Latest news with #MicheleBuck
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why These 4 Women-Run Companies Deserve a Spot in Your Portfolio?
An updated edition of the March 27, 2025, years, corporate leadership has largely been male-dominated, but that dynamic is shifting. Increasingly, women-run companies are emerging as powerhouses across sectors like finance, consumer goods, and technology. These female executives aren't just breaking glass ceilings—they're reshaping how businesses operate by injecting innovation, resilience, and fresh strategic thinking into boardrooms. Many such companies are no longer simply keeping pace with industry benchmarks—they're setting new ones. This evolution goes beyond symbolic representation, it's about driving sustainable growth and profitability through diverse, forward-looking leadership. The McKinsey Women in the Workplace 2024 report highlights that women's representation in C-suite positions has risen from 17% in 2015 to 29% in 2024. This progress reflects a growing recognition of the value women bring to executive Company HSY serves as a standout example. Michele Buck, the first female CEO in Hershey, has led the iconic chocolate maker since 2017. During her tenure, Hershey has seen record profitability, largely driven by strategic acquisitions (such as Pirate's Booty and ONE Brands) and supply chain modernization. Buck also brought increased agility to the company's go-to-market strategy. Under her leadership, Hershey has leaned into direct-to-consumer channels and broadened its healthier snacks portfolio. Similarly, General Motors GM has undergone a dramatic transformation under CEO Mary Barra, who took the helm in 2014. Barra not only navigated the company through the ignition switch crisis with a focus on transparency and safety but also repositioned General Motors by exiting unprofitable markets and doubling down on electrification and financial market is recognizing the value of gender-diverse leadership, with ESG-focused funds prioritizing companies with women in executive roles. Women entrepreneurs now own 42% of all U.S. businesses, employing 9.4 million workers and generating $1.9 trillion in revenues this progress, securing adequate funding remains a primary obstacle for women entrepreneurs. Research indicates that women-led startups receive only about 2% of venture capital funding in the United States and Europe. This disparity is partly due to biases in the investment community, where investors often pose "prevention-oriented" questions to female entrepreneurs, focusing on potential risks, whereas male entrepreneurs receive "promotion-oriented" questions that highlight opportunities. Additionally, women entrepreneurs are less likely to seek financing, with only 25% pursuing loans compared to 33% of male business funding challenges, women-led companies continue to drive innovation and resilience, making them attractive investment opportunities. If you want to capitalize on it, our Women Run Companies Screen will help you spot high-potential stocks in this space. Investors looking to capitalize on this growing sector should consider The Walt Disney Company DIS in the entertainment and media sector, The Progressive Corporation PGR in insurance, GSK plc GSK in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and The Coca-Cola Company KO in consumer staples and beverages. Each of these companies exemplifies how strong female leadership can drive strategic vision and long-term value across a diverse range of to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 30 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Screens and discover your next big opportunity. Walt Disney: Dana Walden plays a pivotal leadership role at The Walt Disney Company as Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, overseeing the company's expansive television, streaming, and content divisions. Her portfolio includes Disney Television Studios, ABC Entertainment, Hulu Originals, and Disney Branded Television, placing her at the forefront of Disney's content strategy during a time of aggressive digital transformation. Under her direction, Disney has sharpened its focus on high-quality, franchise-aligned content that fuels subscriber engagement across Disney+, Hulu, and other platforms. Walden's creative acumen and operational discipline have been instrumental in driving efficient content investment while maximizing returns on intellectual leadership has helped stabilize and reposition Disney's entertainment business amid industry-wide disruption. As linear TV continues to decline, her successful pivot toward streaming has helped Disney maintain its competitive edge in the direct-to-consumer space. She has overseen a strategic recalibration of Hulu's programming, bolstered Disney+ with broader general entertainment offerings, and streamlined content operations for cost efficiency. This shift not only supports margin expansion in Disney's media segment but also strengthens the company's flywheel, where content drives theme parks, licensing, and merchandise influence ensures that Disney's entertainment assets remain aligned with evolving audience preferences, regulatory scrutiny, and global competition. Walden's leadership offers a strong balance of creative innovation and financial pragmatism—two elements that are critical as Disney, a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company, targets streaming profitability and looks to regain earnings growth across its media empire. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks Tricia Griffith, CEO of Progressive Corporation since 2016, has driven remarkable growth, doubling annual revenues to about $75 billion. She expanded the company's footprint in auto and home insurance. By emphasizing direct-to-consumer sales and leveraging digital channels, Griffith enhanced Progressive's market share while maintaining competitive pricing strategies. Her focus on customer segmentation and innovative insurance products has contributed to sustained profitability and industry has also led Progressive's technological advancements, particularly in telematics and data-driven insurance models. She expanded the Snapshot program, which rewards safe driving through telematics, differentiating Progressive from competitors. Under her leadership, the company has embraced artificial intelligence and automation to streamline claims processing, improve underwriting accuracy and enhance customer experience. These initiatives have solidified Progressive's reputation as a tech-forward insurer, attracting new customers while improving operational financial and technological success, Griffith has prioritized diversity, equity and inclusion, making Progressive a leader in workplace culture. She has increased the representation of women and minorities in leadership and fostered an inclusive work environment. Her leadership has earned Progressive recognition as a top employer and a socially responsible company. Through innovation, strong financial performance and a people-first approach, Griffith has positioned Progressive, a Zacks Rank #2 company, as a leader in the insurance industry. Progressive was recognized in Fortune's 2024 "100 Best Companies to Work For" list and was ranked No. 1 on Forbes' 2024 list of "America's Best Employers for Diversity."GSK: Dame Emma Walmsley has been instrumental in transforming GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) since becoming CEO in 2017. She initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the company's operations, focusing on innovation, performance, and trust. This strategic pivot led to the divestment of non-core assets, including the rare disease unit, and a narrowed focus on key therapeutic areas such as oncology, HIV, and respiratory diseases. Walmsley's leadership also saw the termination of more than 30 underperforming drug development programs, streamlining R&D efforts toward more promising her guidance, GSK has achieved significant financial milestones. The company's annual revenues reached £31.4 billion in 2024 ($39.8 billion). Additionally, the approval of the novel antibiotic Blujepa by the U.S. FDA in March 2025 marked a significant advancement in addressing antibiotic resistance. These achievements underscore Walmsley's commitment to revitalizing GSK's product pipeline and enhancing shareholder tenure has not been without challenges. Investor concerns regarding ambitious growth targets and share price performance have been noted. However, her decisive actions, including the separation of the consumer healthcare business into Haleon and a renewed focus on biopharma, have positioned GSK — a Zacks Rank #2 company — for sustainable growth. With 14 key product launches anticipated before 2031 and a robust pipeline, Walmsley's strategic vision continues to drive GSK's evolution in the competitive pharmaceutical Company: Lisa Chang, as executive vice president and global chief people officer at The Coca-Cola Company, has significantly influenced the company's human capital strategy since her appointment in 2019. Overseeing talent management, organizational culture, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, she has been instrumental in aligning Coca-Cola's people strategies with its overarching business objectives. Her leadership has been pivotal in fostering a workplace environment that emphasizes employee well-being and adaptability, especially during periods of organizational Chang's guidance, Coca-Cola accelerated the implementation of digital learning platforms, reducing rollout times from several months to just weeks. This swift adaptation enabled the company to maintain employee engagement and development during the shift to remote work. Additionally, the introduction of the Opportunity Marketplace facilitated internal mobility by allowing employees to engage in cross-functional projects, thereby enhancing workforce agility and optimizing talent emphasis on DEI has reinforced Coca-Cola's commitment to social responsibility. By integrating DEI principles into the company's core values and operations, she has contributed to building a more inclusive corporate culture. This focus not only supports employee satisfaction and retention but also enhances the company's reputation among consumers and investors who prioritize corporate social responsibility. Chang's strategic initiatives in human resources have thus played a crucial role in positioning Coca-Cola – a Zacks Rank #2 company – for sustained success in a dynamic global market. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (GSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report CocaCola Company (The) (KO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hershey Company (The) (HSY) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Walt Disney Company (DIS) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Progressive Corporation (PGR) : Free Stock Analysis Report General Motors Company (GM) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HSY Q1 Earnings Call: Management Addresses Volume Declines, Tariff Uncertainty, and Product Innovation
Chocolate company Hershey (NYSE:HSY) met Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales fell by 13.8% year on year to $2.81 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.09 per share was 8.2% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy HSY? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $2.81 billion vs analyst estimates of $2.81 billion (13.8% year-on-year decline, in line) Adjusted EPS: $2.09 vs analyst estimates of $1.93 (8.2% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $727.7 million vs analyst estimates of $668.1 million (25.9% margin, 8.9% beat) Adjusted EPS guidance for the full year is $6.09 at the midpoint, roughly in line with what analysts were expecting Operating Margin: 13.2%, down from 32.5% in the same quarter last year Free Cash Flow Margin: 9%, down from 10.9% in the same quarter last year Organic Revenue fell 13.2% year on year (8.6% in the same quarter last year) Sales Volumes fell 15% year on year (3.4% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $33.09 billion Hershey's first quarter results, as discussed on the earnings call, were shaped by steep year-on-year declines in both sales volumes and revenue, which management attributed primarily to ongoing consumer value-seeking behavior and economic pressure. Pricing actions provided some offset, but CEO Michele Buck noted that elevated cocoa costs and consumer trade-downs continued to weigh on chocolate demand, particularly in the instant consumables segment. The company also pointed to solid momentum in its sweets and salty snacks portfolios, with innovation cited as a positive driver, especially in non-chocolate categories. Looking ahead, management's full-year guidance reflects the expectation of persistent cost inflation—particularly from cocoa and potential new tariffs—alongside incremental mitigation actions. CFO Steve Voskuil described the path to earnings growth in 2026 as 'narrower, more challenging,' and highlighted the importance of ongoing productivity initiatives, pricing, and sourcing changes. The company expects new product launches, particularly in the Reese's brand, and enhanced distribution to support share stability, but acknowledged the need for aggressive management of both external and internal headwinds. Hershey's management emphasized the impact of macroeconomic challenges, commodity costs, and ongoing product innovation on recent performance. They also elaborated on their mitigation strategies for tariffs and input inflation, as well as shifts in consumer behavior. Tariff and Cocoa Cost Pressures: Management explained that the combination of elevated cocoa prices and new tariffs could create an unmitigated headwind of up to $100 million per quarter in the second half of the year. The company is lobbying for exemptions and actively pursuing productivity, pricing, and sourcing changes to mitigate these impacts. Shifting Consumer Behavior: CEO Michele Buck highlighted continued value-seeking among consumers, with migration to value channels such as club and dollar stores. She noted that while chocolate remains an "emotional" purchase, these pressures resulted in lower volumes, especially in instant consumables. Sweets and Salty Snacks Momentum: Management reported double-digit share gains in the sweets category and steady performance in salty snacks, driven by innovation and targeted investments. The expansion into better-for-you brands, such as the recently acquired LesserEvil, is intended to reach younger and more diverse consumers. Capacity and Supply Chain Investments: Hershey completed a major billion-dollar expansion in chocolate processing, enhancing vertical integration and supply chain flexibility. This investment aims to provide agility and support innovation across both chocolate and non-chocolate categories. Product Reformulation and Price Pack Architecture: The company is deploying price pack architecture—adjusting product sizes and pricing—to offer better perceived value and manage input costs. R&D and supply chain investments support rapid reformulation in response to regulatory and consumer trends, such as natural ingredient requirements and evolving SNAP rules. Management's outlook for the remainder of the year centers