Tanner described the U.S. snacking environment as steady in the fourth quarter, with consumers “spend[ing] selectively” on items that deliver emotional or functional value. He said U.S. confectionery category retail takeaway accelerated in 2025, and confection was the third-fastest-growing U.S. snacking category for the year behind nutritional bars and meat snacks.CFO Steve Voskuil said consolidated 2025 net sales were approximately $11.7 billion, up 4.4% year over year, with organic constant currency growt ...

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 05, 2026 08:30 AM ET Company ParticipantsAnoori Naughton - VP of Investor RelationsJohn Baumgartner - Managing Director of Equity Research in Food and Healthy LivingKirk Tanner - CEOSteve Voskuil - SVP and CFOConference Call ParticipantsBingqing Zhu - Equity Research Analyst of Consumer StaplesChris Carey - Equity Analyst and Head of Consumer Staples ResearchOperatorGreetings and welcome to The Hershey Company fourth quarter 2025 question and ans ...

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 05, 2026 08:30 AM ET Speaker2Greetings and welcome to The Hershey Company fourth quarter 2025 question and answer session. To join the question queue, please press star 1 on your telephone keypad. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. I'd now like to turn the call over to your host, Anoori Naughton, Vice President of Investor Relations for The Hershey Company. Thank you. You ma ...

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 05, 2026 07:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsAnoori Naughton - VP of Investor RelationsKirk Tanner - President and CEOSteve Voskuil - SVP and CFOAnoori NaughtonGood morning and welcome to the prerecorded discussion of The Hershey Company's Fourth Quarter 2025 Earnings Results. I'm Anoori Naughton, Vice President of Investor Relations. Joining me today are Hershey's President and CEO Kirk Tanner and Hershey's Senior Vice President and CFO Steve Voskui ...

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Q4 2025 Earnings call February 05, 2026 07:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsAnoori Naughton - VP of Investor RelationsKirk Tanner - President and CEOSteve Voskuil - Senior Vice President and CFOAnoori NaughtonGood morning and welcome to the prerecorded discussion of The Hershey Company's fourth quarter 2025 earnings results. I'm Anoori Naughton, Vice President of Investor Relations. Joining me today are Hershey's President and CEO Kirk Tanner and Hershey's Senior Vice President an ...

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]

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, ...

Core Insights - The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) has been recognized as one of the 13 Best Consumer Staples Dividend Stocks to invest in currently [1] - Piper Sandler upgraded Hershey to Overweight from Neutral, raising the price target to $213 from $193, citing easing cocoa costs and the removal of cocoa tariffs as factors that provide significant flexibility for reinvestment and earnings growth [2] - Hershey raised its full-year sales and profit outlook after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly results, now expecting 2025 net sales growth of about 3%, up from a previous target of at least 2% [3] Sales and Earnings Performance - Demand for higher-priced chocolates and snacks has remained strong, contributing to management's confidence in the outlook [3] - The company lifted the low end of its adjusted earnings forecast to $5.90 per share from $5.81, supported by an expanded lineup of healthier, zero-sugar products [3] - In North America, Salty Snacks volumes increased by 11% year over year, driven by brands like SkinnyPop and Dot's Pretzels, although prices in that category fell by 1% during the quarter [3] Segment Performance - In the North America Confectionery segment, volumes decreased by 1%, while prices increased by 7%, indicating a more price-driven approach in that area of the business [4] - Hershey operates primarily as a snacks company with three main segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International [4]

Core Insights - Hershey's Kisses has evolved a 35-year-old television commercial into a multi-platform digital experience, partnering with NBC for the Rockefeller Center holiday tree lighting event [2][4] - The collaboration aims to blend nostalgia with innovation, showcasing Hershey's strategy of engaging modern consumers through experiential retail [4][5] - Hershey's approach includes leveraging social media for product ideas, resulting in successful launches and maintaining relevance in the market [6][8] Financial Performance - Hershey reported nearly flat sales year-over-year in 2024, but gross margin increased by 6.1% and profits grew by 13.2% [7] - The company achieved 6.5% net sales growth in the third quarter, driven by successful innovation launches and strategic pricing initiatives [7] - Despite challenges from elevated cocoa prices and tariffs, Hershey raised its full-year guidance, indicating confidence in returning to normalized growth by 2026 [7][9] Innovation and Market Strategy - Hershey has delivered five of the top ten innovations in the candy-mint-gum category this year, reflecting a broader transformation within the company [5] - The introduction of new flavors and collaborations, such as the Reese's Oreo, has driven significant sales, with $25 million generated in the first five weeks post-launch [6] - The company's strategy focuses on balancing timeless brand stories with contemporary storytelling to engage new generations [6][9]

Core Insights - The Hershey Company has completed the acquisition of LesserEvil, enhancing its portfolio of better-for-you snacks and expanding its manufacturing capacity [1][3][4] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of LesserEvil adds a high-growth brand known for organic snacks that align with consumer demand for healthier options [1][2] - LesserEvil's product line includes organic popcorn and puffs made with premium ingredients, categorized as USDA Organic and non-GMO [2][4] - The acquisition is part of Hershey's strategy to diversify its offerings and meet the growing consumer preference for better-for-you snacking [5][6] Group 2: Strategic Fit - LesserEvil complements Hershey's existing brands, including its well-known confectionery products and salty snack brands like SkinnyPop and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels [4][6] - The salty snack portfolio has shown significant growth, expanding 1.5 times faster in 2024 compared to the previous three years, indicating a strategic focus on this category [4] Group 3: Leadership and Operations - The leadership team at LesserEvil will remain in place to continue driving innovation and maintaining product quality [6] - The combined teams will focus on delivering growth and insights to ensure the right products are available to consumers at the right time [6] Group 4: Company Overview - The Hershey Company generates over $11.2 billion in annual revenues and operates in approximately 70 countries, with a diverse portfolio of iconic brands [8][9] - Hershey has a long-standing commitment to responsible operations and community support, dating back over 130 years [9]