Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) released its earnings report for the three months through June 30 this morning before the market opened on Wall Street. The company showed that it earned $0.72 per share in the three months period. Revenue in the second quarter of the year came to $1.51. In trading on Wednesday, stock in Hershey lost some value and finished the day at $92.77.
According to a consensus estimate of analysts following Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY), this morning’s earnings were expected to come in at 71 cents per share. Revenue for the three month period covered in the release was expected to total $1.5 billion. In the same quarter of 2012 Hershey earned 66 cents per share on revenue totaling $14 billion.
Hershey Co heading skyward
For a company normally added to a portfolio as a healthy dividend earner with some growth prospects, Hershey Co has had a brilliant 2013 on the market. The firm’s stock has increased by more than 23% so far in 2013. The firm’s shares are up more than 165% in the last five years of trading, though most of that growth came since 2010. Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) growth appears to be accelerating.
Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) stock passed its previous all time high price late last year, and has continued to rise. Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) holds a massive stable of chocolate brands in North America, and it’s unlikely that demand for chocolate will disappear any time soon. The market appears to be looking for an increase in that demand if anything.
Hershey Co trades at about 30 times 2012 earnings, meaning that a certain amount of earnings growth is needed to sustain its share price. The company is expected to earn $3.65 per share this year, and $4.03 per share in 2014. The company earned $3.24 in 2012.
Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) executives will host a conference call at 8:30 am this morning to discuss this earnings report with analysts and investors.