on navigating commodity inflation, tariffs, and evolving consumer preferences, while leveraging innovation and operational efficiency to stabilize margins and drive future growth. Mitigation of Cost Inflation: The company is focused on mitigating cocoa and tariff-related cost increases through a combination of pricing actions, supply chain adjustments, and lobbying for policy relief. Innovation Pipeline: New product launches, particularly a major Reese's innovation slated for the fall, are expected to support category share and potentially drive growth in the second half of the year. Channel and Portfolio Shifts: Management believes expanding the better-for-you and sweets lines, as well as prioritizing value-oriented retail channels, will help counter softness in core chocolate demand and address shifting consumer behavior. Ken Goldman (JPMorgan): Sought quantification of potential tariff impacts and how mitigation efforts might reduce unmitigated costs for Q3 and Q4; management estimated up to $100 million per quarter unmitigated, with all mitigation levers in play. Andrew Lazar (Barclays): Asked about the outlook for nonseasonal chocolate growth in the second half and the early impact of pricing strategies in instant consumables; management reported early signs of improvement and expects share to be neutral to up as new programming rolls out. Max Gunport (BNP Paribas): Questioned whether snacking weakness reflects only consumer value-seeking or also a shift to healthier eating; management emphasized that chocolate and sweets have held up well, with minimal elasticity and stable category demand. Robert Moskow (TD Cowen): Queried the financial rationale for recent capacity expansions amid lower chocolate volume outlooks; management stressed enhanced agility, supply control, and support for innovation as key benefits. Christopher Carey (Wells Fargo Securities): Requested insight into price pack architecture and reformulation efforts; management explained that offering various sizes and recipes can enhance value perception and allow cost flexibility, supported by investments in R&D and the supply chain. Looking forward, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the effectiveness of Hershey's tariff mitigation strategies and lobbying efforts, (2) the performance and consumer reception of major new product launches, especially in the Reese's brand, and (3) the ability of the company's price pack architecture and reformulation initiatives to maintain category share and offset volume declines. Developments in regulatory policy and consumer trends toward value and health will also be important to evaluate. Hershey currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 26.2×. Should you load up, cash out, or stay put? Find out in our free research report. Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hershey Reiterates Annual Outlook Without Full Tariff Impact
(Bloomberg) -- Hershey Co. became one of the few consumer-focused companies to reiterate its annual outlook, but the chocolate-maker's view doesn't account for the cost of tariffs for the full year. NJ Transit Urges Commuters to Work Remotely If Union Strikes NYC Lost $9 Billion of Income to Miami, Palm Beach in Five Years New York City Transit System Chips Away at Subway Fare Evasion NYC's Congestion Toll Raised $159 Million in the First Quarter The Last Thing US Transit Agencies Should Do Now The company still expects sales to gain at least 2% and adjusted earnings to drop about 35%. The impact of US levies was only taken into account for the second quarter, which runs through June. President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on additional tariffs is set to expire in July. Hershey's shares rose less than 1% in pre-market trading. The stock had fallen 1.3% this year through Wednesday, better than the S&P 500 Index's decline of about 5%. The company has hiked prices in response to record-high cocoa costs last year. But while the commodity's costs have come down, 10% US duties on imports enacted in April are poised to increase them again – a challenge for Hershey, which relies more on chocolate than competitors. Hershey said it anticipates $15 million to $20 million of tariff costs in the second quarter. The effect of the current levies is expected to kick in at the end of this quarter, according to a research note from Citi. The company has about 75 days of inventory, so there is a lag in tariff impact, according to Citi. Hershey is also dealing with US consumers pulling back on sweets to prioritize essentials amid worries about the economy. And it's still looking for a new chief executive officer, with current CEO Michele Buck planning to retire next year. The firm's sales in the first quarter sank about 14% to $2.8 billion, slightly better than Wall Street estimates. (Updates starting in second paragraph.) Made-in-USA Wheelbarrows Promoted by Trump Are Now Made in China As More Women Lift Weights, Gyms Might Never Be the Same Eight Charts Show Men Are Falling Behind, From Classrooms to Careers The Mastermind of the Yellowstone Universe Isn't Done Yet How the FDA Helped Ignite, and Then Worsened, the Opioid Crisis ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
