Hershey Company stock falls 1.18 percent as targets stay higher

Published on 09/29/2026 at 06:43 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Hershey Company stock last traded at USD 164.41 on September 28, 2026, while analysts set a USD 204.78 average target. Q2 revenue rose 6.6 percent.

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Hershey Company stock (ISIN US4278661081) was last at USD 164.41 on the NYSE on September 28, 2026, down 1.18 percent from the prior close of USD 166.37. The company enters the next earnings cycle with Q2 2026 revenue of USD 2.79 billion and a consensus price target of USD 204.78.

Quarterly beat meets cautious guidance

According to MarketBeat, Hershey reported its Q2 2026 results on July 30, 2026, with adjusted EPS of USD 1.90 against consensus of USD 1.43. The USD 0.47 beat came alongside revenue growth of 6.6 percent from the year-earlier quarter to USD 2.79 billion.

The standardized financial statements show diluted GAAP EPS of USD 2.26 and an operating margin of 23.00 percent for Q2 2026. MarketBeat also reported fiscal 2026 guidance of adjusted EPS of USD 8.36 to USD 8.52 and revenue of USD 12.20 billion to USD 12.30 billion, keeping the recovery path measurable rather than open-ended.

Analysts still price in recovery

MarketBeat lists a Hold consensus from 22 analysts, with 16 Hold ratings and 6 Buy ratings. The average 12-month target is USD 204.78, while the published target range runs from USD 180.00 to USD 260.00, placing the consensus above the September 28 price of USD 164.41.

The latest analyst actions remain mixed. MarketBeat lists TD Cowen reiterating a Buy rating on September 1, 2026, while Royal Bank of Canada lowered its target from USD 212.00 to USD 206.00 on August 21, 2026, and Barclays cut its target from USD 208.00 to USD 200.00 on August 3, 2026.

Profit recovery faces execution tests

At the Barclays consumer conference on September 9, 2026, Hershey management described 2026 and 2027 as profit-restoration years before a return to balanced growth in 2028. Investing.com reported that management cited stronger demand and better price elasticity, but also pointed to consumer pressure, fuel costs, supply constraints in salty snacks and continued competition.

That combination explains the valuation tension. Q2 delivered a clear earnings beat, yet the stock remains USD 75.07 below the 52-week high of USD 239.48 and only USD 2.98 above the 52-week low of USD 161.43. For investors, the next test is whether innovation, volume recovery and lower cocoa costs can convert the guidance range into sustained earnings growth.

Hershey stock stays near its yearly low

Hershey stock was last at USD 164.41 on the NYSE on September 28, 2026, with a session range of USD 164.31 to USD 166.77 and volume of 1,398,012 shares. Its market capitalization was USD 33.3 billion on that date.