KMB vs. HSY
KMB (Kimberly-Clark Corporation) and HSY (The Hershey Company) are both stocks. Both are in the Consumer Defensive sector — KMB in Household & Personal Products, HSY in Confectioners. Over the past 10 years, KMB returned 1.33%/yr vs 7.03%/yr for HSY. At a 0.36 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
KMB vs. HSY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, KMB achieves a 9.91% return, which is significantly higher than HSY's -4.90% return. Over the past 10 years, KMB has underperformed HSY with an annualized return of 1.33%, while HSY has yielded a comparatively higher 7.03% annualized return.
KMB
- 1D
- -0.40%
- 1M
- 5.35%
- 6M
- 9.27%
- YTD
- 9.91%
- 1Y
- -10.55%
- 3Y*
- -3.84%
- 5Y*
- -0.62%
- 10Y*
- 1.33%
- ALL TIME*
- 10.88%
HSY
- 1D
- -0.62%
- 1M
- -1.16%
- 6M
- -12.97%
- YTD
- -4.90%
- 1Y
- -0.57%
- 3Y*
- -8.96%
- 5Y*
- 1.76%
- 10Y*
- 7.03%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.99%
KMB vs. HSY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KMB Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 9.91% | -19.86% | 11.79% | -7.08% | -1.58% | 9.66% | 0.95% | 24.57% | -2.06% | 9.04% |
HSY The Hershey Company | -4.90% | 10.98% | -6.51% | -17.88% | 21.86% | 29.58% | 5.90% | 40.20% | -2.92% | 12.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between KMB and HSY is 0.38, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.38 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 1, 1985 | 0.36 |
The correlation between KMB and HSY shifts across timeframes, from 0.36 (all time) to 0.47 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
KMB:
$35.87B
HSY:
$34.61B
KMB:
$5.93
HSY:
$5.37
KMB:
18.23
HSY:
31.76
KMB:
2.18
HSY:
2.90
KMB:
20.05
HSY:
7.36
KMB:
$16.54B
HSY:
$11.99B
KMB:
$5.93B
HSY:
$4.17B
KMB:
$3.07B
HSY:
$2.04B
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Return for Risk
KMB vs. HSY — Risk / Return Rank
KMB
HSY
KMB vs. HSY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) and The Hershey Company (HSY). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| KMB | HSY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.37 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.52 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.95 | 1.02 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.36 | -0.02 | -0.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.53 | -0.05 | -0.48 |
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Drawdowns
KMB vs. HSY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum KMB drawdown since its inception was -36.97%, smaller than the maximum HSY drawdown of -49.15%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KMB and HSY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| KMB | HSY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.97% | -49.15% | +12.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -29.60% | -27.38% | -2.22% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -34.06% | -38.89% | +4.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.06% | -45.25% | +11.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.06% | -45.25% | +11.19% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -22.38% | -32.39% | +10.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.88% | -13.14% | +4.26% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 20.13% | 12.67% | +7.46% |
Volatility
KMB vs. HSY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) is 8.94%, while The Hershey Company (HSY) has a volatility of 9.83%. This indicates that KMB experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than HSY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| KMB | HSY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.94% | 9.83% | -0.89% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.50% | 21.48% | -2.98% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.96% | 27.49% | -0.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 20.56% | 23.18% | -2.62% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.22% | 23.04% | -1.82% |
Dividends
KMB vs. HSY - Dividend Comparison
KMB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.70%, more than HSY's 3.31% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HSY The Hershey Company | 3.31% | 3.01% | 3.24% | 2.39% | 1.67% | 1.76% | 2.07% | 2.03% | 2.57% | 2.24% | 2.32% | 2.50% |
KMB Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 4.70% | 5.00% | 3.72% | 3.88% | 3.42% | 3.19% | 3.17% | 3.00% | 3.51% | 3.22% | 3.22% | 2.77% |
Financials
KMB vs. HSY - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Kimberly-Clark Corporation and The Hershey Company. 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
KMB vs. HSY - Profitability Comparison
KMB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.53B and revenue of 4.16B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 36.9%.
HSY - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 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%.
KMB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported an operating income of 753.00M and revenue of 4.16B, resulting in an operating margin of 18.1%.
HSY - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, The Hershey Company reported an operating income of 640.69M and revenue of 3.10B, resulting in an operating margin of 20.6%.
KMB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Kimberly-Clark Corporation reported a net income of 521.00M and revenue of 4.16B, resulting in a net margin of 12.5%.
HSY - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, The Hershey Company reported a net income of 435.11M and revenue of 3.10B, resulting in a net margin of 14.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
KMB and HSY have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
HSY has higher volatility (9.83%) compared to KMB (8.94%). In terms of maximum drawdown, KMB dropped -36.97% vs HSY's -49.15%.
HSY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.02 vs -0.39), 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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