Hershey Option Alert: May 16 $170 Puts at the Bid: 1000 vs 1514 OI; Earnings 5/2 Before Open [est] 

Hershey Option Alert: May 16 $170 Puts at the Bid: 1000 @ $9.45 vs 1514 OI; Earnings 5/2 Before Open [est] Ref=$165.065

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Bolsa

HERSHEY CO/THE

Hershey

Hershey is a leading US confectionery manufacturer (around a $54 billion market, according to Euromonitor), controlling around 36% of the domestic chocolate space. Beyond its namesake label, the firm's mix has expanded over the last 85 years and now consists of 100 brands, including Reese's, Kit Kat, Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey's products are sold in about 80 countries, albeit with just a high-single-digit percentage of sales coming from markets outside the US, including Brazil, India, and Mexico. The firm has sought inorganic opportunities to extend its reach beyond its core confection business, adding Amplify Snack Brands and its Skinny Pop ready-to-eat popcorn to its mix, Pirate Brands, and Dot's Pretzels over the past few years.

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Shares of consumer staple companies are trading higher following President Trump's decision to implement a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China.

Hershey's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.28% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 8.33 million shares sold short, which is 6.38% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.15 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Hershey Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744207224_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Hershey has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Hershey's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Hershey's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.02%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Peering Into Hershey's Recent Short Interest

