Hershey Unveils Strategy to Lead Next Generation Snacking at 2026 Investor Day

Rhea-AI Summary

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) used its 2026 Investor Day to outline a strategy to "Lead Next Generation Snacking," combining iconic confection strengths with faster expansion in salty and functional snacking.

The company reaffirmed 2026 guidance: net sales +4% to +5%, organic +2.5% to +3.5%, reported EPS +79% to +89%, and adjusted EPS +30% to +35%. The outlook reflects an ~150 basis point benefit from the 2025 acquisition of LesserEvil.

Positive

• Reported EPS growth guided at 79%–89% for 2026
• Adjusted EPS growth guided at 30%–35% for 2026
• Net sales growth guidance of 4%–5% for 2026
• 150 bps contribution from the LesserEvil acquisition in 2025

Negative

• Organic net sales guidance of 2.5%–3.5% below total sales growth, highlighting acquisition boost
• Reliance on productivity and supply-chain modernization to restore margins introduces execution risk

Key Figures

2026 net sales growth outlook: 4% to 5% 2026 organic net sales growth: 2.5% to 3.5% Reported EPS growth 2026: 79% to 89% +5 more

8 metrics

2026 net sales growth outlook 4% to 5% Total company 2026 full-year outlook

2026 organic net sales growth 2.5% to 3.5% Total company 2026 full-year outlook

Reported EPS growth 2026 79% to 89% Total company 2026 full-year outlook

Adjusted EPS growth 2026 30% to 35% Total company 2026 full-year outlook

Acquisition benefit 150 basis points Net sales growth impact from 2025 LesserEvil acquisition

2025 revenue $11.7 billion Reported in 2026 proxy statement

2025 net sales growth 4.4% Reported in 2026 proxy statement

Change in adjusted diluted EPS 2025 (32.7%) Reported in 2026 proxy statement

Market Reality Check

Price: $213.55 Vol: Volume 1,615,396 vs 20-da...

normal vol

$213.55 Last Close

Volume Volume 1,615,396 vs 20-day average 1,738,952 indicates slightly lighter trading activity before this update. normal

Technical Last close $213.55, trading above 200-day MA at $190.11, and about 10.83% below the 52-week high of $239.48.

Peers on Argus

HSY was slightly down (-0.08%) ahead of Investor Day while only one momentum‑fla...

1 Down

HSY was slightly down (-0.08%) ahead of Investor Day while only one momentum‑flagged peer, ABEV, was also down (-2.48%). Other close peers showed mixed moves, suggesting this looks more company‑specific than a broad confectionery move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 19 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Mar 19	Reese's promo campaign	Positive	-1.0%	March Madness sweepstakes and fan engagement campaign for Reese’s brand.
Mar 10	Dot's snack launch	Positive	-1.7%	Nationwide launch of Dot’s Original Snack Mix in multiple package sizes.
Mar 9	Twizzlers flavor launch	Positive	-1.0%	Limited‑quantity Twizzlers Straws flavor linked to the Dirty Soda trend.
Feb 10	Olympics themed product	Positive	-0.7%	Team USA milk chocolate medals and digital campaign for Milano Cortina 2026.
Feb 5	Quarterly dividend	Positive	+9.0%	Declaration of regular quarterly cash dividends on common and Class B shares.

Pattern Detected

Recent brand and product news skew positive in tone but have often coincided with modest negative price reactions, while the dividend announcement coincided with a strong positive move.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, HSY news has centered on brand activations and product innovation, such as Reese's March Madness sweepstakes on Mar 19, Dot's Original Snack Mix launch on Mar 10, and a Twizzlers Straws flavor tied to the Dirty Soda trend on Mar 9. These upbeat marketing items saw modest negative next‑day moves. In contrast, the dividend declaration on Feb 5 coincided with a strong positive reaction, underscoring income-focused interest alongside today’s strategy and outlook reaffirmation.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement outlines Hershey’s plan to “Lead Next Generation Snacking,” backed by reaffirmed 2...

Analysis

This announcement outlines Hershey’s plan to “Lead Next Generation Snacking,” backed by reaffirmed 2026 guidance of 4% to 5% net sales growth and 30% to 35% adjusted EPS growth. It emphasizes portfolio expansion into premium, better‑for‑you, salty, and functional snacks, plus productivity from a more automated, AI‑enabled supply chain. In context of 2025 revenues of $11.7 billion and a (32.7%) change in adjusted diluted EPS, execution on margin restoration and innovation will be key metrics to track.

Key Terms

basis point, Form 10-K

2 terms

basis point financial

"Reflects an approximate 150 basis point benefit from the 2025 acquisition"

A basis point is a unit equal to one one‑hundredth of a percent (0.01%), used to describe very small changes in interest rates, bond yields, fees or other percentage figures. Think of it like a single dollar change on $10,000: tiny by itself but meaningful when applied to large sums or repeated over time, so investors use basis points to track and compare small but financially significant moves precisely.

Form 10-K regulatory

"such other matters as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended"

A Form 10-K is a comprehensive report that publicly traded companies are required to file annually with regulators. It provides a detailed overview of a company's financial health, operations, and risks, similar to a detailed health report. Investors use this information to assess the company's performance and make informed decisions about buying or selling its stock.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

HERSHEY, Pa., March 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is hosting its 2026 Investor Day today at the New York Stock Exchange. During the event, the Company's executive leadership team will outline Hershey's strategic priorities and financial framework designed to Lead Next Generation Snacking and drive sustained, differentiated performance over the near and long term.

