HSY vs ALNY Comparison

Hershey is a leading US confectionery manufacturer (in a $55 billion market, according to Euromonitor), controlling more than 35% of the domestic chocolate aisle. Beyond its namesake label, the firm's portfolio has expanded over the last 85 years and now comprises 100 brands, including Reese's, Kit Kat, Kisses, and Ice Breakers. Hershey's products are sold in about 80 countries, though only a high-single-digit percentage of sales comes from markets outside the US, including the UK, Brazil, India, and Mexico. The firm has sought inorganic opportunities to extend its reach beyond its core confectionery business, adding Amplify Snack Brands and its Skinny Pop ready-to-eat popcorn to its portfolio, as well as Pirate Brands, Dot's Pretzels, and LesserEvil over the past few years.

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the study of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. RNAi is a naturally occurring biological pathway within cells for sequence-specific silencing and regulation of gene expression. Alnylam's commercial RNAi therapeutic products include Onpattro and Amvuttra (for hATTR amyloidosis), Givlaari (for acute hepatic porphyria), and Oxlumo (for primary hyperoxaluria type 1), all developed and commercialized by Alnylam. Plus, Leqvio (for hypercholesterolemia) and Qfitlia (for hemophilia A or B), which are being commercialized by Alnylam's partners, Novartis and Sanofi, respectively. It also has several clinical programs across various therapeutic areas, including cardio-metabolic diseases, neuroscience, and hematology.