Miami Herald
05-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Hershey makes major strategic move to destroy rivals
Many would agree that snacks are better than consuming actual meals because they are convenient, less expensive, require no preparation, and can easily align with most people's dietary needs. However, a lot of snacks are unhealthy and contain a huge ingredient list of additives and hard-to-pronounce chemicals designed to make the products taste good. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Consumers have grown more aware of the importance of their health and have begun making more conscious decisions about their eating habits. They are often choosing healthier alternatives to the original high-calorie, low-nutrient options. Related: Hershey creates new candy that's a dream combo The global healthy snack market was estimated to be worth nearly $96 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach around $145 million by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 6.1%, according to a study by Grand View Research. The Hershey Company has entered a definitive agreement to acquire the organic snack brand LesserEvil to expand its portfolio and invest further in the better-for-you snack sector. "Investing in LesserEvil brings a multi-category, better-for-you snacks platform to extend our offerings into new categories and forms, reaching new consumers in more eating occasions," said The Hershey Company President and Chief Executive Officer Michele Buck. LesserEvil is an organic snack brand that makes healthier alternatives for popcorn, puffs, curls, and more by using better ingredients, removing unnecessary additives, and reducing the caloric content. Related: Starbucks menu adds energy drinks and 'lite' take on a classic Although Hershey is set to become LesserEvil's new owner, the company said the brand's original team will continue leading the business. It has yet to disclose if any layoffs will result from the new ownership. Hershey's latest acquisition is a win-win situation for both parties. Together, they will reach a wider audience, meet consumers' ever-evolving needs, and better adapt to product demand with Hershey's supply chain capabilities. "This high-growth brand not only complements our beloved confection and salty snack brands but also brings additional manufacturing capabilities and capacity to meet growing consumer and retailer needs," said Buck. The exact terms of the agreement have yet to be revealed, and the transaction remains pending regulatory approval. However, the acquisition is expected to be completed later this year. Acquiring emerging better-for-you brands seems to be a trend followed by some of the biggest food manufacturing companies. Last year, PepsiCo (PEP) acquired the Mexican-American food brand Siete Foods for $1.2 billion, and Flowers Foods (FLO) , Wonder bread's parent company, bought the healthy snack brand Simple Mills for $795 million in January. More Food and Beverage News: Iconic burger chain returns fan favorite item three years laterMcdonald's menu adds beloved Easter favorite (there's a catch)Chick-fil-A spin-offs launch exclusive menu items for 2025 However, Hershey may have been the company that began the better-for-you snack trend before all others. In 2017, it acquired Amplify for $1.6 billion, the biggest purchase in the company's history. Amplify owned the brand SkinnyPop before Hershey's takeover, which is one of the most popular healthy snack brands on the market today. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hershey strikes deal to acquire organic snacks maker LesserEvil
Candy giant Hershey has signed a deal to buy LesserEvil, a US-based organic snack manufacturer. The fnancial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Connecticut-based LesserEvil markets a range 'better-for-you' snacks including organic popcorn, Power Curls, Organic Space Balls and Moonions. Hershey president and CEO Michele Buck, who is set to step down next year, said the acquisition of LesserEvil will bring 'additional manufacturing capabilities and capacity'. "Investing in LesserEvil brings a multi-category, better-for-you snacks platform to extend our offerings into new categories and forms, reaching new consumers in more eating occasions," Buck said. The deal is slated for completion later in the year, contingent on securing regulatory approval. LesserEvil CEO Charles Coristine said: "Hershey's century-long legacy of excellence creates not just strategic alignment but a true cultural home where we can continue to grow and make an impact." In 2024, Hershey generated net sales of $11.2bn, up 0.3% from the previous year. Organic, constant-currency net sales increased 0.4%. In the fourth quarter, net sales grew by 8.7% to $2.89bn. These figures included a '0.2-point benefit' from the chocolate company's acquisition of Sour Strips in November. "Hershey strikes deal to acquire organic snacks maker LesserEvil" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
