Financial Performance - For the year ended December 31, 2024, net sales were $11,202.3 million, reflecting a slight increase of 0.3% compared to $11,165.0 million in 2023, primarily due to a favorable price realization of approximately 3%[140]. - Gross profit for 2024 was $5,300.9 million, representing a 6.1% increase from $4,997.8 million in 2023, with a gross margin of 47.3%, up from 44.8% in the previous year[139][146]. - Operating profit increased to $2,898.2 million in 2024, a 13.2% rise from $2,560.9 million in 2023, with an operating profit margin of 25.9%[153]. - Net income for 2024 was $2,221.2 million, a significant increase of 19.3% compared to $1,861.8 million in 2023, with diluted net income per share rising to $10.92 from $9.06[139]. - Selling, marketing, and administrative expenses decreased by 2.6% to $2,373.6 million in 2024, driven by lower corporate expenses and a decline in advertising costs[149]. - Cost of sales decreased to $5,901.4 million in 2024, down 4.3% from $6,167.2 million in 2023, influenced by favorable costs from commodity derivative instruments[145]. - The effective income tax rate decreased to 10.2% in 2024 from 14.3% in 2023, contributing to the increase in net income[139]. - Earnings Per Share (EPS) diluted rose to $10.92 in 2024, up $1.86, or 20.5%, from $9.06 in 2023[160]. Segment Performance - North America Confectionery segment net sales were $9,118.6 million in 2024, a slight decrease of $4.5 million from $9,123.1 million in 2023, driven by a 4% volume decline[168]. - North America Salty Snacks segment net sales increased to $1,135.7 million in 2024, up $43.0 million, or 3.9%, from $1,092.7 million in 2023[176]. - Segment income for North America Confectionery was $2,945.7 million in 2024, a decrease of $171.3 million, or 5.5%, compared to $3,117.0 million in 2023[170]. - North America Salty Snacks segment income increased to $199.4 million in 2024, up $41.1 million, or 26.0%, from $158.3 million in 2023[177]. - International segment net sales were $948.0 million in 2024, a slight decrease of 0.1% from $949.2 million in 2023, primarily due to unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates and volume decrease[182]. - Segment income for the International segment dropped to $111.5 million in 2024, a decrease of 24.8% from $148.3 million in 2023, mainly due to higher commodity costs and unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates[183]. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures - Cash flow from operating activities increased to $2.5 billion in 2024, up by $208.4 million compared to $2.3 billion in 2023, driven by improvements in working capital management[193]. - Investing activities used cash of $960.3 million in 2024, a decrease from $1.2 billion in 2023, reflecting reduced investments in capabilities and technology[197]. - Financing activities used cash of $1.3 billion in 2024, compared to $1.1 billion in 2023, primarily for stock repurchases and dividend payments[198]. - Capital expenditures were $605.9 million in 2024, down from $771.1 million in 2023, as key strategic initiatives were completed[199]. - The company expects capital expenditures in 2025 to be approximately $425 million to $450 million, returning to historical levels[199]. Shareholder Returns - Total dividend payments increased to $1,084.8 million in 2024, up from $889.1 million in 2023, with dividends per share of Common Stock rising 23.0% to $5.480[200]. - Share repurchases totaled $494.2 million in 2024, including $400.0 million under pre-approved programs and $94.2 million to offset stock options[201]. Debt and Liquidity - Total short- and long-term debt increased to $5.1 billion in 2024, primarily due to a $587 million rise in short-term debt[205]. - The company maintains a $1.35 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, with $204 million of available capacity as of December 31, 2024[206]. - Future material cash requirements total $8,541.7 million, with $3,227.5 million due within one year[214]. - Approximately 80% of cash and cash equivalents were held by subsidiaries outside the U.S., with plans to reinvest earnings to avoid material tax implications[204]. Tax and Pension - The company maintains reserves for uncertain tax positions, reflecting the most likely outcome of tax audits and assessments[239]. - The company applies a more-likely-than-not threshold for recognizing uncertain tax positions, impacting income in the quarter of any changes[239]. - The expected long-term rate of return on pension plan assets was increased to 6.8% for 2024 from 6.7% in 2023, aligning with the historical average return of approximately 6.8% over the past 20 years[228]. - Cumulative unrecognized investment and actuarial losses for pension plans amounted to approximately $165 million as of December 31, 2024, which may increase future pension expenses if not offset by favorable investment returns or other factors[229]. - Pension expense for defined benefit pension plans is projected to be approximately $13 million in 2025, with future expenses dependent on investment performance and other variables[230]. Corporate Governance - The Hershey Trust Company maintains voting control over the company, influencing business decisions through its representatives on the Board[212].

