HSY vs. STZ: Hershey vs. Constellation Brands Stock Comparison
How do Hershey (HSY) and Constellation Brands (STZ) 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 Constellation Brands (STZ) both fall under the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group, but HSY is classified in Food Products while STZ is classified in Beverages.
| Profile Item | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The Hershey Company Common Stock | Constellation Brands Inc. Class A |
| 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 | Distillers & Vintners |
| Market Capitalization | 35.79 billion USD | 24.02 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | March 17, 1992 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 3.76% | 17.39% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -0.13% | -13.22% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.04% | -6.25% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.95% | 32.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.07 | 0.37 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -45.25% | -56.05% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.48M | 2.28M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.02 | 0.41 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.03 | 0.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Hershey (HSY) at 38.00% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Constellation Brands (STZ) at 24.02% 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%
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
24.02%
- Max
- 32.02%
- STZ
- 24.02%
- Q3
- 16.61%
- Median
- 10.05%
- Q1
- 4.10%
- Min
- -10.50%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Hershey (HSY) at 14.63% and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 20.90% 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%
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
20.90%
- Max
- 24.83%
- STZ
- 20.90%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- Median
- 5.94%
- Q1
- 2.05%
- Min
- -11.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Hershey (HSY) at 25.55% and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 33.58% 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%
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
33.58%
- Max
- 34.91%
- STZ
- 33.58%
- Q3
- 17.57%
- Median
- 11.06%
- Q1
- 4.15%
- Min
- -15.06%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 38.00% | 24.02% |
| ROA (TTM) | 11.82% | 8.68% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.63% | 20.90% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 25.55% | 33.58% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 41.95% | 52.77% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Hershey (HSY) at 4.38% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Constellation Brands (STZ) at -10.48% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Hershey (HSY) reports EPS growth of -60.26%, ranked against its industry; Constellation Brands (STZ) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.38% | -10.48% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.92% | -1.12% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -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 Constellation Brands (STZ) at 1.00 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for STZ.
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
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.00
- Max
- 4.01
- Q3
- 2.35
- Median
- 1.53
- Q1
- 1.02
- STZ
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.33
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Hershey (HSY) at 1.11 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Constellation Brands (STZ) at 1.16 uses more debt funding than most peers.
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
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
1.16
- Max
- 2.19
- STZ
- 1.16
- Q3
- 1.11
- Median
- 0.68
- Q1
- 0.33
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.24 | 1.00 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.11 | 1.16 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.52 | 2.98 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Hershey (HSY) at 3.23% and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 2.84% 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%
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.84%
- Max
- 9.38%
- Q3
- 3.77%
- STZ
- 2.84%
- Median
- 1.76%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Hershey (HSY) at 64.77% and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 36.71% 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%
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
36.71%
- Max
- 199.19%
- Q3
- 81.03%
- Median
- 41.52%
- STZ
- 36.71%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.23% | 2.84% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 64.77% | 36.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Constellation Brands (STZ) at 12.71 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 STZ, 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
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
12.71
- Max
- 52.52
- Q3
- 30.78
- Median
- 18.76
- Q1
- 12.77
- STZ
- 12.71
- Min
- 4.72
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Hershey (HSY) at 2.92 and Constellation Brands (STZ) at 2.61 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
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
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.61
- Max
- 4.64
- STZ
- 2.61
- Q3
- 2.27
- Median
- 1.17
- Q1
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Constellation Brands (STZ) at 2.81 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
STZ
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
2.81
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.07
- STZ
- 2.81
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 0.82
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HSY | STZ |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.14 | 12.71 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 2.61 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 7.34 | 2.81 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.67% | 4.66% |