La catena delle opzioni mostra i dati chiave delle opzioni azionarie di Hershey a vari prezzi di esercizio e date di scadenza. I trader utilizzano queste informazioni per analizzare potenziali operazioni e valutare il sentiment del mercato per Hershey..

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Azioni, Catena delle Opzioni

HERSHEY CO/THE

Hershey

Hershey is a leading US confectionery manufacturer (around a $54 billion market, according to Euromonitor), controlling around 36% of the domestic chocolate space. 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 US, 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, Pirate Brands, and Dot's Pretzels over the past few years.

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Philip Morris, Molson Coors e Hershey sotto la lente. Valutazioni e target price su aziende difensive con rendimenti da dividendo elevati.

Dividendi anti-crisi: 3 titoli consigliati dai migliori analisti

Shares of Hershey Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) closed Tuesday&#8217;s session sharply higher amid news that the confectionery giant will eliminate synthetic dyes from its products by the end of 2027.
What To Know: The move, as <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-01/hershey-to-remove-synthetic-dyes-from-its-snacks-by-end-of-2027">reported</a> by Bloomberg, positions Hershey alongside other major food industry players making similar commitments.
According to a Hershey spokesperson cited by Bloomberg, the decision is a response to a &#8220;patchwork of state regulations&#8221; that are creating confusion and have the potential to increase costs for consumers. This step likely aims to streamline its product portfolio and maintain consumer trust.
Hershey is the latest in a series of food giants to announce the removal of artificial colors. This industry-wide shift follows heightened attention on food additives, including efforts at the state level to regulate such ingredients.
The core issue stems from the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44939726/rfk-jr-will-phase-out-artificial-food-dyes-by-end-of-2026-what-it-means-for-pepsi-coca-cola-general-mills">efforts</a> of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By making the removal of artificial dyes a key priority, he has catalyzed a movement at the state level.
Competitors including Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>) and General Mills Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) have made <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45980305/kraft-heinz-bans-artificial-colors-in-us-products-eyes-full-phaseout-by-2027">similar pledges</a> to remove synthetic dyes from their products.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/06/n46171151/hershey-wraps-principal-photography-in-pennsylvania">Hershey Wraps Principal Photography in Pennsylvania</a>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">How To Buy HSY Stock</h1>
Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share — or fractional share — of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in a 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.
For example, Hershey is in the Consumer Staples sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.
Image: Shutterstock

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Hershey (HSY) Stock Climbs On Plan To Cut Synthetic Dyes

WIIM

Hershey shares are trading higher amid a pullback in cocoa prices.

Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) stock is down more than 6% over the past month. Here&#8217;s what you <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/45129351">need to know</a>.
What To Know: The stock pulled back at the start of the month after the company posted its first-quarter results.
Hershey reported sales of $2.81 billion, topping the consensus estimate of $2.79 billion but marking a 13.7% year-over-year decline. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.09, above the $1.95 estimate, though down 31% from a year ago.
The company also provided guidance, reaffirming its fiscal-year adjusted earnings outlook of $6 to $6.18 per share, compared to the $6.13 consensus estimate. It expects revenue to exceed $11.43 billion, versus the $11.41 billion consensus.
Hershey said in the report it expects about $15 million to $20 million in tariff-related expenses during the second-quarter.
Multiple analysts reacted to the report, adjusting their price targets. Analysts at UBS and RBC lowered theirs, while those at Barclays and DA Davidson raised theirs.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/05/45651137/unity-software-stock-surges-12-wednesday-whats-going-on">Unity Software Stock Surges 12% Wednesday: What&#8217;s Going On?</a>
HSY Price Action: At the time of writing, Hershey stock is down 1.37% at $156.06, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Image: via Shutterstock

Hershey Stock Has Fallen Over The Past Month: What's Going On?

Mizuho analyst John Baumgartner maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $167 to $155.

