Brokerages Set The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) PT at $184.61

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) has received a consensus rating of “Reduce” from the nineteen research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have issued a hold rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $184.61.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Bank of America restated a “neutral” rating and set a $180.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Hershey in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Hershey from $188.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Hershey from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $175.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on Hershey from $202.00 to $180.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hershey

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State Street Corp grew its stake in Hershey by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,029,551 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,348,127,000 after buying an additional 386,670 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 2.6% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,387,715 shares of the company’s stock worth $841,476,000 after purchasing an additional 109,336 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Hershey by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,753,751 shares of the company’s stock valued at $717,606,000 after buying an additional 35,688 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 66.7% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company’s stock worth $186,571,000 after acquiring an additional 389,404 shares during the period. Finally, Stifel Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 3.2% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 964,748 shares of the company’s stock valued at $185,027,000 after acquiring an additional 29,507 shares in the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Hershey Stock Up 0.1 %

NYSE HSY opened at $169.03 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. Hershey has a 52 week low of $166.69 and a 52 week high of $211.92. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $175.74 and its 200-day simple moving average is $186.11. The firm has a market cap of $34.20 billion, a PE ratio of 19.47, a P/E/G ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.13%.

Hershey Company Profile

The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; protein bars; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels.