Auxier Asset Management Acquires 1,775 Shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Auxier Asset Management grew its position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 16.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 12,885 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 1,775 shares during the period. Auxier Asset Management's holdings in Hershey were worth $2,182,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in Hershey by 31.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 12,460,147 shares of the company's stock worth $2,110,126,000 after purchasing an additional 2,980,997 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey during the 4th quarter worth approximately $80,978,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in shares of Hershey by 38.6% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,628,047 shares of the company's stock worth $275,710,000 after buying an additional 453,428 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Hershey by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,635,390 shares of the company's stock valued at $785,003,000 after buying an additional 247,675 shares during the period. Finally, Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new position in Hershey in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,902,000. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Hershey Stock Performance

Shares of HSY stock traded up $5.29 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $161.19. 1,567,763 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,785,919. The Hershey Company has a 52 week low of $140.13 and a 52 week high of $208.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $32.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.77, a PEG ratio of 5.90 and a beta of 0.32. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $164.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $166.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.96.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $2.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.81 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 44.77% and a net margin of 19.83%. The business's revenue was down 13.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.07 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that The Hershey Company will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be issued a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.40%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. Hershey's dividend payout ratio is 67.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on HSY. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Hershey from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Friday, March 14th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Hershey from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Barclays increased their target price on Hershey from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. DA Davidson raised their target price on Hershey from $162.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Hershey from $173.00 to $165.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fifteen have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $162.15.

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.