Core Insights - The Consumer Staples sector is currently underperforming, ranking among the bottom 32% of Zacks classified sectors, with earnings expected to decline in the upcoming reports [2][3]. Industry Overview - U.S. consumer stocks are facing challenges such as weakening consumer confidence, persistent inflation, and pressure on discretionary spending, which are squeezing margins and making earnings growth difficult [3]. - Global demand uncertainty, inflationary pressures, weather volatility, and geopolitical concerns are further constraining margins and limiting near-term earnings growth [3]. Earnings Performance - As of now, 26.7% of Consumer Staples companies have reported earnings, with a year-over-year earnings decline of 3.7% and a revenue drop of 1.1% [5]. - For the December quarter, earnings are expected to decline by 2.4% year-over-year, while revenues are projected to rise by 2.4% [6]. Company-Specific Insights - **Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL)**: Expected to report revenue of $4.22 billion, a 5.3% increase year-over-year, with earnings estimated at 83 cents per share, reflecting a 33.9% growth [8]. The company is benefiting from its Profit Recovery and Growth Plan [9]. - **Hershey Company (HSY)**: Anticipated to report revenues of $3 billion, a 4% increase, but earnings are expected to decline by nearly 48% to $1.40 per share [10][11]. Continued demand in its core portfolio is expected to support results despite margin pressures [11]. - **Newell Brands Inc. (NWL)**: Expected to see a revenue decline to $1.89 billion, a 3.3% drop, while earnings are projected to grow by 12.5% to 18 cents per share [12]. The company is facing challenges from inflation and geopolitical volatility [12]. - **Coty Inc. (COTY)**: Projected to report revenues of $1.66 billion, a slight decline of 0.3%, with earnings expected to increase by 63.6% to 18 cents per share [13]. The company is experiencing revenue constraints due to a highly promotional market and tariff pressures [13]. - **Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)**: Expected to report revenues of $10.4 billion, a 7.3% increase, with earnings stable at $1.67 per share, reflecting a 7.7% growth [14]. The company is benefiting from strong pricing power and a growing smoke-free product portfolio [14].

Core Insights - The Hershey Company is launching new products for the Easter season, including Jolly Rancher Gummies Fruity Mix and expanded sizes of popular items like Cadbury and Reese's [1][2][3] Product Offerings - New Jolly Rancher Gummies Fruity Mix features a cheerful assortment with five shapes: egg, chick, bunny, butterfly, and flower, combining fruity flavors like peach and pineapple with classic favorites [5] - Reese's Peanut Butter Mini Eggs are now available in a new King Size, while Cadbury Mini Creme Egg and Mini Caramel Egg are offered in new stand-up shareable pouches [4][10] - Hershey's Kisses Harry Potter Butterbeer Flavor is introduced in a new stand-up shareable pouch, appealing to fans of both the franchise and seasonal treats [7][10] Market Position - Hershey is recognized as a multi-year category leader in Easter sweets, with strong consumer favorites like Reese's and Cadbury [2][6] - The company emphasizes the importance of variety and convenience in its Easter assortments, catering to family celebrations and egg hunts [7][10] Company Overview - The Hershey Company generates over $11.2 billion in annual revenues and has a portfolio of more than 90 brand names, including iconic products like Hershey's, Reese's, and Jolly Rancher [8] - The company has a commitment to ethical and sustainable operations, with a focus on community support and education initiatives [9]

HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced that it will host an Investor Day on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City. President and Chief Executive Officer Kirk Tanner, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Steve Voskuil, and other members of the executive leadership team will discuss the company's key strategic and financial priorities, followed by a Q&A session. A live webcast of the event wil ...

Core Viewpoint - Hershey's stock has shown resilience with a recent increase, outperforming major indices, and upcoming earnings are anticipated to reveal a significant decline in EPS while revenue is expected to rise slightly [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Hershey closed at $194.75, marking a +2.21% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.43% [1] - Over the last month, Hershey's shares have increased by 4.7%, surpassing the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 4.16% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.89% [1]. Group 2: Earnings Forecast - Hershey's upcoming earnings report is scheduled for February 5, 2026, with an expected EPS of $1.4, indicating a 47.96% decline compared to the same quarter last year [2]. - The consensus estimate for revenue is $2.99 billion, reflecting a 3.62% increase from the same quarter last year [2]. Group 3: Full Year Projections - For the full year, Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $6.01 per share and revenue of $11.6 billion, representing changes of -35.86% and 0% respectively from the prior year [3]. - Recent changes to analyst estimates indicate a positive outlook, with a 1.44% rise in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate over the past month [5]. Group 4: Valuation Metrics - Hershey is currently trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 27.17, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 18.41 [6]. - The Food - Confectionery industry, part of the Consumer Staples sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 1, placing it in the top 1% of over 250 industries [6].

