Hershey Gears Up for Q1 Earnings: Here's What You Should Know

Core Viewpoint - The Hershey Company is expected to report a decline in both revenue and earnings for the first quarter of 2025, with significant challenges stemming from high cocoa prices and changing consumer behavior [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hershey's revenues is $2.82 billion, indicating a 13.3$1.94, reflecting a 36.8% decline year-over-year [1]. - The North America Confectionery segment is projected to see a 12.1% decline in sales, while the North America Salty Snacks business is expected to decrease by 1.1% [5]. Market Dynamics - Hershey is facing a challenging environment due to historically high cocoa prices and a financially constrained consumer base, leading to a projected adjusted gross margin contraction of 410 basis points [2]. - Shifts in consumer behavior, driven by economic uncertainty, have resulted in reduced foot traffic to convenience and drug stores, negatively impacting impulse sales and market share in the everyday chocolate category [3]. - Increased competition from smaller brands and evolving consumer preferences towards club, dollar, and online shopping channels are further complicating Hershey's competitive landscape [4]. Operational Challenges - Tighter inventory management by retailers is affecting Hershey's operations in North America [5]. - Despite slowing demand and inflationary pressures on key ingredients, benefits from price realization and supply chain productivity improvements may provide some relief [6]. Earnings Outlook - The current model predicts a potential earnings beat for Hershey, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +2.20% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7].