Dear Pat: I have followed Hershey for several years but never invested in it. To me, it looks like a solid company in a boring but stable industry. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks.
The Hershey Co., $102.43, symbol HSY on New York (Shares outstanding: 160.2 million; Market cap: $22.3 billion; www.hersheys.com), is the largest maker of candy and other sweets in the U.S. Its major brands are Hershey’s, Reese’s, Kisses, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers, Mounds and Milk Duds.
In the three months ended December 31, 2014, Hershey’s revenue rose 2.7%, to $2.01 billion from $1.96 billion a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings per share gained 20.9%, to $1.04 from $0.86. Earnings rose faster than revenue because the company was able to raise its prices while cutting costs.
Hershey holds cash of $472.0 million, or $2.95 a share. Its $1.5 billion of long-term debt is a low 6.7% of its $22.3-billion market cap.
In February 2015, the company announced plans to use simpler ingredients in response to consumers’ shift toward more natural and locally sourced foods. The move came a..
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
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