These past three months were not what U.S. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mergers-and-acquisitions">dealmakers wanted or expected</a>.
As of April 3, transaction tracker Dealogic showed zero percent growth in U.S.-based M&amp;A volume compared to last year&#8217;s first quarter.
Elsewhere? Volume is spiking triple digits.
<ul>
<li>The Middle East and Africa combined are seeing 123% growth in M&amp;A.</li>
<li>Japan: 105%</li>
<li>Asia: 103%</li>
</ul>
Deal volume is also up in Canada, Europe and Australia. Only in Latin America is it in the red, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/03/44342234/deal-dispatch-trump-ma-boom-is-a-bust-purple-mattress-considers-sale-celtics-auction-heats-up">barely a peep</a> coming from the U.S.
For those keeping track of who correctly predicted this downtrend, don&#8217;t look to Bank of America. After Election Day, the firm&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/41979935/golden-years-for-ma-deals-ahead-under-trump-analysts-highlight-top-10-large-cap-candidates">analysts boldly predicted</a> that the then-incoming Trump administration would remove Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan and, presto, the antitrust roadblocks for M&amp;A activity would be removed.
Those analysts were wrong. Just 10 days after Trump&#8217;s inauguration, the U.S. Department of Justice <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/01/43353124/hewlett-packard-enterprise-shares-fall-as-us-department-of-justice-sues-to-block-juniper-acquisition">sued to block</a> Hewlett Packard Enterprise&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPE#NYSE">HPE</a>) $14 billion deal to acquire networking gear maker Juniper Networks. In March, Surmodics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRDX#NASDAQ">SRDX</a>) <a href="https://julian-34159.medium.com/m-a-malaise-whats-behind-the-2025-deal-slowdown-8471a15b914c">saw its stock price fall</a> after the FTC challenged a proposed acquisition by private equity firm GTCR LLC.
Those BofA analysts also forgot that the previous Trump administration was not particularly lenient regarding consolidation. AT&amp;T and Time Warner; Sinclair and Tribune Media; Broadcom and Qualcomm; DraftKings and FanDuel — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/03/44202239/deal-dispatch-tiktok-walgreens-raizen">all blocked</a>.
On the shiny side, gold-related M&amp;A deals have increased, but transaction sizes are much smaller, Benzinga&#8217;s Stjepan Kalinic <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/25/03/44490949/gold-ma-deals-are-accelerating-but-average-deals-are-smaller-research-shows">wrote this week</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/04/44648681/powell-cites-tariff-driven-inflation-risks-shrugs-off-trumps-call-for-perfect-time-to-cut-rates">Trump Urges Immediate Rate Cuts, Powell Says It&#8217;s &#8216;Too Soon&#8217; As Tariffs Will Likely Drive Inflation</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New On The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>I Squared Capital is considering selling its European trailer-leasing business, TIP Group, which could be valued at over €3 billion ($3.2 billion). The Miami-based firm is consulting advisers but has not yet launched a formal sale process, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/i-squared-said-to-weigh-3-billion-sale-of-trailer-leasing-firm?srnd=phx-deals&amp;sref=TBDibEcD">reports</a>. Based in Amsterdam, TIP Group may attract interest from infrastructure funds and industry peers. I Squared acquired the company in 2018 from HNA Group and has since expanded it through acquisitions, including Trailer Wizards in Canada and Eurotrail UK Ltd. The company was rebranded as TIP Group in 2022.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Bowmark Capital is working with Arma Partners on a potential sale of workforce management software firm Totalmobile, which could be valued at over £500 million ($649 million). A formal sale process may start later this year, according <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/pe-firm-bowmark-said-to-weigh-500-million-sale-of-totalmobile?sref=TBDibEcD">to</a> Bloomberg. Totalmobile, which provides field service management software, could attract interest from private equity firms and industry players. Bowmark acquired the company in 2020, and deliberations on the sale are still in the early stages.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updates From The Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>Final bids for Eni SpA&#8216;s 15% stake in Plenitude, a renewables company, are expected in the coming weeks. Apollo Global Management, Ares Management and Stonepeak are among the interested parties, according to Bloomberg—initial interest values Plenitude between €12 billion and €13 billion ($14 billion).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Ayrmid Ltd. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44564776?57575">offered to acquire</a> Bluebird Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLUE#NASDAQ">BLUE</a>) for an upfront cash payment of $4.50 per share. The company topped a $3.00 per share bid from private equity firms <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43880289/bluebird-bio-to-be-acquired-by-carlyle-group-sk-capital-former-mirati-therapeutics-ceo-set-to-lead-post-deal">Carlyle and SK Capital Partners</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rocket Companies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44565671/rocket-acquires-mr-cooper-just-weeks-after-buying-redfin-brings-together-the-homeownership-experience-at-scale">announced it will acquire</a> Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COOP#NASDAQ">COOP</a>) in an all-stock transaction for $9.4 billion in equity value. The move comes just after Rocket's $1.75 billion acquisition of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/03/44237879/rocket-redfin-deal-aims-to-create-end-to-end-real-estate-solution-where-does-that-leave-zillow">online real estate broker Redfin Corp. </a>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDFN#NASDAQ">RDFN</a>).&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44643347/hershey-expands-snack-empire-with-acquisition-of-lesserevil-for-750m">agreed to acquire</a> snack brand LesserEvil. This move reflects the confectionery giant&#8217;s ongoing effort to expand from sweets such as Reese&#8217;s and Jolly Ranchers into the better-for-you snack sector. The acquisition is <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hershey-nears-750-million-deal-for-lesserevil-popcorn-brand-4ca3d468?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reportedly</a> valued at around $750 million.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rogers Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCI#NYSE">RCI</a>) said on Friday it agreed to receive a 7 billion Canadian dollar (~$5 billion) equity investment from funds managed by Blackstone Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BX#NYSE">BX</a>), supported by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/asset-sales/25/04/44646240/rogers-scores-5-billion-blackstone-deal-to-cut-debt-unlock-wireless-infrastructure-value">several Canadian institutional investors</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>President Trump confirmed that the U.S. is <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/general/social-media/25/02/43511395/trump-pushes-for-tiktok-deal-china-could-oblige-if-it-werent-for-those-tariffs-heres-what-we-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">nearing a deal</a> to spare TikTok from a potential ban, with ongoing discussions involving multiple investors and a possible tariff agreement with China. During <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44641024/trump-says-us-close-to-tiktok-deal-reiterates-his-offer-of-tariff-relief-to-secure-chinas-consent-the-tariffs-give-us-great-power-to-negotiate">remarks aboard</a> Air Force One, Trump didn&#8217;t specify whether the &#8220;very good group of people&#8221; interested in TikTok includes OnlyFans founder Tim Stokely. AppLovin and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44645102/applovin-wants-tiktok-but-can-it-beat-amazon-and-onlyfans-to-the-punch">also reportedly interested</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bankruptcy Block</h2>
<ul>
<li>Hooters, the restaurant chain known for its all-female waitstaff and neon orange branding, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44647084/hooters-files-for-bankruptcy-says-brand-isnt-going-anywhere">officially filed for bankruptcy protection</a>. The Chapter 11 filing allows the chain to continue normal operations during the proceeding. Hooters said that all of its 100 restaurants will be sold to two existing franchisees, which own and operate more than 30% of Hooters&#8217; locations in the U.S.</li>
</ul>
For the previous edition of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/03/44546940/deal-dispatch-bezos-backed-crop-company-wilts-tech-startup-nabs-napster-for-207-million">Deal Dispatch, click here</a>.

