Laser Focus World is an industry bedrock—first published in 1965 and still going strong. We publish original articles about cutting-edge advances in lasers, optics, photonics, sensors, and quantum technologies, as well as test and measurement, and the shift currently underway to usher in the photonic integrated circuits, optical interconnects, and copackaged electronics and photonics to deliver the speed and efficiency essential for data centers of the future.

Our 80,000 qualified print subscribers—and 130,000 12-month engaged online audience—trust us to dive in and provide original journalism you won’t find elsewhere covering key emerging areas such as laser-driven inertial confinement fusion, lasers in space, integrated photonics, chipscale lasers, LiDAR, metasurfaces, high-energy laser weaponry, photonic crystals, and quantum computing/sensors/communications. We cover the innovations driving these markets.

Laser Focus World is part of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B.

Laser Focus World Membership

Never miss any articles, videos, podcasts, or webinars by signing up for membership access to Laser Focus World online. You can manage your preferences all in one place—and provide our editorial team with your valued feedback.

Magazine Subscription

Can you subscribe to receive our print issue for free? Yes, you sure can!

Newsletter Subscription

Laser Focus World newsletter subscription is free to qualified professionals:

The Daily Beam

Showcases the newest content from Laser Focus World, including photonics- and optics-based applications, components, research, and trends. (Daily)

Product Watch

The latest in products within the photonics industry. (9x per year)

Bio & Life Sciences Product Watch

The latest in products within the biophotonics industry. (4x per year)

Laser Processing Product Watch

The latest in products within the laser processing industry. (3x per year)

Get Published!

If you’d like to write an article for us, reach out with a short pitch to Sally Cole Johnson: [email protected]. We love to hear from you.

Photonics Hot List

Laser Focus World produces a video newscast that gives a peek into what’s happening in the world of photonics.

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast

Following the Photons: A Photonics Podcast dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics. Our weekly episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community.

Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Hershey (HSY) Stock Is Up, What You Need To Know

HSY Cover Image

What Happened?

Shares of chocolate company Hershey (NYSE: HSY) jumped 3.9% in the afternoon session after Goldman Sachs issued a rare double upgrade on the stock, moving its rating from 'Sell' to 'Buy' and significantly raising its price target. 

The investment bank boosted its price target on the chocolate maker to $222 from $170. In a note to investors, Goldman Sachs analysts highlighted that Hershey is starting to recover market share in key confection categories, supported by new product launches and better merchandising. The firm believes Hershey's stronger pricing power will help offset the pressure from high cocoa costs, which are reportedly beginning to decline. After a period of underperformance, Goldman Sachs now sees a "compelling risk/reward" for the stock, suggesting that headwinds like tariffs and cocoa prices are largely priced in.

After the initial pop the shares cooled down to $193.66, up 4.3% from previous close.

Is now the time to buy Hershey? Access our full analysis report here, it’s free.

What Is The Market Telling Us

Hershey’s shares are not very volatile and have only had 3 moves greater than 5% over the last year. In that context, today’s move indicates the market considers this news meaningful, although it might not be something that would fundamentally change its perception of the business.

The biggest move we wrote about over the last year was 9 months ago when the stock gained 16.4% on the news that Bloomberg reported that Mondelez, the company behind Oreo cookies, is exploring a potential buyout of Hershey. 

Sources say the discussions are still in the early stages, and Mondelez may not make an offer. Hershey has a history of turning down acquisition attempts. In 2016, it rejected a $23 billion takeover bid from Mondelez. Had Hershey accepted, the deal would have formed the world's largest candy company. Most acquisitions close at a premium, raising the possibility that existing investors could exit their positions at a higher price if Hershey strikes a deal with a buyer.

Hershey is up 14.7% since the beginning of the year, and at $193.66 per share, it is trading close to its 52-week high of $200.81 from September 2024. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of Hershey’s shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,352.

Do you want to know what moves the business you care about? Add them to your StockStory watchlist and every time a stock significantly moves, we provide you with a timely explanation straight to your inbox. It’s free and will only take you a second.

Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.