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HSY or MDLZ or MNST
Which Stock Would AI Choose? The Hershey Company (HSY) vs. Mondelez International (MDLZ) vs. Monster Beverage (MNST) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- HSY leads with strong year-to-date gains around 22-28%, driven by resilient demand and salty snacks growth, despite recent pullbacks from its 52-week high.
- MDLZ shows modest YTD performance near 8%, with stable international revenue but softer recent momentum amid cocoa costs and mixed analyst views.
- MNST lags YTD at about -1%, facing post-earnings volatility from tariffs and costs, though Q4 sales beat estimates with 17.6% growth.
- HSY exhibits superior relative performance in recent market activity compared to peers in consumer staples.
- All three benefit from defensive sector positioning, but HSY demonstrates stronger trend consistency amid economic uncertainty.
- Recent leadership changes at MNST aim to bolster regional growth, while MDLZ focuses on organic sales momentum.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines HSY, MDLZ, and MNST, key players in the consumer staples sector spanning confectionery and beverages. These companies offer defensive exposure amid market volatility, appealing to investors seeking stability in snacks and drinks. Traders focused on relative performance, sector rotations, and momentum shifts will find value in analyzing their recent price behavior, earnings resilience, and growth drivers. With consumer staples outperforming broader indices in recent weeks, this head-to-head highlights contrasts in business models and market positioning for informed decision-making.
HSY Overview and Recent Performance
The Hershey Company (HSY) is a leading U.S. confectioner known for brands like Reese's and Hershey's, with expanding salty snacks via SkinnyPop. Trading around $223 recently, shares hit a 52-week high near $239 before a pullback, reflecting resilience despite cocoa pressures. In recent market activity, HSY gained over 20% YTD and 24% in three months, outperforming consumer staples peers. Q4 results showed strong demand, 28% salty snacks growth to $357 million, and earnings beats, boosting sentiment. Analysts raised targets post-earnings, citing pricing power and defensive appeal amid volatility.
MDLZ Overview and Recent Performance
Mondelez International (MDLZ) operates a global snacking portfolio including Oreo, Cadbury, and Milka, emphasizing biscuits and chocolate across 150+ countries. Shares hover near $58, down from a 52-week high of $71, with YTD returns around 8% and a 1-year gain of about 11%. Recent weeks saw modest declines post-Q4 earnings, which featured 9.3% revenue growth to $10.5 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.72, aided by pricing against cocoa costs. Europe and emerging markets drove performance, though shares underperformed the S&P 500 amid analyst target adjustments and M&A challenges.
MNST Overview and Recent Performance
Monster Beverage (MNST) dominates the energy drink category with Monster Energy and variants, focusing on lifestyle marketing and international expansion. At around $76, shares fell 9% post-Q4 despite beats: net sales up 17.6% to $2.13 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.51. YTD performance is slightly negative at -1%, with 1-year gains near 37%, but recent volatility from tariffs, inflation, and costs pressured margins. Leadership reshuffles target regional growth in Americas and EMEA, supporting long-term catalysts amid sector headwinds.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
HSY, MDLZ, and MNST operate in consumer staples but diverge in models: HSY and MDLZ emphasize confectionery with North American focus for HSY versus MDLZ's global reach (41% Europe). MNST targets high-growth energy drinks, exposing it to lifestyle trends but higher volatility. Growth drivers include HSY's snacks diversification, MDLZ's emerging markets, and MNST's international push. Recent momentum favors HSY (22%+ YTD) over MDLZ (8%) and MNST (-1%). Risks: cocoa/input costs for all, tariffs for MNST. Valuations show HSY at higher P/E (~54x) versus MDLZ (32x), with sentiment tilted to HSY's stability.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors HSY due to its superior trend consistency, YTD outperformance, and defensive catalysts like snacks expansion amid volatility. While MDLZ offers global balance and MNST growth potential, HSY's relative positioning and earnings momentum suggest higher probability of near-term upside in consumer staples rotations.
