Exhibit 99.1 FINANCIAL CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT: Anoori Naughton Allison Kleinfelter anaughton@hersheys.com akleinfelter@hersheys.com Hershey Reports First-Quarter 2025 Financial Results HERSHEY, Pa., May 1, 2025 - The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced net sales and earnings for the first quarter ended March 30, 2025. "I am pleased with the progress we are making on our key strategic initiatives for the year," said Michele Buck, The Hershey Company President and Chief Executive Officer. "Consumption ...

Core Insights - The Hershey Company is experiencing increased investor interest ahead of its Q1 2025 earnings release, despite a 14% decline in stock price over the past year [1][2][3] - Investors are potentially shifting focus from cost pressures to Hershey's strong brand portfolio and strategic evolution, which may provide defensive positioning and growth potential [2][3] Financial Performance - Hershey's management has guided for a significant drop in Adjusted EPS for fiscal year 2025, projected to decline in the mid-30% range due to rising cocoa prices [5] - Cocoa futures have recently retreated by as much as 30% from record highs, indicating a potential easing of cost pressures [6][7] Business Strategy - Hershey is diversifying its product offerings beyond confectionery, with successful salty snack brands and a pending acquisition of LesserEvil, which aligns with consumer trends towards healthier snacks [9][10] - The company is expected to achieve at least 2% net sales growth in fiscal 2025, reflecting strong brand loyalty and effective pricing strategies [8] Operational Efficiency - Hershey's "Advancing Agility & Automation Initiative" is projected to deliver approximately $125 million in savings during 2025, aiding in cost management and funding for innovation [12] - The company maintains a strong dividend yield of 3.28%, supported by a 15-year track record of annual dividend increases [11][13] Market Positioning - The stock price decline from its 2023 peak may present an entry point for investors seeking quality in a defensive sector [16] - The upcoming Q1 2025 earnings report is crucial, with investors looking for updates on volume performance, margin management, and cocoa cost outlook [15][16] Investment Consideration - Hershey offers a combination of defensive stability and growth potential, making it a compelling option for investors amid easing cost pressures and ongoing strategic initiatives [17][18]

Core Insights - The Hershey Company reported a significant decline in net sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2025, with net sales decreasing by 13.8% to $2,805.4 million compared to the same period in 2024 [6][12][41] - The company is facing challenges due to heightened cost pressures and ongoing tariff negotiations, but maintains a strong balance sheet that allows for continued investment in strategic initiatives and acquisitions [2][3] Financial Performance - Consolidated net sales for Q1 2025 were $2,805.4 million, down 13.8% from $3,252.7 million in Q1 2024 [6][41] - Reported net income was $224.2 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, representing a decrease of 71.7% compared to $797.5 million, or $3.89 per diluted share, in the prior year [6][41] - Adjusted earnings per share for Q1 2025 were $2.09, down 31.9% from $3.07 in Q1 2024 [6][41] Segment Performance - North America Confectionery segment net sales decreased by 15.0% to $2,300.1 million, with organic, constant currency net sales down 15.2% [18][41] - North America Salty Snacks segment net sales increased by 1.0% to $277.8 million, driven by a volume increase of approximately 4 points [22][41] - International segment net sales decreased by 15.9% to $227.5 million, with organic, constant currency net sales down 7.9% [25][41] Cost and Margin Analysis - Reported gross margin for Q1 2025 was 33.7%, a decrease of 1,780 basis points from 51.5% in Q1 2024, primarily due to higher commodity and manufacturing costs [13][41] - Adjusted gross margin was 41.2%, down 370 basis points from the previous year [13][41] - Selling, marketing, and administrative expenses decreased by 9.6% compared to Q1 2024, reflecting reduced advertising and lower compensation costs [14][41] Outlook and Guidance - The company expects net sales growth of at least 2% for the full year 2025, with reported earnings per share projected to decline in the high-40% range and adjusted earnings per share expected to decline in the mid-30% range [4][5] - The impact of the Sour Strips acquisition is anticipated to contribute approximately 30 basis points to net sales growth for the full year 2025 [4]

The Hershey Company (HSY) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 30, 2025 08:00 PM ET Speaker0 Good morning, and welcome to the pre recorded discussion of The Hershey Company's First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Results. I'm Inori Naughton, Senior Director of Investor Relations. Joining me today are Hershey's Chairman and CEO, Michelle Bach, and Hershey's Senior Vice President and CFO, Steve Voskel. In addition to these remarks, we will host an analyst Q and A only session at 08:30 a. M. Eastern on the morning ...

The Hershey Company (HSY) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 30, 2025 08:00 PM ET Company Participants Anoori Naughton - Senior Director - Investor RelationsMichele Buck - Chairman, President & CEOSteve Voskuil - Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Anoori Naughton Good morning, and welcome to the pre recorded discussion of The Hershey Company's First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Results. I'm Inori Naughton, Senior Director of Investor Relations. Joining me today are Hershey's Chairman and CEO, M ...

