HS
HSY
Latest · Mar 29, 2026
Quarter ended Mar 29, 2026 · FY2026 Q1

The Hershey Company stock research

The Hershey (HSY) Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 29, 2026

The company's free cash flow improved compared to the same quarter last year, driven by higher operating cash flow and lower capital spending. However, free cash flow declined from the immediately preceding quarter as operating cash flow decreased.

Free cash flow takeaway

A quick read on the company's cash generation and what it means for investors.

The company's free cash flow improved compared to the same quarter last year, driven by higher operating cash flow and lower capital spending. However, free cash flow declined from the immediately preceding quarter as operating cash flow decreased.

  • Revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter and higher than a year ago. Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter but higher than the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure decreased relative to both periods. Consequently, free cash flow and its margin improved year-over-year but weakened sequentially.
  • Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow and margin were lower due to a reduction in operating cash flow. Versus the same quarter last year, free cash flow and margin were higher, supported by increased operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditure.

FCF snapshot

Quarterly and TTM cash-flow metrics with the minimum valuation context.

TTM free cash flow

$1.9B

Trailing twelve-month free cash flow.

Quarter free cash flow

$354.2M

Free cash flow in the selected fiscal quarter.

Operating cash flow

$468.8M

Cash generated by operations before capital spending.

CapEx

$114.6M

Capital spending and related asset purchases.

FCF margin

11.4%

The share of revenue converted into free cash flow.

TTM FCF yield

5.0%

TTM FCF divided by market capitalization.

Cash flow trend

A short quarterly history shows whether FCF is scaling with revenue or only spiking for one period.

PeriodRevenueOperating CFCapExFCFFCF margin
2025-06-29$2.6B$112.2M$85.1M$27.1M1.0%
2025-09-28$3.2B$841.9M$85.9M$756.0M23.8%
2025-12-31$3.1B$926.6M$138.1M$788.5M25.5%
2026-03-29$3.1B$468.8M$114.6M$354.2M11.4%

Cash conversion quality

Checks that separate high-quality free cash flow from accounting noise or working-capital timing.

FCF / net income81.4%Shows whether accounting earnings convert into cash.
CapEx / revenue3.7%Lower capital intensity usually supports FCF margin.
Net cashn/aCash and equivalents minus total debt.

Recent events shaping cash flow

Near-term business events that help explain the free cash flow result.

Supportive

Operating cash flow improvement

Operating cash flow was higher than the year-ago quarter, contributing to a higher free cash flow margin despite stable revenue.

This improvement was the primary factor behind the year-over-year increase in free cash flow.

What the cash flow says

How to interpret the company's free cash flow beyond the headline number.

Revenue was stable compared to the prior quarter and higher than a year ago. Operating cash flow was lower than the prior quarter but higher than the year-ago quarter. Capital expenditure decreased relative to both periods. Consequently, free cash flow and its margin improved year-over-year but weakened sequentially.

Compared to the prior quarter, free cash flow and margin were lower due to a reduction in operating cash flow. Versus the same quarter last year, free cash flow and margin were higher, supported by increased operating cash flow and reduced capital expenditure.

Monitor the cash flow effects of the business acquisition completed in the prior quarter, as discussed in the filing.

Valuation context

A cash-flow page should show how much investors are paying for the cash stream, without turning into a full DCF.

Market capitalization$38.4BUsed as the denominator for FCF yield.
TTM FCF yield5.0%TTM free cash flow divided by market capitalization.
EV / TTM FCFn/aA quick valuation bridge, not a full DCF.

Peer context

Free cash flow quality is easier to read against related public companies.

HS
HSY

The Hershey Company

FCF margin

11.4%

FCF yield

5.0%

HSY Free Cash Flow — Quarter Ended Mar 29, 2026