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GIS vs. HSY: General Mills vs. Hershey Stock Comparison

How do General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY) are both classified in the Packaged Foods & Meats sub-industry within the broader Food Products industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
Profile ItemGISHSY
NameGeneral Mills Inc.The Hershey Company Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryFood ProductsFood Products
GICS Sub-IndustryPackaged Foods & MeatsPackaged Foods & Meats
Market Capitalization18.99 billion USD35.79 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GIS
HSY
GSPC
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
Total Return (1Y)-20.22%3.76%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-14.80%-0.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-7.41%2.04%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GIS
HSY
GSPC
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

General Mills (GIS) reports a negative beta of -0.01, suggesting inverse market sensitivity over the measurement window. That is uncommon for ordinary equities and can reflect commodity-linked or hedge-like exposure, but it can also come from statistical noise. Hershey (HSY) has a non-negative beta of 0.07.

Risk profile metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)30.85%27.95%
Beta (5Y)-0.010.07
Max Drawdown (5Y)-59.63%-45.25%
Avg. Volume (3M)9.41M1.48M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GIS and HSY are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.79-0.02
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.14-0.03

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) reports a negative ROE of -10.50%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Hershey (HSY) reports 38.00%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-10.50%

Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
GIS
-10.50%
Min
-10.50%

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

38.00%

HSY
38.00%
Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) reports a negative net margin of -4.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Hershey (HSY) reports 14.63%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-4.89%

Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
GIS
-4.89%
Min
-11.49%

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

14.63%

Max
24.83%
HSY
14.63%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Hershey (HSY) at 25.55% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of General Mills (GIS) at 15.24%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

15.24%

Max
34.91%
Q3
17.57%
GIS
15.24%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

25.55%

Max
34.91%
HSY
25.55%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
ROE (TTM)-10.50%38.00%
ROA (TTM)5.65%11.82%
Net Margin (TTM)-4.89%14.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)15.24%25.55%
Gross Margin (TTM)33.73%41.95%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Hershey (HSY) at 4.38% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while General Mills (GIS) at -5.45% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both General Mills (GIS) at -103.90% and Hershey (HSY) at -60.26% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.

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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
Revenue Growth (YoY)-5.45%4.38%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.85%3.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)-103.90%-60.26%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---18.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Hershey (HSY) at 1.24 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while General Mills (GIS) at 0.70 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for GIS.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.70

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
GIS
0.70
Min
0.33

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.24

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
HSY
1.24
Q1
1.02
Min
0.33
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Hershey (HSY) at 1.11 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while General Mills (GIS) at 1.82 uses more debt funding than most peers.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.82

Max
2.19
GIS
1.82
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.11

Max
2.19
HSY
1.11
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.701.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.821.11
Net Debt / EBITDA3.861.52

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) at 6.69% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Hershey (HSY) at 3.23% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, GIS the richer one.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

6.69%

Max
9.38%
GIS
6.69%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.23%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
HSY
3.23%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both General Mills (GIS) at 59.41% and Hershey (HSY) at 64.77% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

59.41%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
GIS
59.41%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

64.77%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
HSY
64.77%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
Dividend Yield (TTM)6.69%3.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.41%64.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Hershey (HSY) trades at 20.14 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while General Mills (GIS) has no P/E ratio this period.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

--

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
GIS
--

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

20.14

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
HSY
20.14
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): GIS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; HSY is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

General Mills (GIS) at 1.04 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Hershey (HSY) at 2.92 sits in the pricier quartile — HSY costs more per dollar of sales.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.04

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
GIS
1.04
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.92

Max
4.64
HSY
2.92
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

General Mills (GIS) at 2.55 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Hershey (HSY) at 7.34 prices above its benchmark range — HSY looks rich relative to book.

GIS

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.55

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
GIS
2.55
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00

HSY

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

7.34

HSY
7.34
Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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General Mills (GIS) vs. Hershey (HSY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for General Mills (GIS) and Hershey (HSY)
MetricGISHSY
P/E Ratio (TTM)--20.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.042.92
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.557.34
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)6.86%4.67%