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Compare Stocks › ABBV vs HSY

AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) vs The Hershey Company (HSY): Which Is the Better Buy in 2026?

As of 2026-06-19, ABBV is overvalued at $216, with a DCF intrinsic value of $160 and a margin of safety of -35%. HSY is overvalued at $173, with an intrinsic value of $144 and a margin of safety of -20%. Of the two, HSY has the wider margin of safety.

ABBV
AbbVie Inc.
$216.49
VS
HSY
The Hershey Company
$172.63

Rewards

ABBV
  • ★AbbVie Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • ★Gross margin of 72.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★AbbVie Inc. scores 82/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with reinvestment efficiency as the strongest competitive dimension.
HSY
  • ★The Hershey Company has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
  • ★The Hershey Company scores 72/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Management has timed buybacks well — 2 out of 3 years showed value-accretive repurchases.

Risks

ABBV
  • ⚠Buybacks have been poorly timed — 3 out of 4 years involved repurchases at relatively expensive valuations.
  • ⚠FCF yield of 5.4% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
  • ⚠Trailing P/E of 105.6x is 69% above the historical average of 62.3x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
HSY
  • ⚠25 insider sales totaling $101.8M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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ABBV
HSY
Valuation
$20.81B
Free Cash Flow
$1.53B
5.44%
FCF Yield
4.36%
105.60
Trailing P/E
32.15
13.32
Forward P/E
17.37
Quality & Moat
21.89%
ROIC
19.41%
N/A
ROE
23.23%
72.03%
Gross Margin
35.03%
0.61
PEG Ratio
1.05
Balance Sheet Safety
N/A
Net Debt / Equity
1.01
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.12
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.13
3.11%
Dividend Yield
3.18%
ABBV: 6Ties: 3HSY: 1
ABBVHSY

Historical Fundamentals

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ABBV

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

HSY

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation. The dashed forward point is the forward P/E — today's price ÷ analyst consensus EPS.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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ABBV
N/A
Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
Σ Retained
$-19.85B
Δ Market Cap
+$118.02B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
HSY
$-5.53
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$1.91B
Δ Market Cap
$-10.55B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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ABBV
35.3% Overvalued
Price is 35.3% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $216.49
Fair Value: $160.05
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
HSY
20.3% Overvalued
Price is 20.3% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $172.63
Fair Value: $143.53
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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ABBV

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $216?

+17.1%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +8.7%

The market implies +17.1% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +8.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

HSY

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $173?

