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HSY or KO or MO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? The Hershey Company (HSY) vs. The Coca-Cola Company (KO) vs. Altria Group (MO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- HSY leads YTD performance at approximately 15%, driven by strong confectionery demand and promotional initiatives, though recent weeks show pullbacks amid broader market pressures.
- KO trails YTD at around 7%, with recent monthly declines of nearly 6%, reflecting valuation debates and ESG-related shareholder scrutiny.
- MO offers YTD gains of about 12%, supported by high dividend yield near 6.5%, but faces regulatory risks in tobacco amid recent share weakness.
- All three exhibit defensive consumer staples traits, with HSY showing superior relative momentum, while MO provides income stability.
- Recent market activity highlights volatility, with HSY and MO outperforming the sector's losses in some periods.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines HSY, KO, and MO, three stalwarts in the consumer staples sector representing confectionery, beverages, and tobacco. These defensive names appeal to income-focused investors and traders seeking stability amid market volatility. With strong brand loyalty, consistent dividends, and resilience to economic cycles, they offer insights into relative performance, growth drivers, and risk factors. Traders monitoring sector rotation or long-term holders prioritizing yield will find value in understanding their current market positioning and recent trends.
HSY Overview and Recent Performance
The Hershey Company (HSY), a leading confectionery maker known for brands like Reese's and Hershey's, operates in the stable packaged foods industry with a market cap around $43 billion. Recent market activity has seen HSY deliver YTD gains of about 15%, outperforming peers, though shares dipped roughly 4% over the past month amid broader consumer staples weakness. Influences include a unified commercial model rollout and promotional campaigns like March Madness tie-ins boosting consumer engagement. Trading near $210, the stock reflects mixed valuation signals with a high P/E above 48, supported by resilient demand but pressured by elevated costs and margin dynamics in recent weeks.
KO Overview and Recent Performance
The Coca-Cola Company (KO), the world's largest beverage firm with iconic brands like Coca-Cola and Sprite, boasts a massive $322 billion market cap and global reach. In recent weeks, KO has faced headwinds, with shares down about 6% monthly and YTD around 7%, trading near $75. Sentiment stems from shareholder pressure on ESG commitments, mixed Q4 results, and valuation debates despite projected earnings growth. The stock's stability is underpinned by pricing discipline and brand investments, though it lags sector momentum amid adapting to shifting consumer preferences.
MO Overview and Recent Performance
Altria Group (MO), the top U.S. tobacco producer owning Philip Morris USA and expanding into smoke-free products, holds a $108 billion market cap with a compelling dividend yield near 6.5%. Recent performance shows YTD gains of roughly 12%, though shares have weakened about 3% monthly around $64, amid regulatory risks and declining cigarette volumes. Key drivers include strong nicotine pouch demand offsetting traditional declines, price hikes, and cost controls. Mixed analyst views highlight undervaluation potential balanced against market challenges.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
HSY, KO, and MO share consumer staples defensiveness but diverge in business models: HSY's premium confectionery drives growth via promotions, contrasting KO's volume-based beverages emphasizing global pricing, and MO's tobacco reliance on yields amid volume declines. Recent momentum favors HSY YTD, while MO leads income at 6.5% yield versus HSY and KO's ~3%. Risks include MO's regulations, HSY's cost sensitivity, and KO's ESG scrutiny. Valuation shows MO cheapest on P/E, with HSY premium-priced; sentiment tilts toward staples rotation.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors HSY for its superior YTD trend consistency, promotional catalysts, and relative strength in consumer staples amid volatility. While MO offers yield appeal and KO global stability, HSY's momentum and sector positioning suggest higher probability of near-term outperformance based on observable patterns.
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).
HSY’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileKO’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s), and MO’s FA Score reflects 5 green FA rating(s).
- HSY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- KO’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MO’s FA Score: 5 green, 0 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 KO’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and MO’s TA Score reflects 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HSY’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
- KO’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- MO’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
HSY (@Food: Specialty/Candy) experienced а +2.26% price change this week, while KO (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price change was +1.90% , and MO (@Tobacco) price fluctuated +2.59% 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 @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was +2.02%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -3.13%, and the average quarterly price growth was +164976.25%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tobacco industry was +1.70%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.58%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.40%.
Reported Earning Dates
HSY is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
KO is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
MO is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 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.
@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic (+2.02% weekly)Non-alcoholic drinks include traces of alcohol or low alcohol content or without alcohol or alcohol removed. Functional Beverages, Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs), Sports Drinks, Fruit Beverages, and Bottled Water are some common types of non-alcoholic beverages. The largest segment in this market is soft drinks (think Pepsi and Coke). Many established companies in this space have also been stepping up production of low to zero-calorie varieties in recent years, to cater to a rising number of health-conscious consumers. Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Monster Beverage Corporation are some major non-alcoholic beverage makers.
@Tobacco (+1.70% weekly)The industry is engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products like cigarettes. In 2017, tobacco companies spent an estimated $9.36 billion marketing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the U.S. – an amount that translates to more than $25 million each day (according to a CDC report). Philip Morris International Inc., Altria Group Inc., and British American Tobacco plc are some major cigar makers. In recent times, vaping or the use of e-cigarette (does not burn tobacco) is gaining momentum – several established cigarette makers are trying to expand their footprint in this new market.
| HSY | KO | MO | |
| Capitalization | 42.7B | 336B | 113B |
| EBITDA | 1.94B | 18.7B | 10.8B |
| Gain YTD | 16.620 | 12.598 | 18.957 |
| P/E Ratio | 48.58 | 25.72 | 16.37 |
| Revenue | 11.7B | 47.9B | 20.1B |
| Total Cash | 926M | N/A | N/A |
| Total Debt | 5.74B | 45.5B | 25.7B |
HSY | KO | MO | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 13 | 63 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 38 Fair valued | 43 Fair valued | 10 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 61 | 9 | 9 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 45 | 20 | 9 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 49 | 34 | 29 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 5 | 70 | 13 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 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.
MO's Valuation (10) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as HSY (38) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KO (43) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and somewhat faster than KO’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Profit vs Risk Rating (9) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as KO (9) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for HSY (61) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to KO’s and somewhat faster than HSY’s over the last 12 months.
MO's SMR Rating (9) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as KO (20) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for HSY (45) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to KO’s and somewhat faster than HSY’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Price Growth Rating (29) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as KO (34) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is in the same range as HSY (49) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry. This means that MO's stock grew similarly to KO’s and similarly to HSY’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 MO (13) in the Tobacco industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KO (70) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that HSY's stock grew similarly to MO’s and somewhat faster than KO’s over the last 12 months.
| HSY | KO | MO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 46% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 27% | 1 day ago 43% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 45% | 1 day ago 32% | 1 day ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 48% | 1 day ago 30% | 1 day ago 54% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 59% | 1 day ago 38% | 1 day ago 51% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 52% | 1 day ago 36% | 1 day ago 47% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 64% | 1 day ago 39% | 1 day ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 9 days ago 54% | 21 days ago 29% | 9 days ago 37% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 22% | 1 day ago 62% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 57% | 1 day ago 24% | 1 day ago 20% |
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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.
KO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, KO has been loosely correlated with CCEP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 60% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if KO jumps, then CCEP could also see price increases.
MO and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MO has been loosely correlated with PM. These tickers have moved in lockstep 53% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MO jumps, then PM could also see price increases.