Mizuho Maintains Neutral on Hershey, Lowers Price Target to $155

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been actively buying stocks in 2025 and is back with more than a dozen more trades less than two weeks after <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/05/45272436/marjorie-taylor-greene-goes-stock-shopping-again-here-are-50-stocks-the-congresswoman-bought">her last disclosure.</a>
Here's the latest transactions made by the congresswoman in May.
What Happened: Greene ranks 24th among the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42860759/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2024-where-do-nancy-pelosi-pete-sessions-susan-collins-marjorie-taylor-greene-rank">best-performing members</a> of Congress based on their trades in 2024. The Congresswoman gained 30.2% for the year, outperforming the S&amp;P 500 gain of 24.9%.
Greene recently disclosed over 50 new stock trades in early May, which came on top of some potentially perfectly timed trades that happened before President Donald Trump&#8217;s pause of tariffs, which sent the market soaring.
Here are Greene&#8217;s most recent trades made on May 14, per the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Government Trades page</a>. All purchases made were listed as between $1,001 to $15,000 unless otherwise indicated.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): $15,000 to $50,000</li>
<li>Alphabet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)</li>
<li>Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>)</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</li>
<li>Blackstone (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)</li>
<li>Cardinal Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAH#NYSE">CAH</a>)</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</li>
<li>Corning Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>)</li>
<li>Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DG#NYSE">DG</a>)</li>
<li>Eli Lilly (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)</li>
<li>Impinj Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PI#NASDAQ">PI</a>)</li>
<li>MercadoLibre Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>): $15,000 to $50,000</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</li>
<li>Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>)</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</li>
<li>ServiceNow (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</li>
<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</li>
</ul>
Greene also disclosed buying an additional $1,000 to $15,000 in UnitedHealth stock on May 16. The Congresswoman also disclosed buying $100,000 to $250,000 in US Treasury Bills on May 16.
Greene has bought $2.82 million in stocks in 2025 according to <a href="https://www.quiverquant.com/congresstrading/politician/Marjorie%20Taylor%20Greene-G000596">data </a>from Quiver Quantitative with only $75,000 in stock sales. The Congresswoman bought $3.89 million in stocks in 2024 with $65,000 in sales.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/05/45449720/speaker-johnson-backs-congressional-stock-trading-ban-ruined-by-a-few-bad-actors">Speaker Johnson Backs Congressional Stock Trading Ban: Ruined By &#8216;A Few Bad Actors&#8217;</a>
Why It&#8217;s Important: Members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks as long as they properly disclose the transaction.
The process has drawn scrutiny from the public and retail investors as members of Congress could have inside information and time their trades accordingly. Committee assignments in particular, often draw red flags from investors.
Greene serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on Homeland Security with several subcommittee appointments. The congresswoman&#8217;s past trade in technology and cybersecurity stocks has drawn attention with her role within Homeland Security.
Greene's past trades of Palantir Technologies and a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44255172/marjorie-taylor-greene-buys-more-bitcoin-etf-shares-ahead-of-trumps-strategic-reserve-executive-order" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Bitcoin ETF&nbsp;</a>have drawn criticism along with the timing of her trades, as she is a close ally to President&nbsp;Donald Trump.
When asked previously about buying stocks earlier this year that soared days later after Trump announced a pause to tariffs, Greene<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;brushed aside the criticism.</a>
"I think that criticism is laughable. President Trump has been talking about tariffs for decades," Greene told reporters when asked about the trades at a recent town hall event in Georgia in a clip&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/1912456434081480777" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shared&nbsp;</a>by Unusual Whales. The congresswoman used the opportunity to boast about her stock performance, which ranked her as one of the top trading members of Congress in 2024.
"I don't place my buys and sells,&#8221; Greene said, citing an agreement she has with her portfolio manager, who handles all the buying and selling of stocks. "He did a great job. Guess what he did. He bought the dip. And that's what anybody that has financial sense does.&#8221;
Greene also said her portfolio manager did not have inside information, everything was public and a potential tariff pause wasn't a secret.
Sen.&nbsp;Josh Hawley&nbsp;(R-Mo.) has reintroduced legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks.
The bill is known as the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act, or PELOSI Act based on the first letter of each of the main words. The name takes aim at the congresswoman and former Speaker of the House&nbsp;Nancy Pelosi&nbsp;(D-Calif.). &nbsp;
"Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve — not day trading at the expense of their constituents," Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-reintroduces-pelosi-act-to-ban-congress-from-trading-stocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. "Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public."
Hawley said the bill will help "restore Americans' trust in our nation's legislative body."
Hawley's bill is being reintroduced as President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7280114/donald-trump-2025-interview-transcript/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said&nbsp;</a>he would support such a ban.
"Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send it to me, I would do it," Trump told TIME.
Trump said he would sign the ban if the bill passes Congress.
While Pelosi makes headlines for her trades, it's important to remember that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;it is both Republican</a>&nbsp;and Democratic members of Congress who are profiting from buying and selling stocks and options while in office, with some trades coming with questionable timing or having a connection to committees they serve on.
In 2024, a list of the top-performing traders in Congress included six Republicans and four Democrats.
Did You Know?
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent052025" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent052025"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="330" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-1024x330.png" alt="" class="wp-image-921773" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-1024x330.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-300x97.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5-768x248.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20135920/Picture1-5.png 1430w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Image: Shutterstock

