Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation "The simplicity of the spot - no dialogue, no celebrities, just animated Hershey's Kisses -is key to its enduring charm," said Taffet. "It has become one of the most iconic holiday advertisements in American marketing history." HOLIDAY Q&A Are there any new Hershey's Kisses for the holiday season? The beloved sound of Hershey's Kisses' 'Holiday Bells' comes to New York City with an immersive experience this holiday season HERSHEY, Pa., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --Â He ...

Core Insights - The article discusses the rise of "fake weddings" in India, particularly as a marketing strategy for brands targeting Gen Z consumers, highlighting a cultural shift in how weddings are celebrated and experienced [3][8][14] Group 1: Fake Weddings as Marketing Strategy - Zepto organized a staged wedding event called 'The Great Indian Fake Shaadi' to promote 14 brands, including Britannia Industries and Hershey's, leveraging the cultural significance of weddings in India [2][3] - The event attracted young urban consumers, allowing brands to create organic social media content through influencers and creators present at the event [6][8] - Fake weddings are seen as a way for brands to connect with Gen Z, who have a significant spending potential of $2 trillion and value immersive experiences [8] Group 2: Consumer Experience and Brand Engagement - Participants enjoy the freedom of dressing as they wish and the absence of social obligations typically associated with real weddings, making it a more relaxed environment [5][10] - Brands like Britannia and Hershey's view fake weddings as an opportunity to engage with consumers in a celebratory context, enhancing their brand visibility and connection with modern gifting rituals [8][9] - The trend has expanded beyond marketing, with fake weddings being staged on college campuses and even leading to themed events like "fake divorce parties" [13] Group 3: Limitations and Challenges - While large brands benefit from fake weddings, smaller vendors may struggle to achieve sales, as attendees are more focused on the experience rather than shopping [11] - The duration of fake weddings is shorter than traditional weddings, which may limit the overall experience for participants [10] - The trend is evolving, with some events selling tickets to attendees, indicating a potential shift in how these gatherings are monetized [12]

Key Takeaways Hershey has completed its acquisition of LesserEvil to deepen the better-for-you snack presence.The deal adds organic, clean-label snacks and supports Hershey's strategy to diversify its portfolio.LesserEvil's team stays in place as Hershey leverages its scale to strengthen distribution and impact.The Hershey Company ((HSY) has completed its acquisition of LesserEvil, a rapidly expanding organic snack maker known for bold flavor profiles and simple, high-quality ingredients. The addition of th ...

Core Insights - The Hershey Company has completed the acquisition of LesserEvil, enhancing its portfolio of better-for-you snacks and expanding its manufacturing capacity [1][3][4] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of LesserEvil adds a high-growth brand known for organic snacks that align with consumer demand for healthier options [1][2] - LesserEvil's product line includes organic popcorn and puffs made with premium ingredients, categorized as USDA Organic and non-GMO [2][4] - The acquisition is part of Hershey's strategy to diversify its offerings and meet the growing consumer preference for better-for-you snacking [5][6] Group 2: Strategic Fit - LesserEvil complements Hershey's existing brands, including its well-known confectionery products and salty snack brands like SkinnyPop and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels [4][6] - The salty snack portfolio has shown significant growth, expanding 1.5 times faster in 2024 compared to the previous three years, indicating a strategic focus on this category [4] Group 3: Leadership and Operations - The leadership team at LesserEvil will remain in place to continue driving innovation and maintaining product quality [6] - The combined teams will focus on delivering growth and insights to ensure the right products are available to consumers at the right time [6] Group 4: Company Overview - The Hershey Company generates over $11.2 billion in annual revenues and operates in approximately 70 countries, with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands [8][9] - Hershey has a long-standing commitment to responsible operations and community support, dating back over 130 years [9]

Although I rarely trade, with Hershey ( HSY ) I did, and I was lucky enough to find the bottom back in February to start a strong buy that indeed saw a rally start. Almost five months later, I thought Hershey had beenI’m a long-term investor focused on U.S. and European equities, with a dual emphasis on undervalued growth stocks and high-quality dividend growers. Through years of experience, I’ve learned that sustained profitability—evident in strong margins, stable and expanding free cash flow, and high re ...

Core Viewpoint - The Hershey Company is launching a new lineup of holiday treats for the 2025 season, including innovative flavors and festive designs to enhance holiday celebrations [1][2][3]. Product Launches - New products include: - Hershey's Kisses Snickerdoodle Cookie Candy, featuring white creme with crunchy cookie pieces [3]. - KIT KAT® Peppermint Stick, which consists of crisp wafers coated in peppermint-flavored creme [3]. - Reese's Mini Trees, bite-sized treats combining milk chocolate and peanut butter [3]. - Hershey's Grinch Milk Chocolate Bar, wrapped in designs featuring characters from Dr. Seuss's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" [3]. Seasonal Favorites - Classic Hershey's Kisses holiday treats will return, including flavors like Milk Candy Cane, Kisses with Almond, and Hot Cocoa [2][3]. - The lineup also features seasonal shapes such as Reese's Mini Trees and returning KIT KAT® Santas, which are popular among consumers [4]. Gift Options - Hershey offers candy assortments that cater to various tastes, making them ideal for stocking stuffers and entertaining guests during the holiday season [5][8]. - Assortments include: - Reese's Trees & KIT KAT® Santas Snack Size Assortment - Holiday Mint Assortment with assorted mint-flavored candies - Sweets Assortment featuring Jolly Rancher and Twizzlers products [8]. Company Overview - The Hershey Company is a leading snacks company with over 20,000 employees and more than 90 brand names, generating over $11.2 billion in annual revenues [7]. - The company has a long-standing commitment to ethical and sustainable operations, focusing on community support and education initiatives [8].