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Deal Dispatch: US M&A Is Quiet, But Abroad? Volume Is Spiking

The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) is deepening its push into the <a href="https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/home/newsroom/press-release/2025-04-03-The-Hershey-Company-Announces-Intent-to-Acquire-LesserEvil.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">savory snacking space with a new acquisition</a>. The confectionery giant announced on Thursday it struck a definitive deal to acquire LesserEvil, a brand known for its organic and boldly flavored snacks.
This move reflects Hershey&#8217;s ongoing effort to expand its snacking portfolio from iconic sweets such as Reese&#8217;s and Jolly Ranchers and build momentum in the better-for-you snack sector.
The acquisition is valued around $750 million, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hershey-nears-750-million-deal-for-lesserevil-popcorn-brand-4ca3d468?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos1" rel="noreferrer noopener">report </a>from the Wall Street Journal. The report also mentioned that the total value of the deal could increase if LesserEvil meets specific performance targets.
LesserEvil&#8217;s leadership will remain intact following the acquisition and will continue overseeing its innovation pipeline and manufacturing capabilities.
&#8220;Investing in&nbsp;LesserEvil&nbsp;brings a multi-category, better-for-you snacks platform to extend our offerings into new categories and forms, reaching new consumers in more eating occasions,&#8221; said&nbsp;Hershey&#8217;s President and Chief Executive Officer, Michele Buck.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44630305/ai-powered-pizza-papa-johns-taps-google-cloud-for-smarter-orders" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI-Powered Pizza? Papa Johns Taps Google Cloud For Smarter Orders</a>
&#8220;This high-growth brand not only complements our beloved confection and salty snack brands but also brings additional manufacturing capabilities and capacity to meet growing consumer and retailer needs.&#8221;
Hershey has made strategic bets on brands like SkinnyPop, Dot&#8217;s Homestyle Pretzels, and Pirate&#8217;s Booty.
Hershey indicated that the deal is expected to close later in 2024, pending regulatory approvals. The confectioner held $730.7 million in cash and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/43523301" rel="noreferrer noopener">equivalents as of December 31.</a>
The company&#8217;s fourth-quarter sales of $2.89 billion increased 8.7% Y/Y, outpacing the analyst consensus <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43528027/hersheys-stock-pops-as-q4-earnings-beat-expectationsbut-cocoa-prices-loom-over-2025-outlook" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimate of $2.84 billion.</a>
Hershey&#8217;s&nbsp;North America Confectionery segment net sales were&nbsp;$2.354.2 billion, up 6%&nbsp;while the Salty Snacks segment&nbsp;jumped 35.9% to $278.9 million.
The company had warned that a surge in cocoa prices is expected to put significant <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">pressure on 2025 earnings.</a>
Price Action: HSY shares closed higher by 1.76% at $166.83 on Thursday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/04/44631560/servicenow-supercharges-sales-strategy-with-logik-ai-acquisition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ServiceNow Supercharges Sales Strategy With Logik.ai Acquisition</a></li>
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Photo via Shutterstock.

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Hershey Bites Into Better-For-You Snacking With LesserEvil Deal: Details

<a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hershey-nears-750-million-deal-for-lesserevil-popcorn-brand-4ca3d468" title="https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hershey-nears-750-million-deal-for-lesserevil-popcorn-brand-4ca3d468">https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/hershey-nears-750-million-deal-for-lesserevil-popcorn-brand-4ca3d468</a>
&nbsp;

'Hershey Nears $750 Million Deal For LesserEvil Popcorn Brand; The Chocolate Giant Has Been Expanding Its Snack Offerings' - WSJ

DLTR

Shares of consumer staples stocks are trading higher as tariffs uncertainty may be driving a shift towards defensive stocks.

Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander initiates coverage on Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Equal-Weight rating and announces Price Target of $183.