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Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Shopping For Tesla, Netflix, UnitedHealth And More: 19 Stocks The Congresswoman Bought

Hershey's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.34% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.22 million shares sold short, which is 6.51% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 6.57 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Hershey Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1747670433_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Hershey has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Hershey's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Hershey's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.16%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

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Is the Market Bullish or Bearish on Hershey?

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer staples sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PM#NYSE">PM</a>)</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.17%</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $175 to $205 on May 2, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Jared Dinges maintained an Overweight rating and boosted the price target from $145 to $160 on Feb. 18, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On April 23, Philip Morris reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results and raised its FY25 adjusted EPS guidance above estimates.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest PM <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519">news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="907" height="828" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032716/image-222.png" alt="" class="wp-image-919364" style="width:619px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032716/image-222.png 907w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032716/image-222-300x274.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032716/image-222-768x701.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 907px) 100vw, 907px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>)</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.31%</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $60 to $57 on May 12, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $63 to $58 on May 9, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 8, Molson Coors Beverage reported worse-than-expected first-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to latest TAP <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519">news </a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="907" height="842" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032750/image-223.png" alt="" class="wp-image-919365" style="width:596px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032750/image-223.png 907w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032750/image-223-300x279.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032750/image-223-768x713.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 907px) 100vw, 907px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.46%</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $183 to $177 on April 17, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintained an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $125 to $132 on March 14, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On May 1, Hershey posted upbeat quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest HSY <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519">news </a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/register?utm_adType=bzprocontent&amp;utm_campaign=14daytrial&amp;utm_ad=0519"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="912" height="821" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032827/image-224.png" alt="" class="wp-image-919366" style="width:706px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032827/image-224.png 912w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032827/image-224-300x270.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/19032827/image-224-768x691.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" /></a></figure>
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Read More: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45466164/jim-cramer-prefers-autozone-over-rival-buy-the-one-thats-not-going-to-stock-split">Jim Cramer Prefers AutoZone Over Rival: &#8216;Buy The One That&#8217;s Not Going To Stock Split&#8217;</a> </li>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Defensive Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has been actively buying stocks in 2025, including transactions that may have been perfectly timed<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip"> during a market dip.</a>
Here's the latest transactions made by the congresswoman in early May.
What Happened: Greene was ranked as the 24th best-performing member of Congress based on their trades in 2024. The Congresswoman gained 30.2% for the year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42860759/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2024-where-do-nancy-pelosi-pete-sessions-susan-collins-marjorie-taylor-greene-rank">outperforming the S&amp;P 500 </a>gain of 24.9%.
With new trades placed throughout the early months of 2025, Greene could see huge returns again during the year.
Here are her most recent trades made on May 5, as shown on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent050725">Benzinga Government Trades page</a>. All purchases made were listed as between $1,001 to $15,000 unless otherwise indicated.
<ul>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)</li>
<li>AbbVie (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>)</li>
<li>Adobe Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADBE#NASDAQ">ADBE</a>)</li>
<li>Applied Materials (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMAT#NASDAQ">AMAT</a>)</li>
<li>Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMD#NASDAQ">AMD</a>)</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)</li>
<li>American Express (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</li>
<li>Boeing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>)</li>
<li>Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</li>
<li>BHP Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHP#NYSE">BHP</a>)</li>
<li>BP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BP#NYSE">BP</a>)</li>
<li>Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</li>
<li>Blackstone Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>)</li>
<li>Cardinal Health (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAH#NYSE">CAH</a>)</li>
<li>Caterpillar (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>)</li>
<li>Cummins Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMI#NYSE">CMI</a>)</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>)</li>
<li>Dell Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DELL#NYSE">DELL</a>)</li>
<li>Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DLR#NYSE">DLR</a>)</li>
<li>Duke Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>)</li>
<li>Devon Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>)</li>
<li>FedEx Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>)</li>
<li>Frontline PLC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRO#NYSE">FRO</a>)</li>
<li>Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>): two separate purchases of $1,001 to $15,000</li>
<li>Corning Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLW#NYSE">GLW</a>)</li>
