Debt to Equity
since 2005
Calculation
Hershey Co., debt to equity, long-term trends, calculation
| Debt to equity | = | Total debt1 | ÷ | The Hershey Company stockholders’ equity1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2022 | 1.45 | = | 4,791,345) | ÷ | 3,299,544) |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.82 | = | 5,028,894) | ÷ | 2,757,229) |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 2.06 | = | 4,602,625) | ÷ | 2,234,352) |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 2.45 | = | 4,266,485) | ÷ | 1,739,222) |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 3.19 | = | 4,457,596) | ÷ | 1,398,721) |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 3.19 | = | 2,920,480) | ÷ | 915,338) |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 3.79 | = | 2,980,169) | ÷ | 785,856) |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 2.43 | = | 2,420,527) | ÷ | 997,997) |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 1.50 | = | 2,184,464) | ÷ | 1,455,062) |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.22 | = | 1,962,017) | ÷ | 1,604,834) |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 1.84 | = | 1,906,865) | ÷ | 1,036,749) |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 2.22 | = | 1,888,173) | ÷ | 849,022) |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 2.03 | = | 1,827,305) | ÷ | 902,316) |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 2.14 | = | 1,542,043) | ÷ | 720,459) |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 6.31 | = | 2,007,458) | ÷ | 318,199) |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 3.60 | = | 2,136,357) | ÷ | 592,922) |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 3.06 | = | 2,092,126) | ÷ | 683,423) |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 1.73 | = | 1,761,870) | ÷ | 1,021,076) |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
- Total Debt
- The total debt fluctuated notably over the period analyzed. Beginning at approximately 1.76 billion US dollars in 2005, it increased steadily to peak at around 4.46 billion US dollars in 2018. After this peak, the debt slightly decreased but remained elevated, with values above 4.7 billion US dollars through 2022. This trend indicates significant borrowing activity, particularly between 2013 and 2018, followed by a stabilization at a high level.
- Stockholders’ Equity
- The stockholders’ equity presented substantial volatility in the earlier years, dropping to a low point in 2008 at just over 318 million US dollars. From 2009 onwards, a strong recovery trend emerged, with equity increasing consistently to reach approximately 3.3 billion US dollars by the end of 2022. The data reflect a marked strengthening of the equity base, especially post-2012, signaling improved overall financial health and retained earnings growth.
- Debt to Equity Ratio
- The debt to equity ratio demonstrated significant variability in the earlier years, starting at 1.73 in 2005 and peaking at 6.31 in 2008. This high ratio suggests a period of heavy leverage relative to equity. Following the peak, the ratio dropped sharply to below 2 by 2013 and exhibited fluctuations around the range of 1.5 to 3.8 thereafter. By 2022, the ratio decreased to 1.45, indicating a much more balanced capital structure compared to the mid-2000s. The declining trend in the ratio after 2018 signals a reduction in leverage relative to equity, consistent with the improvements noted in equity and stabilization of total debt.
Comparison to Competitors
Hershey Co., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to competitors
| Hershey Co. | Coca-Cola Co. | Mondelēz International Inc. | PepsiCo Inc. | Philip Morris International Inc. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2022 | 1.45 | 1.62 | 0.85 | 2.28 | — |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.82 | 1.86 | 0.69 | 2.51 | — |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 2.06 | 2.22 | 0.73 | 3.28 | — |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 2.45 | 2.25 | 0.68 | 2.17 | — |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 3.19 | 2.56 | 0.72 | 2.23 | — |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 3.19 | 2.79 | 0.68 | 3.61 | — |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 3.79 | 1.98 | 0.68 | 3.33 | — |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 2.43 | 1.73 | 0.55 | 2.79 | — |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 1.50 | 1.38 | 0.60 | 1.66 | — |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.22 | 1.12 | 0.53 | 1.22 | — |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 1.84 | 0.99 | 0.60 | 1.27 | — |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 2.22 | 0.90 | 0.76 | 1.30 | 80.98 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 2.03 | 0.76 | 0.80 | 1.18 | 4.71 |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 2.14 | 0.48 | 0.73 | 0.47 | 2.70 |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 6.31 | 0.45 | 0.91 | 0.68 | 1.59 |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 3.60 | 0.43 | 0.77 | 0.24 | — |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 3.06 | 0.27 | 0.36 | 0.18 | — |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 1.73 | 0.35 | 0.36 | 0.37 | — |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).
Comparison to Sector (Food, Beverage & Tobacco)
Hershey Co., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to sector (food, beverage & tobacco)
| Hershey Co. | Food, Beverage & Tobacco | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2022 | 1.45 | 2.44 |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.82 | 2.28 |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 2.06 | 2.90 |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 2.45 | 2.51 |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 3.19 | 2.82 |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 3.19 | 3.31 |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 3.79 | 2.76 |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 2.43 | 2.32 |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 1.50 | 1.86 |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.22 | 1.36 |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 1.84 | 1.23 |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 2.22 | 1.15 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 2.03 | 1.02 |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 2.14 | 0.74 |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 6.31 | 0.80 |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 3.60 | 0.52 |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 3.06 | 0.29 |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 1.73 | 0.36 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).
Comparison to Industry (Consumer Staples)
Hershey Co., debt to equity, long-term trends, comparison to industry (consumer staples)
| Hershey Co. | Consumer Staples | |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2022 | 1.45 | 1.07 |
| Dec 31, 2021 | 1.82 | 1.07 |
| Dec 31, 2020 | 2.06 | 1.24 |
| Dec 31, 2019 | 2.45 | 1.18 |
| Dec 31, 2018 | 3.19 | 1.11 |
| Dec 31, 2017 | 3.19 | 1.20 |
| Dec 31, 2016 | 3.79 | 1.09 |
| Dec 31, 2015 | 2.43 | 1.00 |
| Dec 31, 2014 | 1.50 | 0.96 |
| Dec 31, 2013 | 1.22 | 0.87 |
| Dec 31, 2012 | 1.84 | 0.83 |
| Dec 31, 2011 | 2.22 | 0.80 |
| Dec 31, 2010 | 2.03 | 0.74 |
| Dec 31, 2009 | 2.14 | 0.69 |
| Dec 31, 2008 | 6.31 | 0.68 |
| Dec 31, 2007 | 3.60 | 0.55 |
| Dec 31, 2006 | 3.06 | 0.52 |
| Dec 31, 2005 | 1.73 | 0.59 |
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2011-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2010-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2009-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2008-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2007-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2006-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2005-12-31).