Core Insights - The Hershey Company (HSY) is expected to report a revenue of $2.99 billion for Q4 2025, reflecting a 3.6% increase from the previous year [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) consensus remains at $1.40, indicating a nearly 48% decline year-over-year [2] Revenue Growth Factors - Hershey's revenue growth is anticipated to be driven by strong demand in its core confectionery portfolio, brand momentum, innovation, and disciplined revenue management [3] - Management noted improving consumption trends, strong performance in flagship brands, and sustained consumer interest in both core and new products during the Q3 earnings call [4] - Seasonal demand for holiday products, effective in-store execution, and marketing support are expected to further enhance revenue growth [4] Pricing and Market Dynamics - Strategic price increases in collaboration with retailers are a significant factor supporting revenue growth [5] - The salty snacks portfolio is performing well, benefiting from consumer trends favoring healthier snacking options [5] - International markets are contributing to growth through brand expansion and distribution, although some regions face macroeconomic and regulatory challenges [5] Profitability Challenges - Despite revenue strength, profitability is likely under pressure due to higher commodity costs and inflation not fully offset by pricing actions [6] - Increased spending on marketing, innovation, and capabilities to support long-term growth is expected to negatively impact near-term earnings [6] - An unfavorable product mix and elevated supply chain costs may further limit earnings improvement [6] Earnings Prediction - The model predicts an earnings beat for Hershey, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]

Group 1: Coinbase Overview - Coinbase's business is experiencing growth, but investment decisions depend on individual beliefs about the future of cryptocurrency [1][2] - The stock has declined over 50% since its peak in late 2025, yet employees at Coinbase express excitement about their work and the company is actively hiring [2] - Despite a challenging year for crypto investors in 2025, trading volumes reached new records, and institutional interest is increasing due to a favorable regulatory environment [3] Group 2: Market Sentiment and Technical Analysis - Current interest in Coinbase is low, as indicated by light coverage on TheStreet Pro and low Google Trends activity, suggesting it may be a good time to buy [7] - Technical analysis indicates that shares are heavily oversold, with potential support around 212, but investment in Coinbase is considered high-risk [8] - Analysts suggest that a period of sideways trading could indicate a base for Coinbase, which would be a positive sign for potential investors [9] Group 3: Financial Metrics and Institutional Interest - Coinbase has high margins and a strong balance sheet, with new institutional investors entering the market due to CFTC regulations, which may enhance stability [10] - However, there are concerns about declining growth in free cash flow and rising operating expenses, alongside the risk of focusing on a single asset class [10] - The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 18.5, which is considered reasonable given its growth and return on equity metrics [10] Group 4: Sentiment Indicator - Coinbase may serve as a sentiment indicator for the broader crypto market, with current sentiment being unfavorable for both COIN and Bitcoin [11]

After reaching an important support level, Hershey (HSY) could be a good stock pick from a technical perspective. HSY surpassed resistance at the 20-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.The 20-day simple moving average is a popular investing tool. Traders like this SMA because it offers a look back at a stock's price over a shorter period and helps smooth out price fluctuations. The 20-day can also show more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.Like other SMAs, if a s ...

Currently, Bhalla is vice-president (Canada & global customers) at The Hershey Company, whose mainstay portfolio includes chocolate and confectionery brands such as Kisses, Reese's, Jolly Rancher and SkinnyPop. The impending transition at Dabur, which makes Vatika shampoo, Real juices and chyawanprash, comes against the backdrop of a series of Hindustan Unilever, According to Bhalla's LinkedIn profile, he has had an over eight-year tenure at The Hershey Company in diverse roles across Canada, Asia-Pacific, ...

Group 1: Cocoa and Sugar Prices - Cocoa prices experienced significant fluctuations, spiking in 2023 and again in early 2025 before dropping sharply [2][4] - Sugar prices are approaching a critical resistance level of $200, with potential for a breakout that could target an all-time high of $260, representing a 30% increase [7] Group 2: Hershey Foods (HSY) - Hershey Foods has a strong correlation between cocoa prices and its cost, revenue, and profits, with historical high commodity prices and import duties impacting gross margins by over 7% as of mid-2025 [3][4] - The company implemented aggressive price hikes of up to 20% to counteract rising cocoa costs, and is now benefiting from price retention as cocoa futures decline [5] - Despite higher prices, the demand for chocolate remains resilient, indicating that consumers are not reducing their consumption of chocolate products [6] Group 3: Market Sentiment and Analyst Ratings - Analysts currently hold a neutral stance on Hershey Foods, with a "Hold" rating across 22 firms, indicating a lack of strong bullish or bearish sentiment [8]

Company Overview - Goldman Sachs, founded in 1869, is the world's second-largest investment bank by revenue and ranks 55th on the Fortune 500 list of largest U.S. corporations by total revenue [1] - The firm offers a range of services including financing, advisory services, risk distribution, and hedging for institutional and corporate clients, maintaining its leadership in the investment landscape [1] Market Insights - Timothy Moe, Chief Head of APAC Equity Strategy at Goldman Sachs, highlighted a historical pattern of market corrections occurring every eight to nine months, indicating that the market is overdue for a correction [2] - The firm is increasingly focusing on the energy sector, predicting that while prices may remain flat or decline this year, they could rise starting in 2027 [2] Investment Recommendations - Goldman Sachs has identified five top stocks for investors to consider, particularly emphasizing two companies in the energy sector that are expected to perform well in the future [3] - The firm maintains its status as a premier financial institution, being the go-to bank for a wide range of financial needs over the past 15 years [4] Stock Highlights - **Brixmor Property Group**: This REIT offers a 4.31% dividend and has a target price of $32, indicating a 23% upside potential [5][7] - **Duke Energy**: An electric power and natural gas holding company with a 3.52% dividend and a target price of $141, representing a 20% gain from current levels [8][9] - **Hershey**: A snacks company with a 2.77% dividend and a target price of $220, suggesting a 21% potential increase [10][13] - **Johnson & Johnson**: A diversified healthcare company with a 2.31% dividend and a target price of $240, indicating a 16% upside [14][16] - **Valero Energy**: A multinational manufacturer of petroleum products with a 2.43% dividend and a target price of $197, representing a 19% gain [17][20]