<li>Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>)</li>
<li>Home Depot (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>)</li>
<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</li>
<li>Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>)</li>
<li>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>)</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</li>
<li>Kinder Morgan (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMI#NYSE">KMI</a>)</li>
<li>Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>)</li>
<li>MercadoLibre (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</li>
<li>Merck Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>)</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>)</li>
<li>Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</li>
<li>NextEra Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>)</li>
<li>ServiceNow Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NASDAQ">NOW</a>)</li>
<li>Norfolk Southern (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSC#NYSE">NSC</a>): two separate purchases of $1,001 to $15,000</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</li>
<li>Old Dominion Freight Line (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>)</li>
<li>Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>): two separate purchases of $1,001 to $15,000</li>
<li>Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PANW#NASDAQ">PANW</a>)</li>
<li>Paychex Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYX#NASDAQ">PAYX</a>)</li>
<li>Impinj Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PI#NASDAQ">PI</a>)</li>
<li>Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>)</li>
<li>Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>)</li>
<li>Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</li>
<li>Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>)</li>
<li>United Parcel Service (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>)</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</li>
<li>Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>)</li>
</ul>
In total, that's more than 50 different stocks bought and disclosed by Greene in the latest filing. Based on the purchase range of $1,001 to $15,000, this would make the transaction range over $50,000 and up to more than $800,000.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/45077654/bill-named-after-nancy-pelosi-could-ban-congress-members-from-trading-stocks-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-pelosi-act">Bill Named After Nancy Pelosi Could Ban Congress Members From Trading Stocks: What You Need To Know About The &#8216;PELOSI&#8217; Act</a>
Why It's Important: Members of Congress are allowed to buy and sell stocks as long as they properly disclose the transaction.
The process has drawn scrutiny from the public and retail investors as members of Congress could have inside information and time their trades accordingly. Committee assignments in particular, often draw red flags from investors.
Greene serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the House Committee on Homeland Security with several subcommittee appointments. The congresswoman's past trade in technology and cybersecurity stocks has drawn attention with her role within Homeland Security.
Greene&#8217;s past trades of Palantir Technologies and a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44255172/marjorie-taylor-greene-buys-more-bitcoin-etf-shares-ahead-of-trumps-strategic-reserve-executive-order"> Bitcoin ETF </a>have drawn criticism along with the timing of her trades, as she is a close ally to President Donald Trump. 
When asked previously about buying stocks earlier this year that soared days later after Trump announced a pause to tariffs, Greene<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip"> brushed aside the criticism.</a>
&#8220;I think that criticism is laughable. President Trump has been talking about tariffs for decades,&#8221; Greene told reporters when asked about the trades at a recent town hall event in Georgia in a clip <a href="https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/1912456434081480777" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shared </a>by Unusual Whales. The congresswoman used the opportunity to boast about her stock performance, which ranked her as one of the top trading members of Congress in 2024.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t place my buys and sells," Greene said, citing an agreement she has with her portfolio manager, who handles all the buying and selling of stocks. &#8220;He did a great job. Guess what he did. He bought the dip. And that&#8217;s what anybody that has financial sense does."
Greene also said her portfolio manager did not have inside information, everything was public and a potential tariff pause wasn&#8217;t a secret.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has reintroduced legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading or holding individual stocks.
The bill is known as the Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments Act, or PELOSI Act based on the first letter of each of the main words. The name takes aim at the congresswoman and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).  
&#8220;Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve — not day trading at the expense of their constituents,&#8221; Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-reintroduces-pelosi-act-to-ban-congress-from-trading-stocks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. &#8220;Americans have seen politician after politician turn a profit using information not available to the general public.&#8221;
Hawley said the bill will help &#8220;restore Americans&#8217; trust in our nation&#8217;s legislative body.&#8221;
Hawley&#8217;s bill is being reintroduced as President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7280114/donald-trump-2025-interview-transcript/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said&nbsp;</a>he would support such a ban.
&#8220;Well, I watched Nancy Pelosi get rich through insider information, and I would be okay with it. If they send it to me, I would do it,&#8221; Trump told TIME.
Trump said he would sign the ban if the bill passes Congress.
While Pelosi makes headlines for her trades, it&#8217;s important to remember that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/politics/25/04/44852406/marjorie-taylor-greene-brushes-off-stock-buying-criticism-says-portfolio-manager-bought-the-dip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;it is both Republican</a>&nbsp;and Democratic members of Congress who are profiting from buying and selling stocks and options while in office, with some trades coming with questionable timing or having a connection to committees they serve on.
In 2024, a list of the top-performing traders in Congress included six Republicans and four Democrats.
Did You Know?
<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent050725">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent050725"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="330" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-1024x330.png" alt="" class="wp-image-906796" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-1024x330.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-300x97.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1-768x248.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07181256/Picture1-1.png 1430w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Marjorie Taylor Greene Goes Stock Shopping Again: Here Are 50+ Stocks The Congresswoman Bought

