EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of the Changes in the Outstanding Shares of Common Stock

Changes in the outstanding shares of Common Stock for the past three years were as follows:

For the years ended December 31,	2025	2024	2023
Shares issued	221,553,025	221,553,025	221,553,025
Treasury shares at beginning of year	(19,169,956)	(17,160,099)	(16,588,308)
Stock repurchases:
Shares repurchased in the open market under pre-approved share repurchase programs	—	(2,022,064)	—
Milton Hershey School Trust repurchase	—	—	(1,000,000)
Shares repurchased in the open market to replace Treasury Stock issued for stock options and incentive compensation	—	(483,033)	(127,609)
Stock issuances:
Shares issued for stock options and incentive compensation	456,587	495,240	555,818
Treasury shares at end of year	(18,713,369)	(19,169,956)	(17,160,099)
Net shares outstanding at end of year	202,839,656	202,383,069	204,392,926