HERSHEY, Pa., Feb. 18, 2025  /PRNewswire/ -- In a presentation today at the 2025 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference, Michele G. Buck, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Steven E. Voskuil, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY), will review growth strategies and progress in elevating commercial capabilities and optimizing our operating model to deliver long-term shareholder value.The Company reaffirms its full-year 2025 financia ...

It took a generational crop crisis and revolutionary weight loss drugs to make this stock this cheap.If you've been around long enough, you will encounter some bumps in the road. This is true for The Hershey Company (HSY -0.98%), whose history dates back to the 1890s. The company is among the most iconic global food and beverage brands today.The stock has fallen over 40% from its peak, which is shocking considering the broader stock market is at all-time highs. The last time Hershey's stock took a tumble th ...

The Hershey Company (HSY 1.73%) is one of the less volatile businesses you can own.*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of Feb. 11, 2025. The video was published on Feb. 13, 2025. ...

Hi there, welcome to my profile. My name is Eugenio Catone, I live in Italy and I am 26 years old. In 2023 I graduated in Business Administration and I am completing my studies. My interest in financial markets started about 5 years ago when I accidentally came across a video about trading. That was the spark that introduced me to a new world, but over time I realized that it was not my path: too many charts, lines, and not very concrete concepts for a pragmatic person like me. I needed something different ...

Hershey's (HSY 1.70%) stock price has fallen a huge 45% or so from its 2023 highs. That has pushed the dividend yield up to a historically high 3.7%. Whether or not you view this as an opportunity to buy the stock will depend on how you think the company will handle the potentially long-term headwinds created by a massive rise in the cost of cocoa, a key ingredient in Hershey's chocolate products.The case for selling Hershey stockGiven the stock price decline, the sell story for Hershey is the one with the ...

The Hershey Company (HSY 1.27%) needs little introduction given its position as one of the largest confectionery companies in the United States. You have probably indulged in one of its products, like a Hershey bar or Reese's, sometime in the recent past. But Hershey is facing one major problem and a couple of smaller ones right now, which could set up a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Here's what you need to know.What does Hershey do?Hershey makes chocolate, but it is much larger than just its ...

Shares of candy and snack company Hershey (HSY 4.08%) went up on Thursday after the company reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024. As of 2:30 p.m. ET, Hershey stock was up about 5%.A good end to a challenging yearIn Q4, Hershey outperformed expectations on both the top and the bottom line. It generated nearly $2.9 billion in net sales, which was up almost 9% year over year. And it had net income of nearly $800 million, which more than doubled from the same quarter of 2023.Hershey stock m ...

Hershey expects the surge in cocoa prices to continue to outpace the company’s price increases on its chocolate products.As a result, the company expects to see its adjusted gross profit margin contract this year, Hershey Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Steve Voskuil said Thursday (Feb. 6) in prepared remarks for the company’s quarterly earnings call.“Historically high cocoa prices, sugar and other raw material inflation, along with incremental labor inflation, new tariffs and negative pro ...

The Hershey Company (HSY) reported solid fourth-quarter 2024 results, as both top and bottom lines improved year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.Management remains impressed with the strong consumer response to innovation, marketing initiatives and in-store execution. While rising cocoa prices are expected to create considerable pressure on 2025 earnings, the focus remains on sustaining top-line and market share growth, executing transformation and productivity initiatives, and positioning t ...