HSY vs MO: which was the better investment?
The Hershey Company against Altria Group, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did HSY beat MO?
No — measured from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, MO came out ahead: $25,867,202 versus $5,199,587 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 18.5% annual return against 14.5%.
What would $10,000 in HSY be worth today?
$10,000 invested in The Hershey Company (HSY) on Mar 17, 1980 would be worth about $5,199,587 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 51895.9% (14.5% per year). The same $10,000 in MO would be worth $25,867,202.
Which was riskier — HSY or MO?
HSY swung with an annualized volatility of 24.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -49.2%; MO ran at 25.7% volatility with a -65.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.50 for HSY vs 0.64 for MO.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 17, 1980 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with HSY vs MO. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.