HSY vs. KO: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at HSY and KO, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | HSY | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | The Hershey Company | The Coca-Cola Company |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry | Food Products | Beverages |
| Market Capitalization | 36.63 billion USD | 296.65 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of HSY and KO by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | HSY | KO |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | -0.05% | -1.71% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 17.43% | -3.11% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 10.24% | -1.63% |
| 52-Week Price Return | -7.61% | -0.58% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -2.93% | 1.53% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 6.69% | 10.71% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.26M | 12.55M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.73M | 15.23M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 28.89% | 14.28% |
| Beta | 0.25 | 0.44 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
HSY
33.77%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 27.15%
- Q3
- 15.66%
- Median
- 10.47%
- Q1
- 7.82%
- Min
- -2.46%
HSY’s Return on Equity of 33.77% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Food Products industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
KO
45.90%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 49.46%
- Q3
- 24.91%
- Median
- 11.13%
- Q1
- 5.27%
- Min
- -5.93%
In the upper quartile for the Beverages industry, KO’s Return on Equity of 45.90% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
HSY
13.54%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 18.44%
- Q3
- 9.92%
- Median
- 6.38%
- Q1
- 4.13%
- Min
- -0.92%
A Net Profit Margin of 13.54% places HSY in the upper quartile for the Food Products industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
KO
25.89%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 21.86%
- Q3
- 12.24%
- Median
- 8.70%
- Q1
- 5.33%
- Min
- -4.40%
KO’s Net Profit Margin of 25.89% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Beverages industry. This demonstrates outstanding operational efficiency and a strong competitive advantage in converting revenue into profit.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
HSY
18.28%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 24.83%
- Q3
- 14.27%
- Median
- 9.73%
- Q1
- 6.26%
- Min
- -0.10%
An Operating Profit Margin of 18.28% places HSY in the upper quartile for the Food Products industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
KO
29.32%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 29.32%
- Q3
- 18.25%
- Median
- 13.42%
- Q1
- 10.58%
- Min
- 0.71%
An Operating Profit Margin of 29.32% places KO in the upper quartile for the Beverages industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | HSY | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 33.77% | 45.90% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 11.51% | 11.80% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.54% | 25.89% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 18.28% | 29.32% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 40.13% | 61.43% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
HSY
1.53
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 3.80
- Q3
- 2.40
- Median
- 1.61
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- 0.55
HSY’s Current Ratio of 1.53 aligns with the median group of the Food Products industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
KO
1.21
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 3.38
- Q3
- 1.97
- Median
- 1.21
- Q1
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.53
KO’s Current Ratio of 1.21 aligns with the median group of the Beverages industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
HSY
1.25
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 1.87
- Q3
- 0.90
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- 0.00
HSY’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Food Products industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.25. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
KO
1.73
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 2.11
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 0.79
- Q1
- 0.32
- Min
- 0.00
KO’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Beverages industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.73. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
HSY
15.93
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 70.39
- Q3
- 32.08
- Median
- 9.51
- Q1
- 4.55
- Min
- -1.69
HSY’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 15.93 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Food Products industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
KO
67.13
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 78.96
- Q3
- 40.67
- Median
- 9.62
- Q1
- 3.59
- Min
- 0.81
KO’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 67.13 is in the upper quartile for the Beverages industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | HSY | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.53 | 1.21 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.85 | 0.84 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.25 | 1.73 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 15.93 | 67.13 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
HSY
2.92%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 7.43%
- Q3
- 4.12%
- Median
- 2.67%
- Q1
- 1.57%
- Min
- 0.00%
HSY’s Dividend Yield of 2.92% is consistent with its peers in the Food Products industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
KO
2.76%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 6.93%
- Q3
- 4.51%
- Median
- 3.09%
- Q1
- 2.03%
- Min
- 0.00%
KO’s Dividend Yield of 2.76% is consistent with its peers in the Beverages industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
HSY
70.84%
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 202.50%
- Q3
- 109.53%
- Median
- 67.28%
- Q1
- 39.33%
- Min
- 0.00%
HSY’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 70.84% is within the typical range for the Food Products industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
KO
69.42%
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 143.36%
- Q3
- 99.22%
- Median
- 67.03%
- Q1
- 40.31%
- Min
- 0.00%
KO’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.42% is within the typical range for the Beverages industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | HSY | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.92% | 2.76% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 70.84% | 69.42% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
HSY
24.29
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 35.81
- Q3
- 22.88
- Median
- 17.13
- Q1
- 13.91
- Min
- 2.77
A P/E Ratio of 24.29 places HSY in the upper quartile for the Food Products industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
KO
25.14
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 41.48
- Q3
- 28.35
- Median
- 19.09
- Q1
- 15.36
- Min
- 3.14
KO’s P/E Ratio of 25.14 is within the middle range for the Beverages industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
HSY
3.29
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 1.86
- Median
- 1.14
- Q1
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.12
HSY’s P/S Ratio of 3.29 is in the upper echelon for the Food Products industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
KO
6.51
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 3.90
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.54
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.41
With a P/S Ratio of 6.51, KO trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Beverages industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
HSY
7.45
Food Products Industry
- Max
- 5.01
- Q3
- 2.76
- Median
- 1.98
- Q1
- 1.26
- Min
- 0.52
At 7.45, HSY’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Food Products industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
KO
10.59
Beverages Industry
- Max
- 6.29
- Q3
- 3.58
- Median
- 2.19
- Q1
- 1.68
- Min
- 0.91
At 10.59, KO’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Beverages industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | HSY | KO |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 24.29 | 25.14 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.29 | 6.51 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 7.45 | 10.59 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 20.41 | 47.00 |