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CL or HSY or KVUE
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Colgate-Palmolive (CL) vs. The Hershey Company (HSY) vs. Kenvue (KVUE) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- CL shares resilience with YTD gains around 9%, supported by analyst upgrades and steady demand for essentials despite recent monthly pullbacks.
- HSY leads YTD performance at approximately 20%, benefiting from strong confectionery positioning amid consumer staples stability.
- KVUE offers the highest dividend yield near 4.8%, appealing for income-focused investors, though it trails in YTD returns near flat.
- All three exhibit low betas (CL 0.26, HSY around 0.3-0.5, KVUE 0.47), indicating defensive qualities in volatile markets.
- HSY trades at a premium P/E near 50x, while CL and KVUE hover around 23x, highlighting valuation contrasts.
- Recent analyst activity favors CL with upgrades, positioning it strongly for relative performance in consumer staples.
Introduction
This comparison examines CL (Colgate-Palmolive Company), HSY (The Hershey Company), and KVUE (Kenvue Inc.), three defensive consumer staples stocks with global brands in personal care, confectionery, and health products. These companies offer stability amid market volatility, appealing to long-term investors seeking relative performance and dividends. Traders may value their low betas (beta, a measure of stock volatility relative to the market) and sector exposure, while recent price behaviors reflect broader sentiment shifts in essentials demand. This analysis highlights key metrics for informed stock comparison decisions.
CL Overview and Recent Performance
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is a multinational leader in oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition, with brands like Colgate toothpaste and Hill’s Pet Nutrition commanding global market shares. In recent market activity, CL shares have shown resilience, posting YTD gains of about 9% despite a roughly 12% monthly decline amid broader consumer staples pressure. Key influences include Deutsche Bank’s upgrade to Buy, citing durable franchise strength, science-based innovation, and AI-driven capabilities under the 2030 Strategy. Steady essentials demand in Latin America and Europe supports organic growth, while record operating cash flow bolsters shareholder returns. Sentiment remains positive with analyst targets up to $105.
HSY Overview and Recent Performance
The Hershey Company (HSY) specializes in confectionery, snacks, and pantry items, holding a dominant 36% U.S. chocolate market share with iconic brands like Hershey’s. Recent weeks have seen HSY outperform peers, with YTD returns near 20-22% and a market cap around $43-47 billion. Performance reflects strength in salty snacks and international segments, though monthly dips of about 8% align with sector trends. Influences include robust Q4 results and projected 30% EPS growth, supporting a premium valuation. Low volatility (beta ~0.3-0.5) and consistent outperformance versus the S&P 500 underscore defensive appeal amid shifting consumer preferences.
KVUE Overview and Recent Performance
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE), the world’s largest pure-play consumer health firm, markets brands like Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Listerine across self-care and skin health. Shares have faced headwinds, with YTD returns near flat to 0.8% and a 9% monthly drop, trading around $17 with a $33 billion market cap. Recent activity includes mixed analyst adjustments post-Q4 beat, alongside legal challenges on product labeling. High dividend yield (~4.8%) and forward P/E of 15x attract value seekers, while beta of 0.47 signals stability. Strategic reviews and innovation focus aim to counter sluggish sales growth.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
CL, HSY, and KVUE operate in consumer staples, but differ in business models: CL spans broad care categories with emerging market exposure (44% sales), HSY focuses on indulgent confectionery (North America-heavy), and KVUE targets health essentials post-spin-off. Growth drivers include CL’s 2030 innovation push and pet nutrition, HSY’s snack expansion, versus KVUE’s recovery mode. Recent momentum favors HSY YTD, but CL shows upgrade momentum. Risks: HSY’s premium P/E (~50x) versus peers’ ~23x heightens sensitivity; KVUE faces litigation; all share low-beta defensiveness. KVUE’s yield edges out, while CL balances valuation and catalysts.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors CL due to consistent trend stability, recent analyst upgrades, and relative positioning in essentials with emerging market leverage and low beta (0.26). Probabilistic edges stem from innovation catalysts and cash flow strength versus HSY’s valuation stretch or KVUE’s challenges, though all suit defensive portfolios.
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
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).
CL’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileHSY’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and KVUE’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- CL’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- HSY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- KVUE’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 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.
CL’s TA Score shows that 6 TA indicator(s) are bullish while HSY’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and KVUE’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CL’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
- HSY’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- KVUE’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
CL (@Household/Personal Care) experienced а +1.06% price change this week, while HSY (@Food: Specialty/Candy) price change was +2.26% , and KVUE (@Household/Personal Care) price fluctuated +1.69% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Household/Personal Care industry was +2.02%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.74%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.71%.
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%.
Reported Earning Dates
CL is expected to report earnings on May 01, 2026.
HSY is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
KVUE is expected to report earnings on May 13, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Household/Personal Care (+2.02% weekly)Household/Personal Care companies sell products for home cleaning and/or personal hygiene and grooming purposes. Products of this industry include detergents, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, fabric conditioners and infant care fragrances. Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and Colgate-Palmolive are some of the biggest names in the business. A lot of the products become a necessary part of people’s daily routine, and therefore the industry is relatively less vulnerable to macroeconomic downturns. At the same time, product quality, consumer safety, and ease of use are extremely critical factors for a company to survive competition and earn recognition in this industry.
@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.
| CL | HSY | KVUE | |
| Capitalization | 69B | 42.7B | 33.4B |
| EBITDA | 3.96B | 1.94B | 2.99B |
| Gain YTD | 9.551 | 16.620 | 2.201 |
| P/E Ratio | 32.71 | 48.58 | 22.93 |
| Revenue | 20.4B | 11.7B | 15.1B |
| Total Cash | 1.29B | 926M | 1.06B |
| Total Debt | 8.55B | 5.74B | 8.67B |
CL | HSY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 62 | 5 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 98 Overvalued | 38 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 63 | 61 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 5 | 45 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 56 | 49 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 33 | 5 | |
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 somewhat better than the same rating for CL (98) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew somewhat faster than CL’s over the last 12 months.
HSY's Profit vs Risk Rating (61) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as CL (63) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to CL’s over the last 12 months.
CL's SMR Rating (5) in the Household Or Personal Care industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HSY (45) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that CL’s stock grew somewhat faster than HSY’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 CL (56) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to CL’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 CL (33) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that HSY’s stock grew similarly to CL’s over the last 12 months.
| CL | HSY | KVUE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 46% | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 62% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 46% | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 39% | 1 day ago 45% | 1 day ago 54% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 47% | 4 days ago 48% | N/A |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 46% | 1 day ago 59% | 1 day ago 55% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 44% | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 61% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 44% | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 55% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 43% | 9 days ago 54% | 11 days ago 64% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 57% | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 50% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 47% | 1 day ago 57% | 1 day ago 61% |
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CL and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CL has been closely correlated with PG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 73% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if CL jumps, then PG could also see price increases.
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.
KVUE and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KVUE has been loosely correlated with KMB. These tickers have moved in lockstep 39% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if KVUE jumps, then KMB could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To KVUE | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KVUE | 100% | +0.52% | ||
| KMB - KVUE | 39% Loosely correlated | +0.99% | ||
| CL - KVUE | 31% Poorly correlated | +0.57% | ||
| PG - KVUE | 30% Poorly correlated | +1.21% | ||
| UL - KVUE | 28% Poorly correlated | +0.36% | ||
| CLX - KVUE | 28% Poorly correlated | +1.85% | ||
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