The Hershey Company is due to report third-quarter earnings on October 29, a quarter that includes much of its Halloween shipments, so results will likely reflect consumers' reaction to candy prices. In the second quarter, net sales rose 6.6% to $2.79 billion and adjusted EPS jumped 57% to $1.90, driven mainly by price increases and lower cocoa costs, though volume fell about 8%. Hershey raised its 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $8.36–$8.52, while the author flags risks from weaker volumes, tariffs and El Niño's possible impact on cocoa. Shares have fallen about 12% over the past year and trade at a forward P/E near 17, and the author sees the stock as fairly priced and is cautiously bullish.
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