Price Target

Initiation

Morgan Stanley Initiates Coverage On Hershey with Equal-Weight Rating, Announces Price Target of $183

Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. Avista, Hershey, and Virtus Investment Partners have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of up to 5%.
Avista Corporation
Avista Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVA#NYSE">AVA</a>) operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the U.S.
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<li>Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die."<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/warren-buffet-make-money-when-you-sleep"> Here&#8217;s how you can earn passive income with just $100.</a></li>
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Avista has increased its dividends every year for the last 23 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Feb. 12, the company raised the quarterly payout from $0.475 to $0.49 per share, equal to an annual figure of $1.96 per share. The dividend yield on the stock currently stands at 5.05%.&nbsp;
The company&#8217;s annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $1.94 billion. As per its Q4 2024 earnings release on Feb. 26, it posted revenues of $517 million, beating the consensus estimate of $487.48 million, while EPS of $0.84 came in below the consensus of $0.87.
Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.</a>
Hershey
Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) manufactures and sells confectionery products and pantry items in the U.S. and internationally.
Hershey has raised its dividends consecutively for the last 15 years. In its latest dividend hike announcement on Feb. 8, 2024, the company's board increased the quarterly payout from $1.19 to $1.37 per share, equaling an annual figure of $5.48 per share. More recently, in its dividend announcement on Feb. 6, the company maintained the payout at the same level. The dividend yield currently stands at 3.21%.
Hershey&#8217;s annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $11.20 billion. In its most recent earnings report on Feb. 6, the company posted Q4 2024 revenues of $2.89 billion and EPS of $2.69. Both figures came in above the consensus estimates.
Check out this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/short-sellers/25/03/44199977/how-is-the-market-feeling-about-hershey">article by Benzinga</a> to learn how the market is feeling about Hershey.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Virtus Investment Partners
Virtus Investment Partners (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTS#NYSE">VRTS</a>) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to individual and institutional clients.&nbsp;
Virtus has increased its dividends every year for the past seven years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Aug. 15, the board raised its quarterly payout by 18% to $2.25 per share, equal to $9 annually. The current dividend yield on the stock stands at 5.22%.
Virtus&#8217; annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $902.82 million. As per its most recent earnings release on Jan. 31, it posted Q4 2024 revenues of $233.49 million and EPS of $7.50. Both figures came in above the consensus estimates.
Avista, Hershey, and Virtus Investment Partners are good choices for investors seeking reliable passive income. Their dividend yields of up to 5% and long history of consistent hikes make them attractive to income-focused investors.
Check out this <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/03/44278980/why-hp-morgan-stanley-and-brookfield-infrastructure-partners-are-winners-for-passive-income">article by Benzinga</a> for three more stocks offering high dividend yields.&nbsp;
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Why Avista, Hershey, And Virtus Investment Partners Are Winners For Passive Income

Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $125 to $132.

Wells Fargo Maintains Underweight on Hershey, Raises Price Target to $132

Shares of consumer staples stocks are trading lower. The sector may be down amid a rotation into tech stocks on Wednesday. Investors may also be assessing February CPI data, which showed slowing food inflation.

Shares of consumer stocks are trading lower. Weak guidance from Kohl's may causing consumer spending concerns. Additional steel and aluminum tariffs may also increase input costs for some companies.

Shares of consumer staples stocks are trading higher. The sector may be up amid economic uncertainty and US tariffs, which could drive a rotation into defensive stocks.

CALM

Shares of consumer staples stocks are trading higher. Strength in the sector may be due to defensive rotation as investors assess tariff uncertainty and recent economic data.

Hershey's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) short percent of float has risen 11.41% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 7.65 million shares sold short, which is 5.86% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.42 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Hershey Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741372227_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Hershey has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Hershey's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Hershey's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.43%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Hershey?

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Shares of companies within the broader consumer staple sector are trading lower amid overall market uncertainty after President Trump confirmed March 4 tariffs.

