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HSY vs. MKC.V: Hershey vs. McCormick Stock Comparison

How do Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V) 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 McCormick (MKC.V) 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 Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
Profile ItemHSYMKC.V
NameThe Hershey Company Common StockMcCormick & Company, Incorporated Voting 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 Capitalization35.79 billion USD13.12 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 7, 2003
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HSY
MKC.V
GSPC
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V), 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 McCormick (MKC.V). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
Total Return (1Y)3.76%-23.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-0.13%-6.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)2.04%-7.71%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HSY
MKC.V
GSPC
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V), 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 McCormick (MKC.V). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Hershey (HSY) trades around 1.48M shares per day on average, while McCormick (MKC.V) sees only 10.12K — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

Risk profile metrics for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.95%33.74%
Beta (5Y)0.070.56
Max Drawdown (5Y)-45.25%-52.34%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.48M10.12K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HSY and MKC.V 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.02-0.82
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.03-1.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Hershey (HSY) at 38.00% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; McCormick (MKC.V) at 22.62% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

22.62%

Max
32.02%
MKC.V
22.62%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their ROE against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Hershey (HSY) at 14.63% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 19.39% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

19.39%

Max
24.83%
MKC.V
19.39%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 25.55% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 17.76% 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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

17.76%

Max
34.91%
MKC.V
17.76%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
ROE (TTM)38.00%22.62%
ROA (TTM)11.82%5.25%
Net Margin (TTM)14.63%19.39%
Operating Margin (TTM)25.55%17.76%
Gross Margin (TTM)41.95%38.91%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Hershey (HSY) at 4.38% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.73% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.34% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Hershey (HSY) at -60.26% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
Revenue Growth (YoY)4.38%1.73%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.92%2.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)-60.26%0.34%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-18.31%5.15%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Hershey (HSY) at 1.24 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.66 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MKC.V.

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.66

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
MKC.V
0.66
Min
0.33
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 1.11 and McCormick (MKC.V) at 0.66 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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.66

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
MKC.V
0.66
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.240.66
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.110.66
Net Debt / EBITDA1.523.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Hershey (HSY) at 3.23% and McCormick (MKC.V) at 3.77% 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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

3.77%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
MKC.V
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): 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 McCormick (MKC.V) at 34.18% 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%

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

34.18%

Max
199.19%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
MKC.V
34.18%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.23%3.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)64.77%34.18%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 8.82 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Hershey (HSY) at 20.14 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for MKC.V, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.82

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
MKC.V
8.82
Min
4.72
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.71 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.

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.71

Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
MKC.V
1.71
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

McCormick (MKC.V) at 1.87 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.

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

MKC.V

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.87

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
MKC.V
1.87
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
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Hershey (HSY) vs. McCormick (MKC.V): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Hershey (HSY) and McCormick (MKC.V)
MetricHSYMKC.V
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.148.82
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.921.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.341.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.67%5.65%