Hershey Company stock trades near its 52-week low after Q2 beat

Published on 10/04/2026 at 18:16 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Hershey Company stock closed at USD 160.21 on October 2, 2026, 2.59 percent above its 52-week low. Q2 EPS beat consensus as 2026 guidance stayed at USD 8.36-8.52.

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Hershey Company (ISIN US4278661081) stock closed at USD 160.21 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, only 2.59 percent above its 52-week low of USD 156.16. The latest quarterly figures provide the main counterweight: MarketBeat reported that second-quarter EPS reached USD 1.90 against a USD 1.43 consensus, while revenue rose 6.6 percent year over year to USD 2.79 billion.

Quarterly beat meets cautious guidance

The earnings surprise was USD 0.47 per share, but the fiscal 2026 outlook remained a range rather than a larger upgrade. Hershey set fiscal 2026 EPS guidance at USD 8.36-8.52, according to MarketBeat on September 25, 2026.

That combination matters for the stock. Revenue growth is visible in the latest quarter, yet the guidance range shows that management is keeping the profit-recovery path measured while consumers, cocoa costs and competition remain central operating variables.

Consensus target sits above the stock

Analyst sentiment remains cautious despite the quarterly beat. Six analysts carried Buy ratings and sixteen carried Hold ratings, producing a consensus Hold rating and an average price target of USD 204.78, according to MarketBeat on October 1, 2026. The target lies 27.82 percent above the October 2 closing price.

Recent leadership news adds an international execution angle. FinanzNachrichten reported on October 1, 2026, that Amanda Almond will become Hershey's President, International, effective October 12, succeeding Rohit Grover. Her prior roles included leadership across 57 markets at Vinarchy and 12 years at Bacardi.

Stock remains near its yearly low

Hershey shares closed at USD 160.21 on October 2, 2026, after opening at USD 159.26 and reaching an intraday high of USD 161.00 and low of USD 158.77. Trading volume was 1,190,000 shares and market capitalization stood at USD 32.2 billion on that date.