"Hershey is built to Lead Next Generation Snacking, and today we're sharing exactly how we get there," said Kirk Tanner, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Hershey Company. "With a differentiated portfolio, we are uniquely positioned to win with our iconic core brands and expand faster in high growth spaces. Through One Hershey, we go to market as one integrated team across sweet, salty, and functional snacking. The strategy is clear. The team is ready. The next chapter of growth and leading performance starts now."

At the Investor Day event, the Company's executive leadership team will highlight:

• Next Generation Portfolio and Innovation: Building on the strength of iconic confection brands to expand into premium and better-for-you options, while accelerating growth in salty and functional snacking categories, with a robust five-year innovation pipeline to grow the core and expand into the fastest-growing parts of snacking.
• One Hershey Commercial Model: Going to market as one integrated team across sweet, salty, and functional snacking to drive total portfolio growth, expand distribution, and sharpen execution at retail.
• Modern Supply Chain and Productivity: A faster, smarter and more resilient supply chain powered by automation, technology, and AI-enabled decision making, delivering sustained productivity gains that help fuel reinvestment.
• Differentiated Performance: The executive leadership team will lay out a clear path to restoring margin and earnings and sustaining long-term balanced top- and bottom-line growth, supporting top-tier shareholder returns.

Financial Outlook
The Hershey Company is reaffirming its net sales, organic sales and earnings per share guidance for fiscal year 2026.

‌	2026 Full-Year Outlook		Total Company
	Net sales growth1		4% to 5%
	Organic net sales growth		2.5% to 3.5%
	Reported earnings per share growth		79% to 89%
	Adjusted earnings per share growth		30% to 35%
1 Reflects an approximate 150 basis point benefit from the 2025 acquisition of LesserEvil, LLC.

Webcast Details
The meeting begins at 12:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the event, please visit the Investors section of the Company's corporate website at https://investors.thehersheycompany.com/ under Events & Webcasts. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website following the event.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to our 2026 Full-year Financial Outlook and other statements regarding our business outlook, long-term targets and financial performance. Many of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "future," "intend," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "strategy," "target" and similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like "could," "may," "might," "should," "will" and "would," among others. These statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to risk and uncertainty. Because actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements when deciding whether to buy, sell or hold the Company's securities. Factors that could cause results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: disruptions or inefficiencies in our supply chain due to the loss or disruption of essential manufacturing or supply elements or other factors; issues, concerns or regulatory changes related to the quality and safety of our products, ingredients or packaging, human and workplace rights, and other environmental, social or governance matters; changes in raw material and other costs, along with the availability of adequate supplies of raw materials and the Company's ability to successfully hedge against volatility in raw material pricing; the Company's ability to successfully execute business continuity plans to address changes in consumer preferences and the broader economic and operating environment; selling price increases, including volume declines associated with pricing elasticity; market demand for our new and existing products; increased marketplace competition; failure to successfully execute and integrate acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures; changes in governmental laws, regulations and policies, including taxes and tariffs; political, economic, and/or financial market conditions, including with respect to inflation, rising interest rates, slower growth or recession, evolving priorities of the U.S. administration, and other events beyond our control such as the impacts on the business arising from international conflicts and geopolitical tensions; risks and uncertainties related to our international operations; disruptions, failures or security breaches of our information technology infrastructure and that of our customers and partners (including our suppliers); our ability to hire, engage and retain a talented global workforce, our ability to realize expected cost savings and operating efficiencies associated with strategic initiatives or restructuring programs; complications with the design, implementation or usage of our new enterprise resource planning system, including the ability to support post-implementation efforts and maintain enhancements, new features or modifications; and such other matters as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and from time to time in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.

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SOURCE The Hershey Company

FAQ

What 2026 sales and EPS guidance did Hershey (HSY) reaffirm on March 31, 2026?

Hershey reaffirmed 2026 net sales +4%–+5% and reported EPS +79%–+89%. According to the company, adjusted EPS is expected to rise 30%–35%, with organic sales growth of 2.5%–3.5%.

How does the LesserEvil acquisition affect Hershey's (HSY) 2026 outlook?

The acquisition provides an approximate 150 basis point benefit to 2026 results. According to the company, that incremental contribution helps bridge total net sales growth versus organic growth estimates.

What is Hershey's (HSY) "One Hershey" commercial model announced at Investor Day 2026?

One Hershey is an integrated go-to-market approach across sweet, salty, and functional snacking. According to the company, it aims to expand distribution, sharpen retail execution, and drive total portfolio growth.

What operational changes did Hershey (HSY) highlight to restore margins at Investor Day 2026?

Hershey plans a modernized supply chain using automation, technology, and AI-enabled decision making. According to the company, sustained productivity gains will fund reinvestment and support margin restoration.

Will Hershey (HSY) provide a replay of the March 31, 2026 Investor Day presentation?

Yes. The webcast began at 12:00 p.m. ET on March 31, 2026, and a replay will be available on the company's investor website. According to the company, the replay is posted after the event.