HSY
The Hershey Company Consumer Staples - Confectionery Investor Relations →
The Hershey Company (HSY) closed at $210.14 as of 2026-03-20, trading 10.2% above its 200-week moving average of $190.70. The stock is currently moving closer to the line, down from 13.9% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 62, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.9x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (1.13 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 2352 weeks of data, HSY has crossed below its 200-week moving average 11 times. On average, these episodes lasted 27 weeks. Historically, investors who bought HSY at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +7.8%.
With a market cap of $42.6 billion, HSY is a large-cap stock. The company generates a free cash flow yield of 3.4%. Return on equity stands at 18.9%, a solid level. The stock trades at 9.2x book value.
Over the past 33.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in HSY would have grown to $3680, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 11.5% vs 10.4% for the index — confirming HSY as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been declining at a -1.1% compound annual rate. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: HSY vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After HSY Crosses Below the Line?
Across 11 historical episodes, buying HSY when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +10.7% after 12 months (median +15.0%), compared to +14.4% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 64% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +42.2% vs +24.8% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment HSY crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
HSY has crossed below its 200-week MA 11 times with an average 1-year return of +7.8% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1994 | May 1994 | 1 | 1.5% | +25.0% | +4047.0% |
| Jul 1994 | Aug 1994 | 3 | 0.5% | +32.6% | +3969.3% |
| Sep 1999 | Oct 2000 | 60 | 29.6% | -11.6% | +1398.4% |
| Jul 2007 | Mar 2010 | 137 | 33.4% | -24.6% | +600.4% |
| Nov 2015 | Nov 2015 | 2 | 0.9% | +19.0% | +222.5% |
| Jan 2016 | Jan 2016 | 3 | 2.5% | +26.1% | +216.1% |
| Apr 2018 | Jul 2018 | 14 | 5.0% | +30.0% | +174.8% |
| Dec 2023 | Dec 2023 | 2 | 1.5% | +3.7% | +23.7% |
| Apr 2024 | Apr 2024 | 3 | 2.1% | -8.1% | +20.2% |
| Jun 2024 | Jul 2024 | 6 | 4.5% | -6.6% | +18.6% |
| Sep 2024 | Jan 2026 | 70 | 23.4% | +0.5% | +13.9% |
| Average | 27 | — | +7.8% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HSY below its 200-week moving average?
No. The Hershey Company (HSY) is currently 10.2% above its 200-week moving average of $190.70. It would need to fall to $190.70 to cross below the line.
What is HSY's 200-week moving average price?
The Hershey Company's 200-week moving average is $190.70 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when HSY drops below its 200-week moving average?
HSY has crossed below its 200-week moving average 11 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +7.8%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 27 weeks on average.
Is HSY a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about HSY as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 62. Free cash flow yield is 3.4%. Return on equity is 18.9%. Price-to-book is 9.2x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does HSY compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 33.2 years, $100 invested in HSY would have grown to $3680, compared to $2683 for the S&P 500. That's 11.5% annualized vs 10.4% for the index. HSY has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does HSY pay a dividend?
Yes. The Hershey Company currently pays a dividend yield of 276.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20