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Hershey Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 10.6%: Net sales were $3,104.2 million, up 10.6% from the first quarter of 2025. Organic constant-currency growth was 7.9%. LesserEvil added 2.0 points and foreign exchange added 0.7 points. Source
  • Reported net income and EPS rose: Reported net income was $435.1 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, up 93.6%. The prior-year period carried $211.5 million of derivative mark-to-market losses, against $30.2 million this year. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 12.4%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.35, up from $2.09. Adjusted operating profit was $686.5 million, up 12.9%, with a 22.1% margin, 40 basis points higher. Source
  • Confectionery segment income rose 13.8%: Segment income was $792.4 million, up 13.8%. Supply chain productivity and transformation savings helped, partly offset by higher commodity and tariff costs. Source
  • Salty Snacks segment income fell 18.1%: Segment income was $34.3 million, down 18.1%, and segment margin was 9.8%, down 530 basis points. Higher supply chain and consumer marketing costs offset gains from volume and productivity. Source
  • International segment income fell 46.8%: Segment income was $15.3 million, down $13.4 million, and segment margin fell 680 basis points to 5.8%. Commodity and manufacturing costs and higher advertising outweighed sales and price gains. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin fell 80 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 40.4%, down from 41.2%. Commodity and tariff costs were partly offset by price, supply chain productivity and transformation savings. Source

“We kicked off the year strong and are on track to hit our financial targets for 2026.”

Kirk Tanner, The Hershey Company President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth Source2026 full year4% to 5%Kept
Organic net sales growth Source2026 full year2.5% to 3.5%Kept
Reported EPS growth Source2026 full year79% to 89%Kept
Adjusted EPS growth Source2026 full year30% to 35%Kept
Effective tax rate Source2026approximately 25% to 27%
Other expense Source2026$15 million to $20 million
Interest expense Source2026$200 million to $210 million
Capital expenditures Source2026$425 million to $475 million
Advancing Agility & Automation Initiative savings Source2026approximately $100 million
Reported EPS, diluted (projected) Source2026 full year$7.77 - $8.19
Adjusted EPS, diluted (projected) Source2026 full year$8.20 - $8.52

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The March 31, 2026 Investor Day introduced the One Hershey commercial model, with one team going to market across sweet, salty and functional snacking.

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 10.6%: Net sales were $3,104.2 million, up 10.6% from the first quarter of 2025. Organic constant-currency growth was 7.9%. LesserEvil added 2.0 points and foreign exchange added 0.7 points. Source
  • Organic growth led by price: Organic constant-currency sales rose 7.9%, with net price realization adding about 10 points. Volume subtracted about 2 points, as noted in the segment and demand sections. Source
  • Reported net income and EPS rose: Reported net income was $435.1 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, up 93.6%. The prior-year period carried $211.5 million of derivative mark-to-market losses, against $30.2 million this year. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 12.4%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.35, up from $2.09. Adjusted operating profit was $686.5 million, up 12.9%, with a 22.1% margin, 40 basis points higher. Source
  • Operating profit rose on lower derivative losses: Reported operating profit was $640.7 million, up 73.5%, with a 20.6% margin. Higher sales, price and lower derivative losses more than offset commodity, tariff and advertising costs. Source
  • Comparability items were $45.8 million: Items positively affecting comparability totaled $45.8 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, against $238.9 million, or $0.99, in the first quarter of 2025. Source

Segments and regions

  • Confectionery sales rose 8.3%: Sales were $2,489.9 million, up 8.3%, with organic growth of 8.0% from about 12 points of price. Volume fell about 4 points on elasticity and one fewer shipping day. Source
  • Confectionery segment income rose 13.8%: Segment income was $792.4 million, up 13.8%. Supply chain productivity and transformation savings helped, partly offset by higher commodity and tariff costs. Source
  • Salty Snacks sales rose 26.0%: Segment sales were $350.1 million, up 26.0%. LesserEvil added about 20 points. Organic constant-currency growth was 5.6%, with net price realization roughly flat. Source
  • Salty Snacks segment income fell 18.1%: Segment income was $34.3 million, down 18.1%, and segment margin was 9.8%, down 530 basis points. Higher supply chain and consumer marketing costs offset gains from volume and productivity. Source
  • International sales rose 16.1%: Sales were $264.2 million, up 16.1%, with organic growth of 9.3%. Price added about 12 points and volume fell about 2%, with continued performance in Brazil. Source
  • International segment income fell 46.8%: Segment income was $15.3 million, down $13.4 million, and segment margin fell 680 basis points to 5.8%. Commodity and manufacturing costs and higher advertising outweighed sales and price gains. Source