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Cocoa Drops As Demand Worries Overshadow Tight Supplies-Bloomberg

Mondelez Exec Says Consumer Will Have To Get Used To Chocolates Becoming 30%, 40%, 50% More Expensive Than They Used To Be

In a presentation today at the 2025 Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference, Michele G. Buck, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Steven E. Voskuil, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>), will review growth strategies and progress in elevating commercial capabilities and optimizing our operating model to deliver long-term shareholder value.
The Company reaffirms its full-year 2025 financial expectations for net sales and earnings per share-diluted previously provided in its February 6, 2025, earnings release.&nbsp;
<figure class="table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2025 Full-Year Outlook</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Total Company</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net sales growth1</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">At least 2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Reported earnings per share growth</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Down high-40% range</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Adjusted earnings per share growth</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Down mid-30% range</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
1&nbsp;The impact of the Sour Strips acquisition is anticipated to be an approximate 30 basis point benefit to net sales growth for the full-year 2025. Additionally, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates is anticipated to be an approximate 30 basis point headwind to net sales growth for the full-year 2025.

Guidance

Hershey Sees FY25 Net Sales Growth Of At Least 2%, Adjusted Earnings Per Share Growth Down Mid-30% Range

Super Bowl LIX aired on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 and the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, ending the Chiefs' attempt to be the first three-peat <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43583513/eagles-fly-over-chiefs-40-22-as-super-bowl-lix-tests-potential-137-million-viewership-for-fox">Super Bowl winners.</a>
The game also featured dozens of commercials advertising products and showcasing new movies and television shows. They also featured many celebrity cameos.
What Happened: Super Bowl LIX commercials were <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43560232/super-bowl-lix-commercials-ai-celebs-muppets-warren-buffett-linked-brand-take-the-spotlight">priced between $7 million and $8 million</a> for a 30-second slot by Fox Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOX#NASDAQ">FOX</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>), which had the media rights to the game.
Fox was able to secure $8 million or more for some last-second advertising inventory ahead of Sunday's game.
This author tracked all the commercials, from the singing of the National Anthem to the final round of ads after the Eagles won the Super Bowl. View the 2024 and 2023 Super Bowl commercials <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/24/02/37076429/super-bowl-commercials-2024-complete-list-of-super-bowl-lviii-ads-and-companies-behind-them">here </a>and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/02/30883140/super-bowl-commercials-2023-the-complete-list-of-super-bowl-lvii-ads-and-the-companies-behi">here</a>. 
The tweet below shows the Super Bowl LIX commercial tracking in real time during the big game.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Super Bowl LIX Commercial Thread. Feel free to retweet. After National Anthem: Misson: Impossible The Final Reckoning Trailer <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24PARA&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$PARA</a> Sketches <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SKX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SKX</a> TurboTax <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24INTU&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$INTU</a> NASCAR on Fox <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24FOX&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$FOX</a> After Con Toss: Lilo &amp; Stitch Live Action Spot <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DIS&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DIS</a> YouTubeTV <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24GOOG&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$GOOG</a>
&mdash; Chris Katje (@chriskatje) <a href="https://twitter.com/chriskatje/status/1888740049883173010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Here&#8217;s a list of the Super Bowl LIX commercials and the companies behind them.
After National Anthem:
<ul>
