Core Viewpoint - Brad Reese continues to advocate for Reese's peanut-butter cups despite the fact that they have not been produced by a Reese since 1963, indicating a strong personal connection to the brand and criticism towards its current ownership [1] Company Insights - The Reese's brand has a historical significance tied to the Reese family, which has not been involved in production for several decades, highlighting a disconnect between the brand's heritage and its current management [1] Industry Context - The ongoing popularity of Reese's peanut-butter cups suggests a robust market presence, yet the criticism from Brad Reese may reflect broader concerns regarding brand authenticity and ownership in the candy industry [1]

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer commented on. Cramer mentioned the stock during the episode and commented: What else do we need so badly that we’ll pay anything for? Well, how about Caterpillar? We like their stuff. Turbines, GE Vernova. Hey, how about things that move other things? FedEx is good, any trucker. How about value-oriented companies like Walmart, Dollar General, Costco, Dollar Tree, TJX, they report tomorrow. All those companies make things and sell them cheaper tha ...

For those looking to find strong Consumer Staples stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Hershey (HSY) one of those stocks right now? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Consumer Staples peers, we might be able to answer that question.Hershey is a member of our Consumer Staples group, which includes 178 different companies and currently sits at #13 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank gauges the s ...

Core Viewpoint - Hershey Company is recognized for its strong market presence in the confectionery industry and is currently trading above the price target set by Mizuho Securities, indicating potential overvaluation, yet it is positioned for exceptional returns due to robust growth attributes [1][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - As of February 24, 2026, Hershey's stock (HSY) was trading at $226.07, reflecting a price change of $4.30, or an increase of approximately 1.94% [4]. - The stock has fluctuated between a low of $218.15 and a high of $227.80 during the day, with a yearly high of $234.87 and a low of $150.04, showcasing its volatility [4]. - The current market capitalization of Hershey stands at approximately $45.84 billion, with a trading volume of 1,889,581 shares, indicating strong market presence and investor interest [5][6]. Group 2: Growth Potential - Zacks Investment Research recommends Hershey, highlighting its favorable Growth Score and top Zacks Rank, suggesting strong future growth prospects [2][6]. - The Zacks Growth Style Score system evaluates Hershey's real growth potential beyond traditional metrics, supporting a positive outlook for the company [3]. - Hershey is considered a cutting-edge growth stock that could consistently outperform the market, making it an attractive option for growth investors [3].

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Group 1 - The grandson of the founder of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup claims that Hershey has replaced high-quality ingredients with lower-quality alternatives since acquiring the brand [1][2] - Allegations include the substitution of real milk chocolate with a cheap compound coating made from vegetable oils and the replacement of real peanut butter with peanut butter flavored creams [1][2] - The grandson expresses embarrassment over the changes, stating that the quality of ingredients has decreased while prices remain the same, potentially with smaller product sizes [2]

Core Viewpoint - The grandson of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup inventor publicly criticizes The Hershey Company for allegedly changing the recipe of certain Reese's products, replacing traditional ingredients with lower-cost substitutes [1][2]. Company Summary - Brad Reese, the grandson of H.B. Reese, claims that Hershey has replaced milk chocolate and peanut butter in some Reese's products with compound coatings and peanut-butter-style crèmes [2][3]. - He expressed disappointment after purchasing Reese's Unwrapped Chocolate Peanut Butter Creme Mini Hearts, stating that the product was inedible due to the absence of milk chocolate and peanut butter, which were replaced by vegetable oils and fats [4]. - Hershey maintains that its flagship Reese's Peanut Butter Cups remain unchanged, asserting that they still use fresh peanuts and milk chocolate [7][8]. - The company acknowledged that it has made recipe adjustments to accommodate new shapes and variations while claiming to protect the essence of the brand [9]. Industry Context - The chocolate industry has been under significant cost pressures, with cocoa prices reaching record highs in late 2024, prompting several chocolate makers, including Hershey, to adjust their recipes [12]. - Hershey announced price increases across its candy portfolio due to unprecedented rises in cocoa costs, although cocoa prices have since dropped due to weakening demand and improved supply conditions [12][13].

Core Insights - The E.W. Scripps Company has appointed Oliver Gray as vice president of network sports and client partnerships to enhance growth in its sports and entertainment platforms [1][2] Group 1: Appointment and Role - Oliver Gray will lead initiatives to connect national advertisers with Scripps' platforms, particularly its expanding sports portfolio [2] - He will collaborate with Scripps' network sales and Scripps Sports teams to create integrated brand partnerships aimed at increasing revenue [2] Group 2: Background and Experience - Gray has over 15 years of experience in sports sponsorship and national media advertising sales, with a proven track record in driving revenue growth [4] - His previous role at Overtime involved leading a sales team that surpassed revenue goals and secured business from major brands such as Dunkin, Hershey, and Coca-Cola [4][5] - Gray has also been involved in Amazon's partnership with the NFL for "Thursday Night Football" and has held leadership positions at CNN and Discovery Communications [5] Group 3: Company Overview - The E.W. Scripps Company is a diversified media entity, operating over 60 stations across more than 40 markets in the U.S. [6] - Scripps is recognized as the largest local TV broadcaster in the nation and has a significant presence in national news and entertainment [6] - The company also serves professional and college sports leagues, with a national broadcast reach of up to 100% of TV households [6]