Core Viewpoint - The Hershey Company is expected to report a decline in both revenue and earnings for the first quarter of 2025, with significant challenges stemming from high cocoa prices and changing consumer behavior [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey's revenues is $2.82 billion, indicating a 13.3% decrease from the same quarter last year [1]. - The consensus estimate for earnings per share (EPS) has decreased to $1.94, reflecting a 36.8% decline year-over-year [1]. - The North America Confectionery segment is projected to see a 12.1% decline in sales, while the North America Salty Snacks business is expected to decrease by 1.1% [5]. Market Dynamics - Hershey is facing a challenging environment due to historically high cocoa prices and a financially constrained consumer base, leading to a projected adjusted gross margin contraction of 410 basis points [2]. - Shifts in consumer behavior, driven by economic uncertainty, have resulted in reduced foot traffic to convenience and drug stores, negatively impacting impulse sales and market share in the everyday chocolate category [3]. - Increased competition from smaller brands and evolving consumer preferences towards club, dollar, and online shopping channels are further complicating Hershey's competitive landscape [4]. Operational Challenges - Tighter inventory management by retailers is affecting Hershey's operations in North America [5]. - Despite slowing demand and inflationary pressures on key ingredients, benefits from price realization and supply chain productivity improvements may provide some relief [6]. Earnings Outlook - The current model predicts a potential earnings beat for Hershey, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +2.20% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7].

Core Viewpoint - Hershey faces significant challenges including tariffs, recession, and increased competition, which may impact its financial performance and dividend safety [1] Group 1: Challenges Facing Hershey - Tariffs are creating additional costs for the company, affecting profit margins [1] - The potential for a recession poses a risk to consumer spending on non-essential items like candy [1] - Increased competition in the candy market is putting pressure on Hershey's market share and pricing strategies [1] Group 2: Dividend Safety - The discussion revolves around whether Hershey's dividend remains secure amidst these challenges [1]

Company Performance - Hershey's stock closed at $166.59, with a gain of +1.44% from the previous session, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.13% [1] - Over the past month, Hershey's shares have declined by 1.86%, underperforming the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 0.72% and the S&P 500's loss of 6.3% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Hershey's earnings report is anticipated on May 1, 2025, with expected earnings of $1.94 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 36.81% [2] - Revenue is projected to be $2.82 billion, indicating a 13.25% decrease compared to the same quarter last year [2] Fiscal Year Projections - For the fiscal year, earnings are estimated at $6.10 per share, representing a decline of 34.9%, while revenue is projected at $11.42 billion, showing a slight increase of 1.99% from the previous year [3] Analyst Estimates and Rankings - Recent changes in analyst estimates for Hershey suggest a shifting business landscape, with positive revisions indicating optimism about the company's outlook [3][4] - The Zacks Rank system, which evaluates estimated changes, currently ranks Hershey at 3 (Hold) [5] Valuation Metrics - Hershey's Forward P/E ratio stands at 26.93, which is higher than the industry's average Forward P/E of 22.86 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 5.85, compared to the Food - Confectionery industry's average PEG ratio of 4.36 [6] Industry Context - The Food - Confectionery industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector, holding a Zacks Industry Rank of 89, placing it in the top 36% of over 250 industries [7] - Strong individual industry groups, as measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, tend to outperform weaker groups by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

The Hershey Company ( HSY ) is known for its strong brands, such as Hershey itself, but also Reese's and recent acquisitions such as Dot's Pretzels, SkinnyPop and recently LesserEvil.I'm a passionate investor from the Netherlands with 12 years of stock market experience. My articles usually contain a good overview of important investment criteria. A stock for my portfolio is of interest to me if the company has the following characteristics:1. Companies that are growing in both revenue, earnings and free ca ...

Group 1: Company Overview - Hershey is primarily known for its chocolates but operates as a snack maker, expanding into salty snacks like pretzels and popcorn [2] - The company has recently acquired LesserEvil, which produces healthier snack options, to enhance its salty snack portfolio [2] Group 2: Current Challenges - Hershey faces significant challenges due to a sharp rise in cocoa prices, which affects its chocolate confections [3][4] - The company is expected to see a mid-30% decline in adjusted earnings for 2025, following a slight decrease in 2024 earnings [4] Group 3: Sales and Revenue Outlook - Despite the earnings decline, Hershey projects a sales increase of at least 2% in 2025, supported by the addition of LesserEvil [5] - The company's food business continues to grow, with revenues being more stable than earnings over time [6] Group 4: Market Dynamics - Higher cocoa prices are expected to eventually lead to lower prices in the commodity market, suggesting that current challenges may be temporary [7] - Chocolate remains an affordable luxury for consumers, allowing Hershey to gradually implement price increases [8] Group 5: Long-term Perspective - A poor earnings year does not reflect negatively on Hershey as a company, which is facing typical short-term headwinds [9] - Monitoring sales trends is crucial, as resilient sales could present a buying opportunity for long-term investors, especially with a historically high dividend yield of 3.3% [10]