HSY vs. MSFT
HSY (The Hershey Company) and MSFT (Microsoft Corporation) are both stocks. HSY operates in Confectioners (Consumer Defensive), while MSFT operates in Software - Infrastructure (Technology). Over the past 10 years, HSY returned 8.77%/yr vs 24.64%/yr for MSFT. At a 0.22 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
HSY vs. MSFT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, HSY achieves a -1.96% return, which is significantly higher than MSFT's -14.48% return. Over the past 10 years, HSY has underperformed MSFT with an annualized return of 8.77%, while MSFT has yielded a comparatively higher 24.64% annualized return.
HSY
- 1D
- -4.70%
- 1M
- -4.67%
- YTD
- -1.96%
- 6M
- -1.31%
- 1Y
- 12.00%
- 3Y*
- -9.14%
- 5Y*
- 2.85%
- 10Y*
- 8.77%
MSFT
- 1D
- -1.18%
- 1M
- -0.60%
- YTD
- -14.48%
- 6M
- -15.77%
- 1Y
- -11.77%
- 3Y*
- 8.85%
- 5Y*
- 11.09%
- 10Y*
- 24.64%
HSY vs. MSFT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSY The Hershey Company | -1.96% | 10.98% | -6.51% | -17.88% | 21.86% | 29.58% | 5.90% | 40.20% | -2.92% | 12.33% |
MSFT Microsoft Corporation | -14.48% | 15.58% | 12.93% | 58.19% | -28.02% | 52.48% | 42.53% | 57.56% | 20.80% | 40.73% |
Correlation
The correlation between HSY and MSFT is -0.12, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.06 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 14, 1986 | 0.22 |
The correlation between HSY and MSFT shifts across timeframes, from -0.12 (1 year) to 0.22 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
HSY:
$35.93B
MSFT:
$3.07T
HSY:
$5.38
MSFT:
$16.79
HSY:
32.72
MSFT:
24.52
HSY:
2.99
MSFT:
9.65
HSY:
7.59
MSFT:
7.40
HSY:
$11.99B
MSFT:
$318.27B
HSY:
$4.17B
MSFT:
$217.41B
HSY:
$2.04B
MSFT:
$200.96B
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Return for Risk
HSY vs. MSFT — Risk / Return Rank
HSY
MSFT
HSY vs. MSFT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for The Hershey Company (HSY) and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| HSY | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.90 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.31 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.10 | 0.94 | +0.16 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.48 | -0.35 | +0.83 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.26 | -0.73 | +1.99 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| HSY | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.44 | -0.47 | +0.90 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.13 | 0.42 | -0.29 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 | 0.91 | -0.54 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.49 | 0.74 | -0.25 |
Drawdowns
HSY vs. MSFT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HSY drawdown since its inception was -49.15%, smaller than the maximum MSFT drawdown of -69.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HSY and MSFT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| HSY | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -49.15% | -69.38% | +20.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -24.98% | -33.91% | +8.93% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -42.23% | -33.91% | -8.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -45.25% | -37.15% | -8.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.25% | -37.15% | -8.10% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -30.30% | -23.56% | -6.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.10% | -21.78% | +8.68% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.54% | 16.13% | -6.59% |
Volatility
HSY vs. MSFT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for The Hershey Company (HSY) is 9.70%, while Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) has a volatility of 10.25%. This indicates that HSY experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MSFT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| HSY | MSFT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.70% | 10.25% | -0.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 19.99% | 22.36% | -2.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 27.64% | 25.31% | +2.33% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.75% | 26.64% | -3.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.44% | 27.06% | -3.62% |
Dividends
HSY vs. MSFT - Dividend Comparison
HSY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.21%, more than MSFT's 0.86% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSY The Hershey Company | 3.21% | 3.01% | 3.24% | 2.39% | 1.67% | 1.76% | 2.07% | 2.03% | 2.57% | 2.24% | 2.32% | 2.50% |
MSFT Microsoft Corporation | 0.86% | 0.70% | 0.73% | 0.74% | 1.06% | 0.68% | 0.94% | 1.20% | 1.69% | 1.86% | 2.37% | 2.33% |
Financials
HSY vs. MSFT - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between The Hershey Company and Microsoft Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
HSY vs. MSFT - Profitability Comparison
HSY - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Hershey Company reported a gross profit of 1.22B and revenue of 3.10B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 39.4%.
MSFT - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Microsoft Corporation reported a gross profit of 56.06B and revenue of 82.89B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 67.6%.
HSY - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Hershey Company reported an operating income of 640.69M and revenue of 3.10B, resulting in an operating margin of 20.6%.
MSFT - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Microsoft Corporation reported an operating income of 38.40B and revenue of 82.89B, resulting in an operating margin of 46.3%.
HSY - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, The Hershey Company reported a net income of 435.11M and revenue of 3.10B, resulting in a net margin of 14.0%.
MSFT - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Microsoft Corporation reported a net income of 31.78B and revenue of 82.89B, resulting in a net margin of 38.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions
HSY and MSFT have a correlation of -0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MSFT has higher volatility (10.25%) compared to HSY (9.70%). In terms of maximum drawdown, HSY dropped -49.15% vs MSFT's -69.38%.
HSY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.44 vs -0.47), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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