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HSY vs KR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? The Hershey Company (HSY) vs. The Kroger Co. (KR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Both HSY and KR show strong YTD returns around 18%, outperforming the S&P 500's 7.33%.
- HSY boasts higher 1-year returns at 29.58% versus KR's 12.75%, driven by confectionery demand and snacking growth.
- Recent earnings beats for both: HSY Q4 EPS $1.71 (beat by $0.31), KR adjusted $1.28 (beat by $0.08).
- Forward P/E favors KR at 14.10 vs. HSY's 25.32, suggesting better relative valuation.
- Market caps similar (~$43-45B); HSY offers higher dividend yield (2.72%) than KR (1.90%).
- Both project sales growth in 2026: HSY 4-5%, KR identical sales ex-fuel 1-2%.
Introduction
This stock comparison between HSY (The Hershey Company), a leading confectionery and snacking giant, and KR (The Kroger Co.), a major grocery retailer, highlights their relative performance in the consumer staples sector. Both operate in essential food and beverage markets, offering defensive qualities amid economic uncertainty. Investors seeking stability with growth potential, such as those focused on dividend yields, earnings momentum, or sector rotation, will find value in evaluating their recent trajectories, valuations, and outlooks. This analysis draws on current market data to inform stock comparison decisions in today's environment.
HSY Overview and Recent Performance
The Hershey Company (HSY) is a global leader in chocolate, confectionery, and salty snacks, with iconic brands like Hershey's and Reese's driving its portfolio. In recent market activity, HSY shares have traded around $213-215, reflecting YTD gains of 18.12% and 1-year returns of 29.58%, outpacing broader indices. The stock experienced some monthly pullbacks amid cocoa cost pressures but rebounded on Q4 2025 earnings, where revenue hit $3.09B and EPS reached $1.71, beating estimates by $0.31. Guidance for 2026 projects 4-5% net sales growth and significant EPS expansion (30-35% projected), fueled by snacking innovation and margin recovery. Sentiment has been supported by operational streamlining, including unifying U.S. businesses, boosting efficiency despite commodity volatility.
KR Overview and Recent Performance
The Kroger Co. (KR) operates a vast network of supermarkets, multi-department stores, and fuel centers, emphasizing grocery, pharmacy, and e-commerce. Shares recently hovered near $73-74, delivering YTD returns of 18.58% similar to peers, though 1-year performance stands at 12.75%. Recent weeks saw upward momentum from Q4 2025 results, with revenue at $34.73B (slight miss) but adjusted EPS of $1.28 topping forecasts by $0.08; identical sales ex-fuel rose 2.4%, and e-commerce surged 20% to $16B annually. For 2026, guidance includes 1-2% identical sales growth ex-fuel and adjusted EPS of $5.10-5.30, backed by $112M in store investments, fuel promotions, and productivity gains offsetting regulatory headwinds like IRA impacts. Performance reflects resilient demand in essentials amid competitive pricing.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
HSY and KR both anchor consumer staples but diverge in models: Hershey's branded snacking focuses on premium pricing and innovation, yielding higher margins (profit margin 7.55%) versus Kroger's high-volume retail (0.69%), exposed to thin grocery spreads. Growth drivers contrast—HSY leverages salty snacks and next-gen products amid cocoa challenges; KR banks on e-commerce (20% growth) and alternative profits ($1.5B). Recent momentum favors HSY on stronger 1-year gains, but KR shows steadier monthly rises (up ~10% recently). Risk profiles differ: HSY beta 0.11 signals low volatility; KR at 0.59 faces competition and regulation. Elevated trailing P/E (49x vs. 48x) reflects growth premiums, but KR's forward multiple indicates value. Sentiment tilts positive for both post-earnings, with HSY eyed for EPS rebound, KR for scale.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward HSY based on superior trend consistency, higher YTD/1-year momentum, robust sales/EPS guidance, and lower beta for stability. While KR offers attractive forward valuation and e-commerce catalysts, HSY's snacking positioning and projected 30%+ EPS growth provide stronger relative upside probability in the near term, absent major commodity shifts.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is HSY is a Buy and KR is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
HSY’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileKR’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- HSY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- KR’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
HSY’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while KR’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HSY’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- KR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
HSY (@Food: Specialty/Candy) experienced а +2.26% price change this week, while KR (@Food Retail) price change was -2.76% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Specialty/Candy industry was +2.89%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +0.38%, and the average quarterly price growth was +6.38%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food Retail industry was +0.96%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.32%, and the average quarterly price growth was +3.18%.
Reported Earning Dates
HSY is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
KR is expected to report earnings on Jun 11, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food: Specialty/Candy (+2.89% weekly)A specialty/candy manufacturer specializes in one or more of the following: chocolate, candies, pasta, condiments, seasonings, among other items. Hershey Company, McCormick & Company and J.M. Smucker Company are some of the major firms in this segment. Demand for this industry’s products comes from both institutions/restaurants as well as households.
@Food Retail (+0.96% weekly)The food retail industry includes companies that sell food, beverage and household products. Items sold include grocery, gourmet food, fresh produce, and frozen food. Kroger Co., George Weston Ltd., Grocery Outlet Holding Corp., and Sprouts Farmers Markets, Inc. are examples of major food retailers. While e-commerce companies like Amazon have increasingly been ramping-up offerings in the food retail space, several traditional players have also been expanding their online presence to stand their ground against rising competition.
| HSY | KR | HSY / KR | |
| Capitalization | 42.7B | 43.1B | 99% |
| EBITDA | 1.94B | 5.43B | 36% |
| Gain YTD | 16.620 | 13.161 | 126% |
| P/E Ratio | 48.58 | 45.68 | 106% |
| Revenue | 11.7B | 147B | 8% |
| Total Cash | 926M | 879M | 105% |
| Total Debt | 5.74B | 25.2B | 23% |
HSY | KR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 55 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 38 Fair valued | 57 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 61 | 21 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 45 | 77 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 49 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 5 | 8 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HSY's Valuation (38) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as KR (57) in the Food Retail industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to KR’s over the last 12 months.
KR's Profit vs Risk Rating (21) in the Food Retail industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HSY (61) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that KR’s stock grew somewhat faster than HSY’s over the last 12 months.
HSY's SMR Rating (45) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as KR (77) in the Food Retail industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to KR’s over the last 12 months.
HSY's Price Growth Rating (49) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as KR (50) in the Food Retail industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to KR’s over the last 12 months.
HSY's P/E Growth Rating (5) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as KR (8) in the Food Retail industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to KR’s over the last 12 months.
| HSY | KR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 63% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 45% | 1 day ago 47% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 48% | 1 day ago 41% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 59% | 1 day ago 47% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 53% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 4 days ago 57% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 54% | 1 day ago 46% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 69% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 57% | 1 day ago 56% |
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HSY and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HSY has been loosely correlated with KHC. These tickers have moved in lockstep 58% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if HSY jumps, then KHC could also see price increases.
KR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KR has been loosely correlated with ACI. These tickers have moved in lockstep 57% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if KR jumps, then ACI could also see price increases.