Compare Stocks › HSY vs MA
The Hershey Company (HSY) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)
HSY
The Hershey Company
$182.34
VS
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$495.46
Rewards
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.
- ★PEG ratio of 0.36 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
MA
- ★Mastercard Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Mastercard Incorporated scores 99/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
Risks
HSY
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 33.9x is 30% above the historical average of 26.0x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠18 insider sales totaling $61.7M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MA
- ⚠High leverage (2.82x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Insiders have sold $4.5M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →HSY
MA
Valuation
$1.53B
Free Cash Flow
$16.15B
4.13%
FCF Yield
3.69%
33.89
Trailing P/E
28.66
18.42
Forward P/E
21.78
Quality & Moat
19.41%
ROIC
63.51%
18.66%
ROE
222.67%
35.03%
Gross Margin
100.00%
0.36
PEG Ratio
1.35
Balance Sheet Safety
1.20
Debt / Equity
2.82
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.13
Net Debt / EBITDA
0.50
3.19%
Dividend Yield
0.70%
HSY: 5Ties: 1MA: 6
HSYMA
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →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.
MA
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →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
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MA
$5.61
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$31.68B
Δ Market Cap
+$177.79B
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
> $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
Learn more →HSY
29.1% Overvalued
Price is 29.1% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $182.34
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $141.23
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MA
13.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 13.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $495.46
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $570.42
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →HSY
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $182?
+19.4%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.0%
The market implies +19.4% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +12.0%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
MA
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $495?
+13.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +12.2%
The market implies +13.2% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +12.2%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
MA
99/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency 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.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →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.
MA
-2.53
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
Learn more →HSY
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 88.6%Retail & Other 11.1%
No. of Institutional Holders1,867
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.
MA
Insiders 0.6%Institutions 91.3%Retail & Other 8.1%
No. of Institutional Holders4,775
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
Learn more →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
MA
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →HSY
18
Sells (3M)
39
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $84.99M
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
HERSHEY TRUST CO
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$2.05M
@ $204.51 · 2026-04-02
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
$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
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$791,245
@ $226.07 · 2026-02-24
REIMAN JASON R
Officer
$452,140
@ $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
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$3.47M
@ $180.00 · 2025-07-21
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
$3.38M
@ $175.00 · 2025-07-01
TUROFF JAMES
General Counsel
$227,500
@ $175.00 · 2025-07-01
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$233,275
@ $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
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$5.02M
@ $160.80 · 2025-05-30
TUROFF JAMES
General Counsel
$209,040
@ $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
MCCALMAN JENNIFER L.
Officer
$41,144
@ $148.00 · 2025-02-03
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$180,000
@ $180.00 · 2024-12-03
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MA
1
Sells (3M)
18
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $55.77M
LING HAI
Officer
$4.48M
@ $499.20 · 2026-02-24
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.20M
@ $591.00 · 2025-09-02
LING HAI
Officer
$2.69M
@ $600.00 · 2025-08-22
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$10.46M
@ $586.89 · 2025-08-19
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.83M
@ $566.46 · 2025-08-05
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$178,049
@ $570.67 · 2025-07-07
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-30
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$601,447
@ $546.77 · 2025-06-27
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$536,480
@ $560.00 · 2025-06-24
GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
Director
$173,910
@ $561.00 · 2025-06-24
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.02M
@ $532.97 · 2025-06-20
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$508,474
@ $535.80 · 2025-06-20
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$1.76M
@ $561.78 · 2025-06-16
KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
Officer
$549,373
@ $572.86 · 2025-06-13
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$5.55M
@ $588.18 · 2025-06-12
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$8.22M
@ $585.05 · 2025-06-05
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$218,223
@ $577.31 · 2025-05-15
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$257,535
@ $572.30 · 2025-05-12
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$8.68M
@ $550.16 · 2025-03-26
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$3.81M
@ $534.68 · 2025-03-19
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$9.78M
@ $553.76 · 2025-03-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.12M
@ $556.14 · 2025-03-05
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$6.19M
@ $562.72 · 2025-02-26
MIEBACH MICHAEL
Chief Executive Officer
$10.17M
@ $564.95 · 2025-02-18
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$7.97M
@ $565.00 · 2025-02-18
MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
Officer
$6.18M
@ $564.99 · 2025-02-18
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.36M
@ $500.44 · 2024-11-01
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.30M
@ $491.03 · 2024-09-27
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.29M
@ $489.86 · 2024-09-20
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$550,000
@ $500.00 · 2024-09-17
MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
Officer
$2.31M
@ $493.10 · 2024-09-13
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$528,000
@ $480.00 · 2024-08-29
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.19M
@ $468.80 · 2024-08-22
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$42.03M
@ $467.02 · 2024-08-21
LING HAI
Officer
$1.36M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$3.16M
@ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
SACHIN J. MEHRA
Chief Financial Officer
$6.11M
@ $455.00 · 2024-08-05
LING HAI
Officer
$1.35M
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
ARKELL SANDRA A
Officer
$512,006
@ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.07M
@ $451.06 · 2024-06-20
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$47.72M
@ $445.98 · 2024-06-17
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.34M
@ $446.24 · 2024-06-17
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$49.51M
@ $442.03 · 2024-06-13
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.11M
@ $449.66 · 2024-06-12
MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$50.61M
@ $447.85 · 2024-06-10
VOSBURG CRAIG
Officer
$4.04M
@ $447.28 · 2024-06-05
SESHADRI RAJEEV
Officer
$3.71M
@ $443.93 · 2024-06-05
MURPHY TIMOTHY H
Officer
$2.31M
@ $441.57 · 2024-06-03
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
Learn more →HSY
😨Fear(36/100)
"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.
MA
😐Neutral(45/100)
"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.
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
Learn more →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 (36)
MA
⚪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 (45)