WCN vs HSY Comparison

Waste Connections is a North American waste management company focused on integrated waste collection services. The firm primarily focuses on residential, commercial, municipal, and industrial waste collection, with a secondary market focus on rural areas. With 113 landfills and 222 transfer stations as of 2024, it is the third-largest waste management company by revenue. Revenue is split among six operating segments: Western, Southern, Eastern, Central, Canada, and Midsouth.

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.