Financial Performance - Net sales for 2025 were $11,692.6 million, an increase of 4.4% from $11,202.3 million in 2024, driven by a favorable price realization of approximately 6% and acquisitions[147]. - Cost of sales increased by 31.7% to $7,769.9 million in 2025, primarily due to higher commodity costs of $736.6 million and increased supply chain costs[151]. - Gross margin decreased to 33.5% in 2025 from 47.3% in 2024, a decline of approximately 1,380 basis points, attributed to higher commodity and tariff costs[152]. - Operating profit fell by 50.3% to $1,441.5 million in 2025, with the operating profit margin decreasing to 12.3% from 25.9% in 2024[158]. - Net income fell to $883.3 million in 2025 compared to $2,221.2 million in 2024, a decrease of $1,337.9 million, or 60.2%[167]. - Earnings Per Share (EPS) diluted dropped to $4.34 in 2025 from $10.92 in 2024, a decline of $6.58, or 60.3%[167]. Segment Performance - North America Confectionery segment net sales rose to $9,479.7 million in 2025 from $9,118.6 million in 2024, an increase of $361.1 million, or 4.0%[175]. - North America Salty Snacks segment net sales increased to $1,271.3 million in 2025 from $1,135.7 million in 2024, an increase of $135.6 million, or 11.9%[181]. - North America Salty Snacks segment income grew to $241.8 million in 2025 from $199.4 million in 2024, an increase of $42.4 million, or 21.3%[182]. - North America Confectionery segment income decreased to $2,493.8 million in 2025 from $2,945.7 million in 2024, a decline of $451.9 million, or 15.3%[176]. - The total segment income for 2025 was $2,738.9 million, down from $3,256.6 million in 2024, a decrease of $517.7 million, or 15.9%[171]. - International segment net sales decreased to $941.6 million in 2025 from $948.0 million in 2024, a decline of 0.7%[187]. - Segment income for the International segment fell to $3.3 million in 2025, down 97.0% from $111.5 million in 2024, primarily due to higher commodity and manufacturing costs[188]. Expenses and Costs - SM&A expenses rose by 3.7% to $2,460.6 million in 2025, driven by higher compensation and marketing investments[155]. - The effective income tax rate increased to 27.3% in 2025 from 10.2% in 2024, reflecting higher tax provisions[146]. - The effective income tax rate rose to 27.3% in 2025 from 10.2% in 2024, influenced by state taxes and tax reserves[165]. - Net interest expense increased to $190.2 million in 2025 from $165.7 million in 2024, a rise of $24.5 million, or 14.8%[160]. - Other (income) expense, net decreased significantly to $37.1 million in 2025 from $258.6 million in 2024, a reduction of $221.5 million, or 85.7%[162]. Cash Flow and Investments - Cash flow from operating activities was $2.3 billion in 2025, a decrease of $254.2 million compared to $2.5 billion in 2024[198]. - Investing activities used cash of $1.3 billion in 2025, an increase from $960.3 million in 2024, driven by the acquisition of LesserEvil[202]. - Capital expenditures were $454.6 million in 2025, down from $605.9 million in 2024, reflecting the completion of key strategic initiatives[204]. - The company generated cash of $129.1 million from working capital items in 2025, compared to $102.2 million in 2024, driven by increased accounts payable[201]. Debt and Equity - Total short- and long-term debt increased to $5.4 billion in 2025 from $5.1 billion in 2024, primarily due to the issuance of $2 billion in new notes[210]. - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2025 totaled $925.9 million, an increase of $195.1 million from $730.7 million at the end of 2024[208]. - The company has a $1.875 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, with $1.875 million of available capacity as of December 31, 2025[211]. - Total obligations due in the next five years amount to $9,423.1 million, with $2,050.4 million due in less than one year[220]. - The company repurchased shares worth $494.2 million in 2024, with no repurchases reported in 2025[206]. Dividends - Total dividend payments to holders of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock were $1,085.3 million in 2025, compared to $1,084.8 million in 2024 and $889.1 million in 2023[205]. - Dividends per share of Common Stock were $5.480 in both 2025 and 2024, while Class B Common Stock dividends per share were $4.980 in both years[205]. - Total cash dividends paid in 2025 amounted to $1,085.3 million, with quarterly payments of $271.6 million in Q1, $271.2 million in Q2, $271.2 million in Q3, and $271.3 million in Q4[205]. Future Strategies and Initiatives - Future strategies include removing synthetic dyes from products by the end of 2027, with no material financial impact expected[142]. - Business realignment costs for 2025 were $20.6 million, part of the multi-year AAA Initiative aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs[157]. Pension and Tax Positions - The expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets was increased to 7.0% from 6.8% for 2025, with a historical average return of approximately 7.0% over the past 20 years[235]. - Cumulative unrecognized investment and actuarial losses for pension plans were approximately $122 million as of December 31, 2025[236]. - A 100 basis point decrease in the long-term rate of return on pension assets would increase annual net periodic pension benefit expense by approximately $7 million[236]. - The company expects pension income for defined benefit pension plans to be approximately $1 million in 2026[237]. - A 100 basis point decrease in the discount rate for other post-employment benefit plans would increase the December 31, 2025 benefit liability by approximately $10 million[238]. - The company applies a more-likely-than-not threshold for recognizing uncertain tax positions, reflecting a greater than 50% likelihood of realization[247].