<li>"Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning" Trailer, Paramount (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>)(NASDA:PARAA)</li>
<li>Skechers (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SKX#NYSE">SKX</a>)</li>
<li>TurboTax, brand of Intuit Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTU#NASDAQ">INTU</a>)</li>
<li>NASCAR on Fox</li>
</ul>
After Coin Toss:
<ul>
<li>Lilo &amp; Stitch live action movie teaser for Disney (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>)</li>
<li>YouTube TV, brand of Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>)</li>
</ul>
After Kickoff, During First Quarter:
<ul>
<li>Dunkin'</li>
<li>"How to Train Your Dragon" live action movie trailer, Comcast (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>)</li>
<li>Pfizer Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>)</li>
<li>"Thunderbolts" trailer, Marvel film from Disney</li>
<li>MSC Cruises</li>
<li>Little Caesars</li>
<li>Fox News</li>
<li>T-Mobile (NASDA:TMUS) with Starlink</li>
<li>Homes.com, brand of CoStar Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSGP#NASDAQ">CSGP</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) with Ray-Ban</li>
<li>IndyCar racing on Fox</li>
<li>Doritos, brand of PepsiCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>)</li>
<li>Cirkul</li>
<li>Michelob Ultra, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>)</li>
</ul>
After End of First Quarter, During Second Quarter:
<ul>
<li>Disney+ and Hulu streaming platforms</li>
<li>Ritz, brand of Mondelez International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDLZ#NASDAQ">MDLZ</a>)</li>
<li>Red Bull</li>
<li>Squarespace</li>
<li>"The Floor" on Fox</li>
<li>Local Ad</li>
<li>Mountain Dew Baja Blast, brand of PepsiCo</li>
<li>Instacart, brand of Maplebear (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>)</li>
<li>Coors Light, brand of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TAP#NYSE">TAP</a>)</li>
<li>Stand Up to Hate</li>
<li>FanDuel Kick of Destiny challenge, brand of Flutter Entertainment (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FLUT#NYSE">FLUT</a>)</li>
<li>"Extracted" on Fox</li>
<li>Uber Eats, brand of Uber Technologies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>)</li>
<li>WeatherTech</li>
<li>TurboTax, brand of Intuit</li>
<li>NASCAR on Fox</li>
<li>Google Pixel phone with Gemini AI</li>
<li>UFL on Fox</li>
<li>Rocket Companies (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>)</li>
<li>He Gets Us</li>
<li>Liquid Death</li>
<li>HexClad</li>
<li>Duracell, brand of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</li>
<li>OpenAI</li>
<li>CoffeeMate, brand of Nestle (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSRGY#OTC">NSRGY</a>)</li>
<li>NFL youth organizations</li>
<li>Ram Truck, brand of Stellantis (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLA#NYSE">STLA</a>)</li>
<li>Hellmann's, brand of Unilever (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UL#NYSE">UL</a>)</li>
<li>Pringles, brand of Kellanova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/K#NYSE">K</a>)</li>
<li>Budweiser, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev</li>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>)</li>
<li>NYU Langone Health</li>
<li>Novartis Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>)</li>
</ul>
After End of Second Quarter, During Halftime, During Third Quarter:
<ul>
<li>IndyCar on Fox</li>
<li>MyFitnessPal</li>
<li>Yahoo!, brand of Apollo Global (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) and Verizon Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</li>
<li>Southwest Airlines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>)</li>
<li>Jewel-Osco, brand of Albertsons (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACI#NYSE">ACI</a>)</li>
<li>Bayer Aspirin</li>
<li>"The Masked Singer" on Fox</li>
<li>Fox Nation streaming platform</li>
<li>On Holding (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ONON#NYSE">ONON</a>)</li>
<li>Angel Soft, brand of Georgia-Pacific</li>
<li>Reese's Lava Cup, brand of The Hershey Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>)</li>
<li>NFL ad</li>
<li>Tubi streaming platform, brand of Fox</li>
<li>Fox shows</li>
<li>Local ad</li>
<li>Local ad</li>
<li>Salesforce Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>)</li>
<li>DoorDash Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>)</li>
<li>Meta Platforms</li>
<li>Stand Up to Hate</li>
<li>Nerds</li>
<li>Lay's, brand of PepsiCo</li>
<li>"M3gan 2.0" trailer, distributed by Comcast</li>
<li>Taco Bell, brand of Yum! Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/YUM#NYSE">YUM</a>)</li>
<li>Nerdwallet</li>
<li>Häagen-Dazs</li>
<li>Tubi</li>
<li>Fox Nation</li>
<li>Bud Light, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev</li>
<li>Hims &amp; Hers Health Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>)</li>
<li>Poppi</li>
