Are Wall Street Analysts Predicting Hershey Stock Will Climb or Sink?

Core Viewpoint - Hershey Company has demonstrated strong financial performance and stock growth, significantly outperforming broader market indices and showing positive earnings forecasts for the upcoming fiscal year [2][4]. Financial Performance - Hershey's stock has surged 52% over the past 52 weeks and 27.2% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500 Index's 14% return over the past year and 1.3% in 2026 [2]. - The company reported Q4 2025 earnings with a revenue increase of 7% year-over-year to $3.1 billion, exceeding market expectations [3]. - Adjusted EPS for Q4 2025 was $1.71, beating Wall Street estimates by 22.1% [3]. Future Projections - Analysts expect Hershey to report a 30.7% year-over-year growth in adjusted EPS to $8.25 for the fiscal year ending in December 2026 [4]. - The company has a history of earnings surprises, having surpassed bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters [4]. Analyst Ratings - Hershey currently holds a consensus "Hold" rating, with 23 analysts covering the stock, including five "Strong Buys," one "Moderate Buy," 16 "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [4]. - Recent analyst updates indicate a more bullish outlook, with the number of "Strong Buys" increasing from three to five in recent months [5]. Price Targets - DA Davidson analyst raised the price target for Hershey from $207 to $243 while maintaining a "Neutral" rating [5]. - The mean price target of $203.52 suggests the stock is trading at a premium, with a Street-high target of $250 indicating an 8% upside potential from current levels [5].