“We are laser-focused on fueling core growth and making bold moves in brand investment, innovation, R&D, technology, and talent to drive our business to new heights”

Kirk Tanner, The Hershey Company President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Candy, mint and gum share declined: Hershey's CMG share fell versus the prior year. Management cited more marketplace competition and the timing of major innovation and merchandising programs. Source
  • Salty snack share gains continued: Salty Snacks volume rose by over 5 points on innovation and velocity gains. The company reports further gains in salty snack market share. Source
  • Private label sales reduced as planned: Salty Snacks organic sales trailed retail takeaway because of a planned reduction in sales to private label customers. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Reported gross margin rose 570 basis points: Reported gross margin was 39.4%, up from 33.7%. Price, lower derivative losses and supply chain savings more than offset higher commodity and tariff costs. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin fell 80 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 40.4%, down from 41.2%. Commodity and tariff costs were partly offset by price, supply chain productivity and transformation savings. Source
  • Selling and admin expense rose 3.1%: Selling, marketing and administrative expense rose 3.1%. Excluding advertising, it rose 1.8% on capability and technology investment, partly offset by lower consulting fees and compensation. Source
  • Advertising spend rose 5.8%: Advertising and consumer marketing rose 5.8%, with double-digit increases in North America Salty Snacks and International. Source
  • Unallocated corporate expense fell 2.1%: Unallocated corporate expense was $155.4 million, down $3.4 million. Lower consulting fees and compensation more than offset continued capability and technology investment. Source
  • Tax rate moved in opposite directions: Reported effective tax rate was 26.6%, down 410 basis points, on foreign rate differentials on commodity hedges. Adjusted rate was 25.0%, up 60 basis points, on state taxes and income mix. Source

Demand and volume

  • Volume fell on price elasticity: Consolidated volume declined about 2 points on elasticity in North America Confectionery and International, partly offset by favorable shipment timing. Source
  • Shipment timing offset part of volume: Favorable timing of shipments in North America Confectionery and International partly offset the volume declines in the quarter. Source
  • Consumer demand held despite higher prices: Candy, mint and gum retail takeaway rose over 12 weeks in MULO+ with Convenience. Management said consumer demand held despite higher marketplace prices. Source

Capital, cash and balance sheet

  • Cash balance declined from year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $877.0 million at March 29, 2026, down from $925.9 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Trade receivables rose from year-end: Trade receivables, net were $974.6 million, up from $729.5 million at December 31, 2025. Inventories were $1,429.1 million, little changed. Source
  • Debt balances at quarter end: Short-term debt was $169.5 million, current portion of long-term debt was $504.1 million, and long-term debt was $4,684.4 million. Source
  • Interest expense and equity rose: Interest expense, net was $49.8 million, up from $44.6 million. Total stockholders’ equity was $4,733.8 million, up from $4,636.8 million at year-end. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Investor Day set out margin path: The Investor Day said the executive leadership team would lay out a path to restoring margin and earnings and sustaining balanced growth.
  • LesserEvil and Sour Strips integration costs: Acquisition and integration-related costs were $2.3 million. LesserEvil integration costs sit in North America Salty Snacks, and Sour Strips integration costs sit in North America Confectionery. Source
  • Automation program drove realignment costs: Business realignment costs were $13.4 million, mainly severance and employee benefit costs under the Advancing Agility & Automation Initiative. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Live investor Q&A today: Management will hold a live question and answer session with investors and analysts at 8:30 a.m. Eastern on April 30, 2026, after a pre-recorded discussion posted about 7:00 a.m. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Candy, mint and gum retail takeaway, 12 weeks, MULO+ w/ Convenience Source+8.1%
Salty snacks retail takeaway excluding LesserEvil, 12 weeks, MULO+ w/ Convenience Source+9.8%
Non-seasonal retail sales lift, Hershey's Source11%
Non-seasonal retail sales lift, Reese's Source10%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Salty Snacks supply chain costs rose partly because of a voluntary temporary product withdrawal. Source
  • Regulatory: Commodity and tariff-related costs rose, and price and productivity only partly offset them. Source
  • Demand: Price increases drove elasticity and lower volume in North America Confectionery and International. Source
  • Demand: Marketplace competition and timing of major innovation programs reduced Hershey's CMG share. Source
  • Financial: Mark-to-market gains and losses on commodity derivatives are excluded from projected adjusted EPS because the market impact cannot be forecast. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management states the company is on track for its 2026 financial targets. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.