1 Stat That Makes Hershey Stock Hard to Ignore Heading Into Fall
As cocoa prices continue to rebound, Hershey is confident it can keep consumers buying chocolate.
Overview
The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is heading into the autumn months with the tailwinds of pricing power and seasonal demand. The one stat that makes the company hard to ignore right now is its revenue growth relative to cocoa costs, which have increased by more than 120% in the past six months.
One might think a triple-digit rise in the cost of a core ingredient would hurt business, but the company's second-quarter earnings showed net sales up 6.6% year over year. Adjusted earnings per share in Q2 rose a whopping 57% in the same time period. This demonstrates Hershey's brand strength and its ability to price products without scaring off customers.
Details
Hershey's research found that 82% of parents are likely to purchase chocolate in October, and intend to buy gummies and sour candy even earlier in the season. In response, management is planning a "Hersheyween," which runs from the end of the summer into the fourth quarter. The promotion is Hershey's largest-ever Halloween lineup.
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.