Hershey Co. reported its fourth-quarter earnings for fiscal year 2024, surpassing expectations with an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.69, compared to the estimated $2.37, and revenue of $2.89 billion, against the expected $2.84 billion. The company's net sales increased by 8.7% year-over-year, driven by a 6% rise in North America Confectionery Sales to $2.35 billion and a 35.9% growth in Salty Snacks sales to $278.9 million. Despite the strong quarterly performance, Hershey anticipates a significant decline in adjusted EPS for 2025, projecting a decrease of around 30% due to escalating commodity costs, particularly cocoa. The company expects net sales to grow by at least 2% in 2025, primarily driven by price increases. Hershey's shares rose 3.7% in early trading following the earnings announcement, despite a 25% drop over the past 12 months. The company also achieved a 9% organic growth in the quarter, and reduced sales, marketing, and administrative expenses by 5.5%. The adjusted EPS for the quarter showed a 33.2% increase year-over-year.