Hershey’s fourth-quarter report is expected to exceed consensus EPS estimates of $1.85, driven by 8% year-over-year revenue growth in North America confectionery and mid-single-digit growth internationally. Management cited improved mix from premium chocolate brands, where unit margins expanded 120 basis points sequentially in Q3, and a 15% jump in holiday gifting sales. Analysts note Hershey’s pricing initiatives offsetting commodity inflation—cocoa costs fell 5% in the quarter—while SG&A leverage from higher volumes should lift operating margin by roughly 70 basis points to about 23.5%. With roughly 65% of sales in confectionery and 35% in snacks, investors will watch whether SkinnyPop and Dot’s Pretzels maintain double-digit growth and contribute to overall mid-teens organic net sales growth.

From a chart standpoint, Hershey recently cleared its 20-day moving average after testing support near its 50-day line. This crossover, accompanied by rising relative strength index (RSI) readings above 55, suggests a short-term bullish trend. Average daily volume over the past month climbed 12%, indicating renewed buying interest among momentum traders. If the stock holds the 20-day level through the earnings release, it could provide a technical springboard for further gains, especially if management’s guidance for 2026 margins and free-cash-flow conversion exceeds street forecasts of 15% and $1.8 billion, respectively.