1 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stock Down 28% to Buy and Hold Forever

Core Viewpoint - Hershey is facing challenges due to high cocoa prices but remains a profitable company with a strong dividend yield, making it an attractive investment opportunity. Group 1: Financial Performance - Hershey has increased its quarterly dividend by 77% over the last five years and currently offers a forward dividend yield of 2.75%, the highest in five years [1][4][5] - The company reported a net profit of $1.8 billion on$11 billion of revenue over the last four quarters, translating to adjusted earnings per share of $8.96 [4][5] - Despite a year-over-year sales decrease of 16$133 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of nearly 5% through 2029, providing a favorable environment for Hershey [3] - Hershey's management expects full-year sales to increase approximately 2%, with new product launches for Halloween and the holiday season anticipated to boost sales [2] Group 3: Strategic Positioning - Hershey owns several top brands, including Cadbury, Reese's, Twizzlers, KitKat, and Jolly Rancher, which helps in building relationships with retailers and driving higher sales [3] - The company sees underdeveloped sales channels like e-commerce as an opportunity for growth [2]