HSY’s 16% One Month Pop Begs The Question: Is CALM Better Instead?
Cal-Maine Foods (CALM) offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Hershey (HSY), suggesting you may be better off investing in CALM
- CALM’s quarterly revenue growth was 72.2%, vs. HSY’s 26.0%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 83.2%, ahead of HSY’s 2.5%.
- CALM leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 36.0% and 3-year average of 26.7%.
HSY manufacturer and marketer of a diverse range of popular confectionery, snack, and breath freshener brands, founded in 1894 and based in Pennsylvania. CALM produces, grades, packages, and distributes specialty shell eggs, including nutritionally enhanced, cage-free, organic, and brown varieties to retailers and foodservice distributors.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| HSY | CALM | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 17.8 | 3.3 | CALM |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 26.0% | 72.2% | CALM |
| Last 12 Months | 2.5% | 83.2% | CALM |
| Last 3 Year Average | 5.2% | 44.7% | CALM |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 19.1% | 36.0% | CALM |
| Last 3 Year Average | 21.6% | 26.7% | CALM |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | -11.1% | 148.8% | CALM |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: HSY Revenue Comparison | CALM Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: HSY Operating Income Comparison | CALM Operating Income Comparison
But do these numbers tell the full story? Read Buy or Sell CALM Stock to see if Cal-Maine Foods’s edge holds up under the hood or if Hershey still has cards to play (see Buy or Sell HSY Stock).
That is one way to look at stocks. Trefis High Quality Portfolio evaluates much more, and is designed to reduce stock-specific risk while giving upside exposure
Historical Market Performance
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| HSY Return | 6% | 30% | 22% | -18% | -7% | 13% | 45% | ||
| CALM Return | -12% | -1% | 52% | 14% | 87% | 9% | 210% | <=== | |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 8% | 93% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| HSY Win Rate | 50% | 75% | 58% | 33% | 33% | 43% | 49% | ||
| CALM Win Rate | 25% | 42% | 75% | 67% | 75% | 86% | 62% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 57% | 62% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| HSY Max Drawdown | -24% | -5% | -0% | -21% | -7% | -15% | -12% | <=== | |
| CALM Max Drawdown | -28% | -9% | 0% | -14% | -6% | -20% | -13% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -12% | ||
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] 2025 data is for the year till date (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year