<a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/47111/000004711125000047/exhibit991-2025asmpresenta.htm" title="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/47111/000004711125000047/exhibit991-2025asmpresenta.htm">https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/47111/000004711125000047/exhibit991-2025asmpresenta.htm</a>

Guidance

General

Hershey Sees Outlook Long Term Net Sales Growth 2%-4%; Adj EPS Growth 6%-8%

Barclays analyst Andrew Lazar maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $160 to $165.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Hershey, Raises Price Target to $165

DA Davidson analyst Brian Holland maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $162 to $163.

DA Davidson Maintains Neutral on Hershey, Raises Price Target to $163

UBS analyst Peter Grom maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $175 to $170.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Hershey, Lowers Price Target to $170

RBC Capital analyst Nik Modi maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $178 to $175.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Hershey, Lowers Price Target to $175

Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) shares are<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket"> trading lower in premarket</a> on Thursday after its first-quarter FY25 earnings.
The company reported a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/05/n45129351/hershey-reports-first-quarter-2025-financial-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13.7% year-over-year decline in first-quarter revenue</a> to $2.81 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $2.79 billion.
Hershey's North America Confectionery segment net sales declined 15% year-over-year to $ 2.3 billion. Sales for Hershey's International segment decreased 15.9% to $227.5 million.
Gross margin contracted 1780 basis points Y/Y to 33.7%, and gross profit plunged 43.6% Y/Y to $944.3 million.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/downgrades/25/04/45117074/starbucks-faces-brand-margin-headwinds-as-analysts-react-to-disappointing-q2">Starbucks Faces Brand, Margin Headwinds As Analysts React To Disappointing Q2</a>
The operating margin compressed by 1930 basis points to 13.2%, and the operating income for the quarter slumped 65.1% to $369.2 million.
Adjusted EPS of $2.09 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/earnings">beat the consensus</a> estimate of $1.95. Hershey held $1.51 billion in cash and equivalents as of the end of March.
&#8220;Despite heightened cost pressure, our strong balance sheet gives us flexibility to invest in the business and participate in recent strategic acquisitions that further expand our better-for-you portfolio and drive long-term value creation," said CEO and president Michele Buck.
Outlook: Hershey reaffirmed FY25 net sales growth of at least 2% (more than $11.43 billion with an estimate of $11.41 billion) and adjusted EPS of $6.00 &#8211; $6.18 against the consensus of $6.13.
Tariff expense, as understood today, is expected to be approximately&nbsp;$15 million&nbsp;to&nbsp;$20 million&nbsp;in the second quarter.
Price Action: HSY shares traded lower by 2.51% at $163.00 in premarket at last check Thursday.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/04/45113606/li-autos-next-evs-to-feature-cleaner-cabin-materials">Li Auto&#8217;s Next EVs To Feature Cleaner Cabin Materials</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Earnings

Why Is Chocolate Maker Hershey's Stock Sliding Today?

Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) raises FY2025 GAAP EPS guidance from $5.54-$5.86 to $5.55-$5.87 vs $5.80 analyst estimate..

Hershey Raises FY2025 GAAP EPS Guidance from $5.54-$5.86 to $5.55-$5.87 vs $5.80 Est

Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) affirms FY2025 Adj EPS guidance from $6.00-$6.18 to $6.00-$6.18 vs $6.13 analyst estimate. FY2025 Revenue expected to be more than $11.43B vs $11.41B Est

Hershey Affirms FY2025 Adj EPS Guidance of $6.00-$6.18 vs $6.13 Est; FY2025  Revenue expected to be more than $11.43B vs $11.41B Est

Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $2.09 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.95 by 7.18 percent. This is a 31.92 percent decrease over earnings of $3.07 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $2.81 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $2.79 billion by 0.38 percent. This is a 13.77 percent decrease over sales of $3.25 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Hershey Q1 Adj. EPS $2.09 Beats $1.95 Estimate, Sales $2.81B Beat $2.79B Estimate

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Earnings Scheduled For May 1, 2025

Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) will release its quarterly earnings report on Thursday, 2025-05-01. Here's a brief overview for investors ahead of the announcement.
Analysts anticipate Hershey to report an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.95.
The announcement from Hershey is eagerly anticipated, with investors seeking news of surpassing estimates and favorable guidance for the next quarter.
It's worth noting for new investors that guidance can be a key determinant of stock price movements.
<h3>Earnings History Snapshot</h3>
In the previous earnings release, the company beat EPS by $0.31, leading to a 1.7% increase in the share price the following trading session.
Here's a look at Hershey's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q4 2024</th>
<th>Q3 2024</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
<th>Q1 2024</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>2.38</td>
<td>2.56</td>
<td>1.44</td>
<td>2.79</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>2.69</td>
<td>2.34</td>
<td>1.27</td>
<td>3.07</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>2.0%</td>
<td>-0.0%</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1746021769_0.png" alt="eps graph" />
<h3>Stock Performance</h3>
Shares of Hershey were trading at $165.07 as of April 29. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 14.74%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely bearish going into this earnings release. 
<h3>Analyst Observations about Hershey</h3>
For investors, staying informed about market sentiments and expectations in the industry is paramount. This analysis provides an exploration of the latest insights on Hershey.
Analysts have given Hershey a total of 11 ratings, with the consensus rating being Neutral. The average one-year price target is $159.36, indicating a potential 3.46% downside.
<h3>Comparing Ratings Among Industry Peers</h3>
The below comparison of the analyst ratings and average 1-year price targets of Kraft Heinz, General Mills and Tyson Foods, three prominent players in the industry, gives insights for their relative performance expectations and market positioning.
<ul>
<li>Analysts currently favor an Neutral trajectory for Kraft Heinz, with an average 1-year price target of $29.75, suggesting a potential 81.98% downside.</li>
<li>Analysts currently favor an Neutral trajectory for General Mills, with an average 1-year price target of $62.25, suggesting a potential 62.29% downside.</li>
<li>Analysts currently favor an Neutral trajectory for Tyson Foods, with an average 1-year price target of $60.33, suggesting a potential 63.45% downside.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Analysis Summary for Peers</h3>
The peer analysis summary offers a detailed examination of key metrics for Kraft Heinz, General Mills and Tyson Foods, providing valuable insights into their respective standings within the industry and their market positions and comparative performance.

