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HSYThe Hershey CompanyBuy Wait5.7·$179.25-2.88%
HSY · Why this verdict

Why The Hershey (HSY) is rated BUY WAIT

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictBUY WAIT
Overall score5.7/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

5.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E3.8
P/S8.2
EV/EBITDA0.8
Fwd P/E6.8
PEG6.7
Analyst target6.0
  • Forward P/E: 18.6x
  • PEG: 1.07

Quality

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE7.7
ROA5.2
Gross margin3.0
Op margin8.5
Net margin4.6
Current ratio4.7
FCF quality9.7
Moat6.8
Piotroski F7.8
  • Excellent cash conversion: 140% FCF/NI
  • Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

7.6/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth5.2
EPS growth10.0

Momentum

1.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI3.5
MACD0.0
OBV1.0
MA position2.2
Volume0.0
  • Volume distribution (falling OBV)
  • Below 200-MA but MA still rising (+1.1%/30d) — pullback in uptrend, not confirmed weakness

Sentiment

7.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating7.5
Price target7.8
erm sentiment6.0
  • Analyst upside: 21%

Insider

3.4/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality3.0
insider conviction2.0
holder change5.1
  • Notable insider selling — $105,686,996 (0.282% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

4.6/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank1.7
quality rank5.0
growth rank6.7

Technical

8.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger10.0
support resistance9.5
52w position5.1

Risk (lower is worse)

6.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest5.9
days to cover5.4
volatility4.3
put call9.8
implied vol6.2
max pain risk3.0
beta10.0
debt equity4.6
  • Above max pain $130
  • Concentration risks: 1 HIGH (10-K Item 1A — sized via position_sizing, validated via buy_confidence)

Catalyst

7.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm6.5
earnings history10.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0
dividend safety5.2
  • Perfect beat streak: 4Q
  • Dividend: 315.0%

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Maintain position. Not compelling to add more. | News modifier +1 (HOLD_IF_HOLDING → STRONG_BUY_WAIT).

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_HOLD|L3:NEWS_MOD=+1|ENTRY_STICKY:WITHIN_BAND
Passed (5)
  • INSIDER:OK
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:52d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • MOMENTUM:1.3<4.5
  • ASYMMETRY:1.4<1.5@spot
Warning (1)
  • 8K_CSUITE_CHANGE:5.02 (officer departure/appointment)
Reward-to-Risk
1.41
Upside
+9.3%
Downside
6.6%
Sizing output
STARTER

SetupUNKNOWN No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityMODERATE Balanced profile

Investment implication

None of the engine's positive-conviction paths (C-quality, D-momentum) triggered — the F-path HOLD reflects balanced signals. Strongest-cleared gate: INSIDER:OK. Top dim: Technical at 8.2; weakest: Momentum at 1.3. No conviction either direction.

The strongest dimensions are Technical at 8.2, Growth at 7.6, and Catalyst at 7.3; the weakest are Momentum at 1.3, Insider at 3.4, and Peer rank at 4.6. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 1.41 and an engine sizing output of STARTER.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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