HSY vs. KO: Hershey vs. Coca-Cola Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO) 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

Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO) both fall under the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group, but HSY is classified in Food Products while KO is classified in Beverages.

Company profile comparison for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Profile Item	HSY	KO
Name	The Hershey Company Common Stock	The Coca-Cola Company
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Staples	Consumer Staples
GICS Industry Group	Food, Beverage & Tobacco	Food, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS Industry	Food Products	Beverages
GICS Sub-Industry	Packaged Foods & Meats	Soft Drinks & Non-alcoholic Beverages
Market Capitalization	35.79 billion USD	411.56 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	January 2, 1962
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HSY

GSPC

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO), 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 Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
Total Return (1Y)	3.76%	39.33%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	-0.13%	22.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	2.04%	14.43%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HSY

GSPC

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO), 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 Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.95%	18.90%
Beta (5Y)	0.07	0.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-45.25%	-17.27%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.48M	16.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

HSY and KO 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 Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.02	1.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.03	3.17

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 38.00% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 40.59% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

40.59%

KO: 40.59%
Max: 32.02%
Q3: 16.61%
Median: 10.05%
Q1: 4.10%
Min: -10.50%

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.65% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Hershey (HSY) at 14.63% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.65%

KO: 28.65%
Max: 24.83%
Q3: 11.22%
Median: 5.94%
Q1: 2.05%
Min: -11.49%

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 25.55% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 33.36% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

33.36%

Max: 34.91%
KO: 33.36%
Q3: 17.57%
Median: 11.06%
Q1: 4.15%
Min: -15.06%

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
ROE (TTM)	38.00%	40.59%
ROA (TTM)	11.82%	9.59%
Net Margin (TTM)	14.63%	28.65%
Operating Margin (TTM)	25.55%	33.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)	41.95%	62.32%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Hershey (HSY) at 4.38% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.87% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Coca-Cola (KO) at 23.58% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Hershey (HSY) at -60.26% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.38%	1.87%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.92%	3.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-60.26%	23.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-18.31%	11.55%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 1.24 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.38 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.38

Max: 4.01
Q3: 2.35
Median: 1.53
KO: 1.38
Q1: 1.02
Min: 0.33

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 1.11 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 1.07 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.07

Max: 2.19
Q3: 1.11
KO: 1.07
Median: 0.68
Q1: 0.33
Min: 0.00

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.24	1.38
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.11	1.07
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.52	1.48

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 3.23% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 2.19% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.19%

Max: 9.38%
Q3: 3.77%
KO: 2.19%
Median: 1.76%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 64.77% and Coca-Cola (KO) at 61.95% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

61.95%

Max: 199.19%
Q3: 81.03%
KO: 61.95%
Median: 41.52%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.23%	2.19%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	64.77%	61.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 20.14 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 28.22 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

28.22

Max: 52.52
Q3: 30.78
KO: 28.22
Median: 18.76
Q1: 12.77
Min: 4.72

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Hershey (HSY) at 2.92 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Coca-Cola (KO) at 8.06 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.06

KO: 8.06
Max: 4.64
Q3: 2.27
Median: 1.17
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.00

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Hershey (HSY) at 7.34 and Coca-Cola (KO) at 11.01 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

KO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

11.01

KO: 11.01
Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.07
Median: 1.58
Q1: 0.82
Min: 0.00

Hershey (HSY) vs. Coca-Cola (KO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Hershey (HSY) and Coca-Cola (KO)
Metric	HSY	KO
P/E Ratio (TTM)	20.14	28.22
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.92	8.06
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.34	11.01
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.67%	1.06%