Ross Stores vs Hershey Company (The)
Side-by-side comparison of AI visibility scores, market position, and capabilities
Dublin CA largest US off-price retailer (NASDAQ: ROST) at $21.1B FY2024 sales (+3.7%), $2.1B net income; 2,273 stores expanding to 2,900 Ross + 700 dd's target competing with TJX Companies for off-price apparel shoppers.
About
Ross Stores, Inc. is a Dublin, California-based off-price variety retailer — publicly traded on NASDAQ (NASDAQ: ROST) as an S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary component — operating two retail banners: Ross Dress for Less (name-brand and designer apparel, footwear, and home fashion at 20-60% below department store prices) and dd's DISCOUNTS (20-70% below moderate department store prices for more budget-conscious shoppers) through approximately 107,000 employees. In fiscal year 2024, Ross Stores reported $21.1 billion in total sales (up 3.7% year-over-year), net earnings of $2.1 billion, and EPS of $6.32 (versus $5.56 in fiscal 2023), opening 89 new stores (75 Ross, 14 dd's) to end FY2024 with 2,205 total stores. As of 2025, Ross operates 2,273 stores across 44 states, Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico with long-term expansion targets of 2,900 Ross Dress for Less and 700 dd's DISCOUNTS locations. Founded in 1950 as a small department store chain in San Bruno, California, Ross transformed into an off-price retailer in 1982 under new management and grew into the largest US off-price retailer by revenue. The company sources merchandise through buying offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Boston, accessing manufacturer overruns, retail liquidations, and closeout opportunities from thousands of vendors and brand partners. Seven distribution centers support the nationwide store network.
Hershey PA chocolate and snacks (NYSE: HSY) ~$10.2B FY2024 revenue; Reese's #1 US candy brand, cocoa inflation $2.5K→$12K/MT crisis, SkinnyPop salty snacks, competing with Mars and Ferrero.
About
The Hershey Company is a Hershey, Pennsylvania-based confectionery and snacks company — publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HSY) as an S&P 500 Consumer Staples component — manufacturing and selling chocolate, candy, mints, gum, and salty snacks through iconic brands including Hershey's (chocolate bars, Kisses), Reese's (peanut butter cups — America's #1 candy brand by revenue), Kit Kat (licensed from Nestlé for the US market), York Peppermint Patties, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, Skinny Pop, Dot's Pretzels, and Pirate's Booty through approximately 18,000 employees in 80+ countries. In fiscal year 2024, Hershey reported net sales of approximately $10.2 billion, with earnings per share significantly compressed by unprecedented cocoa commodity inflation: West African cocoa prices (Ghana and Ivory Coast provide 70%+ of global cocoa supply) surged from $2,500/metric ton in 2022 to over $12,000/metric ton in early 2024 — the highest prices in 50+ years — driven by El Niño-related drought and crop disease (swollen shoot disease) reducing cocoa harvests, creating a chocolate manufacturer cost crisis that Hershey absorbed through price increases and hedging while managing volume declines as consumers resisted higher candy prices. CEO Michele Buck has guided Hershey through the cocoa inflation crisis by implementing 10-15% retail price increases in 2023-2024, reformulating some lower-margin products to reduce cocoa content, and hedging cocoa commodity exposure on a rolling 12-18 month forward basis to smooth out extreme spot price volatility.
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