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The Hershey Company vs The Kroger Co.: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with The Hershey Company carrying a narrow edge on stability. The Kroger Co still has the edge on stability, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is mixed, without a decisive signal in either direction. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

Stability points more clearly toward The Kroger Co., even if the broader score still leans toward The Hershey Company.

Trajectory Similarity
0.76
Similar
Peer-set rank: #5
within The Hershey Company's functional peer set

These two companies are linked by measured long-term financial trajectory similarity within the selected peer universe.

A solid similarity means the pair shares a clearly comparable long-term financial profile, even if individual dimensions still differ.

The clearest structural overlap shows up in revenue stability and investment intensity.

Similarity drivers
revenue stabilityinvestment intensity
How to read the score
0.85–1.00 · Very similar0.70–0.84 · Similar0.55–0.69 · Moderately similarbelow 0.55 · Loose match
Peer-Relative Score
HSY
The Hershey Company
50
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium
vs
KR
The Kroger Co.
49
Peer-Score
Signal qualityMedium

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in stability.

Dimension spread: HSY vs KR Profitability 55 47 Stability 65 77 Valuation 36 38 Growth 48 41 HSY KR
Gap Ranking
#1 Stability +12
#2 Profitability +8
#3 Growth +7
#4 Valuation +2
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for HSY and KR Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer HSYKR Relative valuation Structural strength

The setup remains mixed because the stronger profile and the more supportive price setup do not sit on the same side.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Stability
Both are strong on stability, but The Hershey Company still ranks higher.
Profitability
On profitability, the same pattern holds: both rank well, but The Hershey Company still sits higher.
Stability — Dominant Gap
HSY
65
KR
77
Gap+12in favour of KR

The stability gap is visible, with the stronger side looking materially steadier through time.

What else supports the lead

Profitability adds some additional support to the lead, with a 11.2-point operating margin advantage.

What this means for the comparison

Stability points one way, even though the overall score still points the other way.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the HSY vs KR comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

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Other close comparisons

Explore how HSY and KR each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.