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Consensus</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
<th>Gross Profit</th>
<th>Return on Equity</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Hershey</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>8.67%</td>
<td>$1.56B</td>
<td>17.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Kraft Heinz</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-4.14%</td>
<td>$2.25B</td>
<td>4.37%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>General Mills</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-5.04%</td>
<td>$1.64B</td>
<td>6.78%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tyson Foods</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>2.28%</td>
<td>$1.09B</td>
<td>1.95%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Key Takeaway:
Hershey ranks at the top for Revenue Growth and Gross Profit among its peers. It is in the middle for Return on Equity.
<h3>Unveiling the Story Behind Hershey</h3>
Hershey is a leading US confectionery manufacturer (around a $54 billion market, according to Euromonitor), controlling around 36% of the domestic chocolate space. 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 US, 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, Pirate Brands, and Dot's Pretzels over the past few years.
<h3>Financial Insights: Hershey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With a profound presence, the company's market capitalization is above industry averages. This reflects substantial size and strong market recognition.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Hershey showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 8.67% as of 31 December, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Consumer Staples sector.
Net Margin: Hershey's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 27.59%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Hershey's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 17.86% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 6.23%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: The company faces challenges in debt management with a debt-to-equity ratio higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 1.16, caution is advised due to increased financial risk.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/HSY/earnings">To track all earnings releases for Hershey visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

What to Expect from Hershey's Earnings

Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. Hormel Foods, Hershey, and Horace Mann Educators have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of over 3%.
Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HRL#NYSE">HRL</a>) develops, processes, and distributes various meat, nuts, and other food products to foodservice, convenience store, and commercial customers in the U.S. and internationally.
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Hormel Foods has increased its dividends consecutively for the last 59 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Nov. 25, its board raised the quarterly payout by 3% to $0.29 per share, which is equal to an annual figure of $1.16 per share. More recently, in its March 24 dividend announcement, the company kept the payout unchanged at that level. Currently, the dividend yield is 3.82%.
Hormel Foods' annual revenue as of Jan. 31 stood at $11.91 billion. In its latest earnings release on Feb. 27, the company posted Q1 2025&nbsp; revenues of $2.99 billion, above the consensus estimate of $2.93 billion, while EPS of $0.35 missed the consensus of $0.38.
How much would it take to earn $100 a month from Hormel Foods stock? Check out this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/01/43077758/how-much-would-it-take-to-earn-100-a-month-from-hormel-foods-stock">article by Benzinga</a> to learn more.
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Hershey
Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) manufactures and sells confectionery products and pantry items in the U.S. and internationally.
Hershey has raised its dividends every year for the last 15 years. In its latest dividend hike announcement on Feb. 8, 2024, the company increased the quarterly payout from $1.19 to $1.37 per share, equal to an annual figure of $5.48 per share. More recently, in its dividend announcement on Feb. 6, it maintained the payout at the same level. The dividend yield on the stock currently stands at 3.29%.
Hershey's annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $11.20 billion. In its Q4 2024 earnings release on Feb. 6, the company posted revenues of $2.89 billion and EPS of $2.69. Both figures beat the consensus estimates.
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Horace Mann Educators
Horace Mann Educators (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HMN#NYSE">HMN</a>) operates as an insurance holding company in the U.S.&nbsp;
The company has increased its dividends consecutively for the last 15 years. As per its most recent dividend hike announcement on March 3, it raised the quarterly payout by 3% to $0.35 per share, equaling an annual figure of $1.40 per share. Currently, the dividend is 3.60%.
Horace Mann Educators' annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $1.55 billion. In its Q4 2024 earnings release on Feb. 5, the company posted revenues of $409 million, below the consensus estimate of $418.33 million, while EPS of $1.62 beat the consensus of $1.03.
Hormel Foods, Hershey, and Horace Mann Educators are good choices for investors seeking reliable passive income. Their dividend yields of over 3% and long history of consistent hikes make them attractive to income-focused investors.
Check out this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44890180/why-hp-altria-and-terreno-realty-are-winners-for-passive-income">article by Benzinga</a> for three more stocks offering high dividend yields.&nbsp;
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Image: Shutterstock

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