The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Receives Average Recommendation of “Reduce” from Brokerages

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Reduce” from the twenty-one brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and sixteen have given a hold rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $192.80.

HSY has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group downgraded shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Hershey in a report on Tuesday. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Hershey in a report on Monday, August 12th. They set a “sell” rating and a $185.00 price objective on the stock. Citigroup cut shares of Hershey from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $195.00 to $182.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 27th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Hershey from $204.00 to $202.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 24th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hershey

In other news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 538 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $199.17, for a total value of $107,153.46. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,238 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $644,912.46. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Hershey by 55.0% in the second quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 155 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its stake in shares of Hershey by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 486 shares of the company’s stock worth $95,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY lifted its position in Hershey by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY now owns 7,355 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,411,000 after acquiring an additional 58 shares during the period. Wesbanco Bank Inc. boosted its stake in Hershey by 3.7% during the second quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 1,673 shares of the company’s stock worth $308,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in shares of Hershey by 2.3% during the second quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 2,631 shares of the company’s stock valued at $484,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of HSY stock opened at $181.98 on Friday. Hershey has a 52-week low of $178.82 and a 52-week high of $211.92. The business’s fifty day moving average is $193.04 and its 200 day moving average is $192.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.86. The company has a market capitalization of $36.80 billion, a PE ratio of 18.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.44 and a beta of 0.37.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.17). The business had revenue of $2.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.30 billion. Hershey had a net margin of 16.76% and a return on equity of 45.36%. The business’s revenue was down 16.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.01 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Hershey will post 9.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 16th were paid a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 16th. Hershey’s payout ratio is 54.31%.

About Hershey

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.