Compare Stocks › HSY vs MS
The Hershey Company (HSY) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
HSY
The Hershey Company
$210.58
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
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.
- ★Altman Z-Score of 4.24 indicates very low bankruptcy risk — the company is firmly in the safe zone.
MS
- ★Gross margin of 87.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.65 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
- ★PEG ratio of 0.75 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
Risks
HSY
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 48.5x is 86% above the historical average of 26.0x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠5 insider sales totaling $1.9M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MS
- ⚠High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $25.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →HSY
MS
Valuation
$1.45B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
3.39%
FCF Yield
N/A
48.52
Trailing P/E
15.53
21.44
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
13.09%
ROIC
3.43%
19.05%
ROE
14.42%
33.55%
Gross Margin
87.06%
N/A
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
1.24
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.44
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
2.76%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
HSY: 4Ties: 1MS: 3
HSYMS
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.
MS
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
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
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
53.1% Overvalued
Price is 53.1% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $210.58
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $137.59
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
45.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 45.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $158.55
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $290.92
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 $211?
+21.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +14.4%
The market implies +21.2% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +14.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
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.
MS
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.
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.
MS
-2.09
Possible 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 0.4%Institutions 88.8%Retail & Other 10.7%
No. of Institutional Holders1,860
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.
MS
Insiders 24.0%Institutions 62.7%Retail & Other 13.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,182
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
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
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
5
Sells (3M)
25
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $25.81M
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
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
GROVER ROHIT
Officer
$240,120
@ $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
MCCALMAN JENNIFER L.
Officer
$49,840
@ $179.28 · 2024-11-04
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$185,470
@ $185.47 · 2024-10-21
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$197,540
@ $197.54 · 2024-09-19
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$5.45M
@ $200.40 · 2024-09-06
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$179,320
@ $199.24 · 2024-09-05
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$948,995
@ $199.16 · 2024-09-04
SCALIA CHRISTOPHER M
Officer
$985,200
@ $197.04 · 2024-08-26
BUCK MICHELE G
Chief Executive Officer
$524,738
@ $199.37 · 2024-08-21
VOSKUIL STEVEN E
Chief Financial Officer
$193,870
@ $193.87 · 2024-08-19
RAUP CHARLES R
Officer
$400,342
@ $193.87 · 2024-08-19
MCCALMAN JENNIFER L.
Officer
$107,153
@ $199.17 · 2024-08-12
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MS
7
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.45M
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
GORMAN JAMES P
Officer and Director
$9.02M
@ $90.21 · 2024-04-18
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.01M
@ $90.09 · 2024-04-17
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
😐Neutral(46/100)
"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.
MS
😐Neutral(48/100)
"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: Neutral (46)
MS
⚪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 (48)