Hershey Resumes Dividend Growth After Nearly Two-Year Freeze
After nearly two years of holding its quarterly dividend flat at $1.37 per share, Hershey (NYSE:HSY) resumed growth in February 2026 by increasing the payout to $1.452 per share. This increase has been maintained through three consecutive quarters as of September 2026. The freeze was a signal that management had limited cash flow flexibility due to financial pressures, including record cocoa costs and tariff expenses which contributed to a sharp decline in full-year net income from $2.22 billion in 2024 to $883 million in 2025. However, the resumption of dividend growth reflects improved performance in early 2026 with Q1 adjusted EPS reaching $2.35 and guidance for a strong recovery ahead. Looking forward, Hershey is projecting full-year 2026 adjusted EPS between $8.36 to $8.52 — representing 32% to 35% growth from the prior year — which supports renewed confidence in its financial outlook.
Tickers: $HSY