<li>TV shows on Fox</li>
</ul>
After End of Third Quarter, During Fourth Quarter:
<ul>
<li>Salesforce Inc</li>
<li>Ramp</li>
<li>Tullamore Dew whiskey</li>
<li>Toyota (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>)</li>
<li>Sandals Resorts</li>
<li>Local Ad</li>
<li>Jeep, brand of Stellantis</li>
<li>Tubi streaming platform</li>
<li>Fox News</li>
<li>Stella Artois, brand of Anheuser-Busch InBev</li>
<li>Dove, brand of Unilever</li>
<li>Booking.com (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>)</li>
<li>UFL on Fox</li>
<li>Bosch</li>
<li>Totino's Pizza Rolls, brand of General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>)</li>
<li>GoDaddy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GDDY#NYSE">GDDY</a>)</li>
<li>Fetch</li>
<li>TV shows on Fox</li>
</ul>
End of Game, Eagles win 40-22, Final Ad Spot After Game:
<ul>
<li>Progressive (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>)</li>
<li>Adidas (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADDYY#OTC">ADDYY</a>)</li>
<li>Cirkul</li>
<li>Vrbo, brand of Expedia Group (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXPE#NASDAQ">EXPE</a>)</li>
<li>Universal Resorts</li>
<li>Energy Transfer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ET#NYSE">ET</a>)</li>
</ul>
The list includes all the Super Bowl LIX commercials that aired from the playing of the national anthem to the first ad break after the Eagles won.
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/sports/25/02/43578857/if-you-invested-in-bitcoin-instead-of-buying-super-bowl-tickets-each-year-since-2012-heres-how-much-youd-have-today"> If You Invested in Bitcoin Instead of Buying Super Bowl Tickets Each Year Since 2012, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Today</a>
Winners and Losers: While everyone will have their own favorites and ads they wish they'd never seen, here's a look at some of the winners and losers.
USA Today asks consumers to <a href="https://admeter.usatoday.com/2025">vote </a>on their favorite Super Bowl commercials each year via the Ad Meter.
Here are the top 10 highest rated ads as of Monday morning:
<ol>
<li>Budweiser – "First Delivery"</li>
<li>Lay's – "The Little Farmer"</li>
<li>Michelob Ultra – "The ULTRA Hustle"</li>
<li>Stella Artois – "David and Dave</li>
<li>NFL – "Somebody"</li>
<li>NFL – "Flag 50"</li>
<li>Bud Light – "Big Men on Cul-De-Sac"</li>
<li>Uber Eats – "Century of Cravings"</li>
<li>Hellmann's – "When Sally Met Hellmann's"</li>
<li>Pfizer – "Knock Out"</li>
</ol>
Here are the 10 lowest rated ads as of Monday morning:
<ol>
<li>Tubi – "The Z Suite"</li>
<li>Fetch – "The Big Reward"</li>
<li>CoffeeMate – "Foam Diva"</li>
<li>Cirkul – "You Got Cirkul"</li>
<li>OpenAI – "ChatGPT: The Intelligence Age"</li>
<li>Squarespace – "A Tale As Old As Websites"</li>
<li>T-Mobile – "A New Era in Connectivity"</li>
<li>DoorDash – "DashPass Math"</li>
<li>Hims &amp; Hers – "Sick of the System"</li>
<li>GoDaddy – "Act Like You Know"</li>
</ol>
The list of winners shows that Anheuser-Busch InBev continues the tradition of unforgettable Super Bowl beer ads once again, taking four places on the top 10 list.
The list of losers shows that companies like CoffeeMate and Hims &amp; Hers, which had their first ever Super Bowl commercials may not have hit the mark with consumers watching.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="EXCLUSIVE: Is Super Bowl $7M Ad Cost Worth It? 61% Say No, 18% Say They Looked Up Companies After Last Year's NFL Championship">EXCLUSIVE: Is Super Bowl $7M Ad Cost Worth It? 61% Say No, 18% Say They Looked Up Companies After Last Year&#8217;s NFL Championship</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Super Bowl Commercials 2025: Complete List of Super Bowl LIX Ads And Companies Behind Them

Barclays analyst Andrew Lazar maintains Hershey (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HSY#NYSE">HSY</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $170 to $160.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on Hershey, Lowers Price Target to $160

Entertainment

Press Releases

Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies Named Official Gummy Of March Madness

Ready, Set, Egg! Reese's and Cadbury Partner with Jasmine Roth to Kick Off a Fun New Easter Tradition

The Collab You Didn't Know You Needed: New HERSHEY'S KISSES Cinnamon Toast Crunch™ Flavored Candies Hit Shelves Nationwide

Reese's Brand Pranked Fans on April Fool's--Now They're Revealing the Real Treat: PB&J Big Cups

Hershey to Webcast First-Quarter Conference Call

The Hershey Company Announces Intent to Acquire LesserEvil

KIT KAT® Brand is Here to Protect Your Break in New Ad Campaign

Hershey and Dandelion Media to Unwrap Founder's Story in Upcoming Major Motion Picture HERSHEY, Set for 2026 Release

Reese's Brand Did It Again - Meet Your New Favorite Snack, Reese's Filled Pretzels

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