Core Insights - The Hershey Company has a market capitalization of $33.6 billion and operates in various segments including North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International [1] Performance Overview - Hershey's stock has underperformed the broader market, with a decline of 5.7% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 Index gained 17.5% during the same period [2] - In 2025, Hershey's stock saw a slight increase of 31 basis points, outperforming the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund, which declined by 6.1% [3] Financial Results - In Q3, Hershey reported a 6.5% year-over-year increase in total revenue to $3.2 billion, exceeding expectations by 1.8% [4] - Organic constant currency sales rose by 6.2% compared to the previous year, although adjusted EPS fell by 44.4% year-over-year to $1.30, surpassing consensus estimates by 19.3% [4][5] Earnings Guidance - For the full fiscal year 2025, analysts project an adjusted EPS of $5.98, reflecting a 36.2% decline year-over-year [5] - Despite the positive earnings surprise history, the company did not significantly improve its full-year earnings guidance, which negatively impacted market perception [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus rating among 22 analysts covering Hershey stock is a "Hold," with three "Strong Buys," 17 "Holds," and two "Strong Sells" [6] - This rating is more optimistic compared to two months ago, when there was only one "Strong Buy" and four "Strong Sell" ratings [7] - TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow reiterated a "Hold" rating and lowered the price target from $204 to $200 [8]

Group 1 - The Hershey Company has faced significant struggles over the past two and a half years, largely attributed to the impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs on the packaged food industry [1] - Despite the challenges, there is a belief that the worst may be behind Hershey, suggesting potential for recovery [1] - The company is recognized for its iconic brands, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, and SkinnyPop, and offers a variety of products such as chocolates, gums, mints, and baking ingredients [2] Group 2 - While Hershey is acknowledged as a potential investment, there are opinions that certain AI stocks may present greater upside potential and lower downside risk [3]

Financial Performance - Hershey's stock experienced a significant drop, declining from $196 to $169 within three weeks [2] - Hershey's Q3 net sales reached $318 billion, a 65% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $312 billion [7] - Organic sales grew by 62%, primarily driven by price increases, exceeding analysts' expectations of 36% [8] - Adjusted gross margin decreased by 85 basis points year-over-year to 318%, attributed to higher commodity and tariff costs [8] - Q3 earnings per share were $130, down 44% year-over-year, but above Wall Street's anticipated $107 [9] Market Dynamics and Challenges - Hershey has faced challenges in the past two and a half years, partly due to the impact of GOP-1 weight loss drugs on the packaged food industry [3] - The company has also struggled with high cocoa prices, although the situation has improved in the last 10 months [4] - Halloween season sales started slower than expected due to warmer weather and concentrated seasonal purchases [11][12] Strategic Initiatives and Outlook - Hershey appointed Kirk Tanner as the new CEO in mid-August, who previously worked at Wendy's and PepsiCo [5] - Management raised the lower end of their full-year earnings guidance by 9 cents, projecting $590 to $6 per share [10] - The company emphasizes a long-term strategy, focusing on future performance rather than short-term gains [13] - Piper Sandler upgraded Hershey's stock from underweight to neutral, citing reduced uncertainty and potential moderation in cocoa prices [16]

Core Viewpoint - Hershey's stock has experienced a significant decline, dropping from a high of $196 to around $169, with further declines following disappointing earnings reports and cautious management outlooks [2][4][10]. Financial Performance - Hershey reported net sales of $3.18 billion, a 6.5% year-over-year increase, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $3.12 billion [7]. - Organic sales growth was 6.2%, primarily driven by price increases, exceeding the analyst expectation of 3.6% [8]. - Adjusted gross margin fell to 31.8%, down 85 basis points year-over-year, attributed to higher commodity and tariff costs [8][9]. - Earnings per share were $1.30, down 44% year-over-year but better than the anticipated $1.07 [9]. Management and Strategic Changes - A new CEO, Kirk Tanner, took over in mid-August, bringing experience from Wendy's and PepsiCo [5]. - Management raised the full-year earnings forecast slightly, increasing the low end by 9 cents, which was viewed as disappointing given the earnings beat [10][11]. - The management's cautious tone during the earnings call indicated challenges in the Halloween season and a slower-than-expected start [11][12]. Market Reaction and Analyst Sentiment - The stock has been volatile, with significant sell-offs following earnings reports, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future [14]. - Analysts have begun to upgrade the stock, citing reduced uncertainty and potential moderation in cocoa prices as 2026 approaches [16]. - Despite the current challenges, there is a belief that the stock may be close to a bottom, with potential for future growth under new leadership [19].