+18.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +11.3%

The market implies +18.8% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +11.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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ABBV
82/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Reinvestment Efficiency is the standout factor.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
HSY
72/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Margin Stability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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ABBV
-2.86
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
HSY
-2.78
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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ABBV
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 76.9%Retail & Other 23.0%
No. of Institutional Holders5,106
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
HSY
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 87.9%Retail & Other 11.8%
No. of Institutional Holders1,935
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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ABBV
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
HSY
0
Buys (3M)
3
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $445,411
SCHECHTMAN NATALIE S
Officer
$37,258
@ $186.29 · 2025-11-24
TANNER KIRK L.
Chief Executive Officer
$370,915
@ $185.46 · 2025-11-21
TAFFET STACY
Officer
$37,238
@ $186.19 · 2025-11-21
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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ABBV
0
Sells (3M)
5
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $21.79M
PURDUE DAVID R.
Officer
$1.22M
@ $233.56 · 2026-03-04
SIATIS PERRY C.
General Counsel
$4.38M
@ $234.39 · 2026-03-02
SIATIS PERRY C.
General Counsel
$5.15M
@ $230.00 · 2026-02-25
SALEKI-GERHARDT AZITA
Chief Operating Officer
$8.41M
@ $198.42 · 2025-08-12
DONOGHOE NICHOLAS
Officer
$2.64M
@ $198.51 · 2025-08-05
STEWART JEFFREY RYAN
Officer
$12.36M
@ $210.08 · 2025-03-31
REENTS SCOTT T.
Chief Financial Officer
$3.75M
@ $212.34 · 2025-03-14
GONZALEZ RICHARD A
Director
$20.26M
@ $205.45 · 2025-03-03
SIATIS PERRY C.
General Counsel
$5.82M
@ $208.69 · 2025-03-03
RICHMOND TIMOTHY J
Officer
$4.47M
@ $210.45 · 2025-03-03
BUCKBEE KEVIN K
Officer
$3.85M
@ $203.41 · 2025-02-26
RICHMOND TIMOTHY J
Officer
$6.07M
@ $202.90 · 2025-02-26
SIATIS PERRY C.
General Counsel
$1.14M
@ $197.90 · 2025-02-20
BUCKBEE KEVIN K
Officer
$310,032
@ $172.24 · 2024-12-16
GONZALEZ RICHARD A
Officer and Director
$12.40M
@ $186.52 · 2024-08-05
GONZALEZ RICHARD A
Officer and Director
$49.50M
@ $175.00 · 2024-07-17
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
HSY
25
Sells (3M)
47
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $131.91M
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.63M
@ $181.34 · 2026-06-12
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$5.29M
@ $176.31 · 2026-06-10
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.67M
@ $183.74 · 2026-06-05
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.91M
@ $195.74 · 2026-05-29
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.90M
@ $195.08 · 2026-05-27
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.85M
@ $192.47 · 2026-05-22
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$5.75M
@ $191.59 · 2026-05-20
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$279,375
@ $186.25 · 2026-05-18
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.79M
@ $189.55 · 2026-05-15
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$5.74M
@ $191.37 · 2026-05-13
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.72M
@ $185.94 · 2026-05-08
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$5.52M
@ $184.08 · 2026-05-06
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.68M
@ $184.14 · 2026-05-01
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.84M
@ $191.94 · 2026-04-24
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$5.72M
@ $190.58 · 2026-04-22
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$291,150
@ $194.10 · 2026-04-20
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$3.85M
@ $192.27 · 2026-04-17
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$5.89M
@ $196.46 · 2026-04-15
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$4.15M
@ $207.46 · 2026-04-10
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$6.23M
@ $207.76 · 2026-04-08
ROBBIN-COKER CORDEL
Director
$26,161
@ $202.80 · 2026-04-02
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$2.05M
@ $204.51 · 2026-04-02
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$6.26M
@ $208.60 · 2026-04-01
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$6.42M
@ $214.13 · 2026-03-27
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$4.31M
@ $215.34 · 2026-03-24
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$6.36M
@ $211.92 · 2026-03-20
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$325,065
@ $216.71 · 2026-03-18
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$4.37M
@ $218.58 · 2026-03-17
REIMAN JASON R
Officer
$452,140
@ $226.07 · 2026-02-24
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$791,245
@ $226.07 · 2026-02-24
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$329,490
@ $219.66 · 2026-02-18
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$298,005
@ $198.67 · 2026-01-20
ROBBIN-COKER CORDEL
Director
$23,933
@ $184.10 · 2026-01-05
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$282,765
@ $188.51 · 2025-12-18
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$269,340
@ $179.56 · 2025-11-18
ROBBIN-COKER CORDEL
Director
$50,971
@ $168.22 · 2025-11-03
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$281,280
@ $187.52 · 2025-10-20
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$283,680
@ $189.12 · 2025-09-18
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$267,795
@ $178.53 · 2025-08-18
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$3.74M
@ $194.00 · 2025-07-30
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$3.57M
@ $185.00 · 2025-07-23
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$240,120
@ $180.00 · 2025-07-21
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$900,000
@ $180.00 · 2025-07-21
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$3.47M
@ $180.00 · 2025-07-21
TUROFF JAMES
General Counsel
$227,500
@ $175.00 · 2025-07-01
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$233,275
@ $175.00 · 2025-07-01
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$3.38M
@ $175.00 · 2025-07-01
TUROFF JAMES
General Counsel
$214,500
@ $165.00 · 2025-06-09
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$219,945
@ $165.00 · 2025-06-09
TUROFF JAMES
General Counsel
$209,040
@ $160.80 · 2025-05-30
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$5.02M
@ $160.80 · 2025-05-30
MCCALMAN JENNIFER L.
Officer
$153,025
@ $157.11 · 2025-05-28
MALCOLM ROBERT M.
Director
$907,267
@ $165.32 · 2025-05-02
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$540,000
@ $180.00 · 2025-02-25
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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ABBV
FearGreed
😐Neutral(56/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
HSY
FearGreed
😨Fear(28/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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ABBV
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (56)
HSY
⚪Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (28)
View ABBV Full AnalysisView HSY Full Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions: ABBV vs HSY

Is AbbVie Inc. or The Hershey Company more undervalued in 2026?▼

Based on our discounted cash flow model, HSY trades at a -20.3% margin of safety (intrinsic value $144 vs. price $173), compared to ABBV's -35.3% margin of safety (intrinsic $160 vs. $216).

Which stock has a wider economic moat, AbbVie Inc. or The Hershey Company?▼

ABBV scores 82/100 (Wide moat), while HSY scores 72/100 (Wide moat). The moat score measures competitive advantage durability across ROIC consistency, margin stability, revenue predictability, and reinvestment efficiency.

Is AbbVie Inc. in financial distress?▼

ABBV's Altman Z-Score of 2.4 places it in the Grey zone, signaling elevated bankruptcy risk. HSY scores 4.2 (Safe zone). The Altman Z-Score is a five-factor model that predicts insolvency within two years; scores below 1.81 indicate significant distress.

Which company has better free cash flow, AbbVie Inc. or The Hershey Company?▼

AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) generates a 5.4% free cash flow yield, compared to The Hershey Company's 4.4%. A higher FCF yield means the business converts more of its market value into cash that can be returned to shareholders or reinvested.

Which stock has higher return on invested capital, AbbVie Inc. or The Hershey Company?▼

ABBV earns 21.9% ROIC versus HSY's 19.4%. A higher ROIC means the company generates more profit per dollar of capital employed, a hallmark of durable competitive advantage in Buffett-style analysis.

Which dividend is safer, AbbVie Inc.'s or The Hershey Company's?▼

ABBV's dividend earns a safety score of 39/100 (Unsafe), compared to HSY's 30/100 (Unsafe). ABBV has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.