Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total Hershey net sales increased by 7% in Q4 2025, with full-year growth of 4.4% [4][15] - Consolidated net sales for 2025 reached approximately $11.7 billion, reflecting a 4.4% increase year-over-year [15] - Adjusted gross margin for Q4 was 38.3%, a decrease of 650 basis points compared to the previous year, primarily due to commodity inflation and tariff expenses [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America Confectionery net sales increased by 5.3% in Q4, with net price realization contributing approximately 10 points to growth [16] - North America Salty Snacks segment net sales surged by 28% in Q4, with organic constant currency growth of 18.2% [16] - The international segment saw a slight increase in net sales by 0.4% to $256 million, but organic constant currency net sales declined by 1.9% [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail sales growth in the U.S. salty snacking business accelerated to 15.6% in Q4, resulting in an 11.3% increase for the full year [5] - Hershey's U.S. confection retail sales growth was in line with the category, reflecting strong performance in innovation and holiday programming [4] - The international segment achieved full-year organic constant currency net sales growth of 2.2%, with market share gains in Mexico, Brazil, and the U.K. [6][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to deliver top-line growth at or above market categories, restore margins, and increase investments for sustainable growth in 2027 and 2028 [9] - Strategic priorities for 2026 include driving sustainable top-line growth, restoring margins, and evolving the strategy for future competitiveness [9][12] - The company plans to introduce innovative products and activate major cultural moments to enhance brand presence [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in entering 2026, highlighting the momentum from 2025 and the ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges [3] - The company is monitoring factors such as consumer financial pressure and health trends, which could impact future performance [8] - For 2026, the company expects net sales growth of 4% to 5%, with a focus on innovation and brand investment [20] Other Important Information - The AAA Program has generated over $300 million in net savings over the past two years, with an additional $100 million projected for 2026 [8] - The company completed the acquisition of LesserEvil, enhancing its position in the salty snacks market [19] - Capital expenditures for 2026 are projected to be between $425 million and $475 million, with a focus on technology investments [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for 2026 net sales growth? - The company expects total net sales growth of 4% to 5% for 2026, with contributions from the acquisition of LesserEvil [20] Question: How is the company addressing commodity inflation? - The company is utilizing agile hedging and sourcing strategies to mitigate the impact of cocoa inflation [8] Question: What are the plans for advertising and brand investment in 2026? - Advertising and related consumer spending are expected to increase by double digits, supporting momentum across the business [22]

[music] It is my pleasure and honor to be here with you today and I just want to congratulate the work that all of you are doing around plastics. I think in the last 15 years, our awareness of this issue has really grown. And when I think about your first conference 15 years ago, I was at that point wrapping up my time in the state legislature.And right as I was ending my time in Sacramento, we were in the middle of a big fight around banning single-use plastic bags. Uh we did a little bit of work. Then aft ...

Amy, I'm so glad to be here today. I don't know that I've ever done an interview at an ice hockey rink. I wish I could say the same, because usually I'm very cold.But welcome to the practice and the home of the New York sirens. It's amazing. I mean, it's only been a couple years for the professional women's league to get started, to launch.How's it going. I mean, we are doing great. I think we've exceeded any expectation that anybody had for our league.Years one and two, attendance went up 27% our partnersh ...

Mind-blowing discovery 🤯Daily Mail (@DailyMail):Olympics set to ban ALL transgender athletes from female events after 'finding scientific evidence of advantages to being born male'. Read more: https://t.co/hk1MKrxXX8 https://t.co/6pQRfClqL9 ...

And let's keep the conversation going. Joining us now is American Olympic gold medalist Nick Bombgardner. He's competing in snowboard cross this year after taking home the gold and mixed snowboard cross at the 2022 Beijing Games when he was 40.That makes him the oldest Olympic snowboarding medalist in history. First off, congrats. >> Yeah, thank you very much. >> Yeah.So good to have you with us. Can we start with your background a bit because a lot of the people you're competing with come from communities, ...

Core Insights - The decline in Canadian visitation to the United States has reached 23% year-over-year, significantly impacting the travel industry, particularly for small hotels that lack international properties to offset losses [2][6][7] - Canadian travelers are crucial for the U.S. travel market, spending approximately $2,000 per person per trip, making their absence felt in the industry [8][12] - The U.S. travel sector is facing challenges due to long visa wait times and infrastructure issues, which could hinder recovery efforts ahead of major events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics [9][12][13] Travel Trends - The travel landscape is shifting, with Canadians opting for domestic travel instead of visiting the U.S., while some U.S. hotels are benefiting from increased domestic travel, particularly among affluent travelers [4][6][7] - Other international markets, such as Japan and the UK, are seeing an increase in travel to the U.S., contrasting with the decline from Canada [2][3] Industry Challenges - The travel industry is under strain due to the decline in Canadian visitors, and there is a pressing need to resolve trade negotiations to facilitate a rebound [3][7] - Infrastructure issues, particularly at airports like Newark, are causing significant delays and could impact travel experiences negatively [9][11] Opportunities - The upcoming FIFA World Cup presents a significant opportunity for U.S. travel businesses, with the potential to attract an additional 8 million visitors if managed effectively [13] - Improvements in TSA processes, such as not requiring travelers to remove shoes, are steps in the right direction, but more work is needed to enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. as a travel destination [14]

Los Angeles Olympics chair Casey Wasserman praised Donald Trump’s administration for its help preparing the 2028 Summer Olympic Games, even as the president has publicly questioned whether the city is safe enough to host the global event https://t.co/BasREGYSWe ...

Ya VJ Edgecombe is gonna be rookie of the year.Bookmark this.Put your longshot prediction market bets in.Dude was an absolute bucket at Baylor&& already has pro experience after his run in the Olympics with the Fiba Olympic qualifiers.NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral):VJ EDGECOME TONIGHT:34 POINTS7 REBOUNDS3 ASSISTS5 3PM50% FGWHAT A DEBUT 🔥https://t.co/cg8CzAU9KU ...

Core Idea - Life, like a cartwheel, involves a strong foundation, risk-taking, and getting back up after falling [2][3] - Embracing an "upside down" perspective fosters curiosity and leads to unique experiences [26][27] Career and Personal Growth - A portfolio career, characterized by multiple passions and diverse experiences, can be fulfilling [17][18] - Curiosity, rather than certainty, should drive life choices and career paths [22][23] - It's okay to deviate from the "straight path" and explore various offramps in life [24][25] Overcoming Challenges - Failure is a part of the process, and it's important to get back up and finish strong [12][13] - Trust in oneself, built through momentum and confidence, is essential for achieving goals [13][14] Gymnastics and Life Lessons - Gymnastics, with its emphasis on being upside down, provided a platform for self-discovery and exploration [6][8] - The speaker's Olympic experience, despite a fall, highlighted the importance of resilience and perseverance [11][12]

“We exist outside of just the four years the Olympics has for us.”@masai_russell, Olympic Gold Medalist, spoke about women’s sports at the 2025 Forbes #Under30Summit.Read more: https://t.co/VdQ1pJgG95 https://t.co/IxXMLzqhGe ...