Hershey (HSY) vs John B. Sanfilippo & Son (JBSS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
John B. Sanfilippo & Son (JBSS) has outperformed Hershey (HSY) over the past year, gaining 9.7% versus a loss of 16.9%. Over five years, HSY leads with a -9.5% price change compared with -18.3% for JBSS. Hershey is the larger company by market cap ($32.66 billion vs $799.7 million), about 40.8 times the size.
On valuation, John B. Sanfilippo & Son trades at a lower forward P/E (14.4x vs 16.5x for Hershey). Hershey offers the higher dividend yield (3.47% vs 1.39%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | HSY | JBSS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $162.54 | $68.39 |
| Market cap | $32.66B | $799.72M |
| 1-day change | +1.37% | +0.65% |
| YTD return | -10.68% | -3.13% |
| 1-year return | -16.88% | +9.74% |
| 5-year return | -9.50% | -18.31% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 22.20 | 13.00 |
| Forward P/E | 16.49 | 14.37 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.32 | $5.26 |
| Dividend yield | 3.47% | 1.39% |
| Annual dividend | $5.64 | $0.95 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $11.69B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +4.38% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $883.26M | — |
| Gross margin | 33.55% | — |
| Operating margin | 12.33% | — |
| Net margin | 7.55% | — |
| 52-week high | $239.48 | $92.08 |
| 52-week low | $156.16 | $59.07 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.13% | -25.73% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.98% | +46.22% |
| Average volume | 1.45M | 136.18K |
| Shares outstanding | 146.31M | 9.10M |
| Employees | 17,550 | 1,770 |
| Sector | Consumer Defensive | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Confectioners | Specialty Foods |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Hershey is about 40.8 times larger than John B. Sanfilippo & Son by market value ($32.66B vs $799.72M).
- JBSS has outperformed HSY by 26.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Hershey trades at a higher earnings multiple (22.2x vs 13.0x trailing P/E).
- Hershey offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.47% vs 1.39%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Hershey in Consumer Defensive and John B. Sanfilippo & Son in Consumer Staples.
About Hershey
HSY stock →The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International.
Consumer Defensive · Confectioners · 17,550 employees
About John B. Sanfilippo & Son
JBSS stock →John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., through its subsidiary, JBSS Ventures, LLC, engages in the process and distribution of tree nuts and peanuts in the United States.
Consumer Staples · Specialty Foods · 1,770 employees
HSY vs JBSS FAQ
Which is bigger, Hershey or John B. Sanfilippo & Son?
Hershey (HSY) is larger, with a market capitalization of $32.66B compared with $799.72M for John B. Sanfilippo & Son (JBSS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HSY or JBSS?
JBSS returned +9.74% over the past 12 months, compared with -16.88% for HSY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HSY or JBSS?
JBSS has the lower trailing P/E at 13.0, versus 22.2 for HSY. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Hershey or John B. Sanfilippo & Son?
Hershey has the higher yield at 3.47%, compared with 1.39% for John B. Sanfilippo & Son.
Are Hershey and John B. Sanfilippo & Son in the same industry?
No. Hershey is in the Consumer Defensive sector, while John B. Sanfilippo & Son is in Consumer Staples.