (1.3x over 4 years). The 10th-percentile path ends near $114. These are outcomes of a Monte Carlo simulation run on HSY's historical return distribution, not price targets, and they assume no dividends are reinvested.
HSY simulated price paths by year
Year
10th percentile
Base case
90th percentile
2027
$129
$174
$234
2028
$121
$184
$280
2029
$117
$195
$326
2030
$114
$207
$373
2031
$113
$219
$424
Method: a lognormal simulation of HSY's own volatility and capped historical trend, re-run daily; base case is the median path, the outer columns the 10th and 90th percentiles.
As of October 15, 2026, HSY insiders reported 91 open-market sales worth $279.9M and 3 open-market purchases worth $445K over the last 18 months; grants and option exercises are not counted.
Recent insider transactions in HSY
Date
Insider
Type
Shares
Value
Oct 7, 2026
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
Sell
30.0K
$4.8M
Oct 2, 2026
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
Sell
20.0K
$3.2M
Oct 1, 2026
BRANDT CHRISTOPHER W
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
CUROE TIMOTHY WILLIAM
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
KRAUS MARIA T.
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
MAHLAN DEIRDRE ANN
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
NALEBUFF BARRY JAMES
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
OZAN KEVIN M
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
PARK JOSEPH RYANGHO
Director
Grant
282
-
Oct 1, 2026
PERSAUD GUY B.
Director
Grant
282
-
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the recent earnings results for The Hershey Company?
The Hershey Company (HSY) most recently reported earnings on July 30, 2026, with EPS of $1.90, beating estimates by 32.87%. Prior quarters also showed positive earnings surprises, indicating a strong historical performance in meeting or exceeding analyst expectations.
How does The Hershey Company's valuation compare to its sector peers?
The Hershey Company (HSY) has a P/E ratio of 22.27, which is below the Consumer Defensive sector median of 24.2. However, its price-to-sales ratio of 2.69 is higher than the sector median of 2.2, suggesting a mixed valuation profile relative to its peers.
What is the technical outlook for The Hershey Company stock?
Technically, The Hershey Company (HSY) is showing a bearish trend, trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages ($173.57 and $189.97). The 14-day RSI is neutral at 44.21, but the negative MACD and the 20-day EMA acting as resistance suggest potential for further downside.
What are the main risks facing The Hershey Company?
Key risks for The Hershey Company (HSY) include significant insider selling totaling $279.9 million, primarily from institutional divestitures, and a bearish technical setup with the stock trading below key moving averages. These factors could pressure the stock despite positive analyst sentiment.
What is the long-term outlook for The Hershey Company?
The long-term outlook for The Hershey Company (HSY) is moderately positive, with analysts projecting revenue growth of 3.00% next year and an average 5-year annual growth rate of 11.5%. The company's strong historical earnings performance and brand recognition provide a foundation for sustained growth, though market share dynamics and consumer preferences will be key.
Does HSY pay a dividend?
Yes. As of October 15, 2026, HSY's dividend yield is 3.49%, or about $5.73 per share a year at the current price of $164.25. Yields move with the share price and with changes to the payout.
Are insiders buying or selling HSY?
Selling, on balance. In the last 18 months, HSY's officers, directors and large holders reported 91 sales worth $279.9M and 3 open-market purchases worth $445K. Grants and option exercises are not counted as buying.
What is the analyst price target for HSY?
As of October 15, 2026, the 23 Wall Street analysts covering HSY have 12-month targets from $170.00 to $250.00, with a median of $200.00, 21.8% above the current price of $164.25. 8 rate it a buy or strong buy, 14 a hold and 1 a sell or strong sell. Three months ago 8 of 23 rated it a buy.
What is HSY's biggest drop in the last 10 years?
The Hershey Company (HSY)'s worst peak-to-trough fall over the last 10 years was -46.1%, from May 2023 to February 2025. It has not regained that peak yet and is still 40.1% below it. Over the same period, 56% of 1-year holding periods ended with a gain.
What are HSY's best and worst months?
Over the last 10 years, July has been HSY's strongest month on average (+4.12%, rising in 7 of 10 years) and September its weakest (-1.86%, rising in 3 of 10 years). Seasonal averages describe the past and do not predict a given year.