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.
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 whileMDLZ’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s), and MNST’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- HSY’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- MDLZ’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- MNST’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.
HSY’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MDLZ’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s), and MNST’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HSY’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- MDLZ’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- MNST’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
HSY (@Food: Specialty/Candy) experienced а -4.78% price change this week, while MDLZ (@Food: Specialty/Candy) price change was -2.97% , and MNST (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price fluctuated +1.32% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Food: Specialty/Candy industry was -2.68%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.45%, and the average quarterly price growth was +1.01%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was -0.77%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.88%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2073.90%.
Reported Earning Dates
HSY is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
MDLZ is expected to report earnings on Apr 28, 2026.
MNST is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Food: Specialty/Candy (-2.68% 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 (-0.77% 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.
| HSY | MDLZ | MNST | |
| Capitalization | 39B | 73.5B | 75B |
| EBITDA | 1.94B | 4.97B | 2.53B |
| Gain YTD | 6.547 | 7.274 | 0.065 |
| P/E Ratio | 44.38 | 30.29 | 39.55 |
| Revenue | 11.7B | 38.5B | 8.29B |
| Total Cash | 926M | N/A | 2.77B |
| Total Debt | 5.74B | 21.8B | 199M |
HSY | MDLZ | MNST | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 7 | 21 | 70 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 34 Fair valued | 26 Undervalued | 92 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 71 | 81 | 24 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 46 | 72 | 35 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 59 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 7 | 23 | 62 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 75 | 85 |
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.
MDLZ's Valuation (26) in the Food Major Diversified industry is in the same range as HSY (34) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for MNST (92) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MDLZ's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and significantly faster than MNST’s over the last 12 months.
MNST's Profit vs Risk Rating (24) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is somewhat better than the same rating for HSY (71) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for MDLZ (81) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MNST's stock grew somewhat faster than HSY’s and somewhat faster than MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
MNST's SMR Rating (35) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as HSY (46) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for MDLZ (72) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MNST's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and somewhat faster than MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
MNST's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as HSY (59) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry, and is in the same range as MDLZ (59) in the Food Major Diversified industry. This means that MNST's stock grew similarly to HSY’s and similarly to MDLZ’s over the last 12 months.
HSY's P/E Growth Rating (7) in the Food Specialty Or Candy industry is in the same range as MDLZ (23) in the Food Major Diversified industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for MNST (62) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that HSY's stock grew similarly to MDLZ’s and somewhat faster than MNST’s over the last 12 months.
| HSY | MDLZ | MNST | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 4 days ago 71% | 3 days ago 79% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 66% | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 44% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 52% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 60% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 56% | 3 days ago 58% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 49% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 11 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 58% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 4 days ago 56% | 7 days ago 50% | 5 days ago 47% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | N/A | 3 days ago 51% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 57% | 3 days ago 39% | 3 days ago 50% |
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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.
MDLZ and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MDLZ has been loosely correlated with GIS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 65% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MDLZ jumps, then GIS could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MDLZ | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDLZ | 100% | +0.32% | ||
| GIS - MDLZ | 65% Loosely correlated | +0.51% | ||
| CAG - MDLZ | 59% Loosely correlated | +1.09% | ||
| CPB - MDLZ | 58% Loosely correlated | +0.24% | ||
| KHC - MDLZ | 58% Loosely correlated | -0.53% | ||
| MKC - MDLZ | 58% Loosely correlated | +1.99% | ||
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MNST and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MNST has been loosely correlated with CCEP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 46% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MNST jumps, then CCEP could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MNST | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNST | 100% | +1.80% | ||
| CCEP - MNST | 46% Loosely correlated | +2.09% | ||
| KO - MNST | 43% Loosely correlated | +0.74% | ||
| PEP - MNST | 42% Loosely correlated | -0.45% | ||
| CELH - MNST | 36% Loosely correlated | +1.15% | ||
| KDP - MNST | 31% Poorly correlated | +1.88% | ||
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