Brookstone Capital Management Has $11.77 Million Stock Position in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY)

Brookstone Capital Management increased its holdings in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 530.8% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 68,828 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 57,916 shares during the quarter. Brookstone Capital Management's holdings in Hershey were worth $11,772,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Montag & Caldwell LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Putney Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Mpwm Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Rohit Grover sold 1,333 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.00, for a total value of $233,275.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 39,402 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,895,350. The trade was a 3.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP James Turoff sold 1,300 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.00, for a total value of $227,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 25,321 shares in the company, valued at $4,431,175. The trade was a 4.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 54,107 shares of company stock valued at $9,008,118. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Hershey Stock Down 3.2%

HSY traded down $5.57 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $169.98. 1,565,170 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,853,271. Hershey Company has a fifty-two week low of $140.13 and a fifty-two week high of $208.03. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $165.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $164.81. The stock has a market cap of $34.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.52 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.15. Hershey had a return on equity of 38.70% and a net margin of 15.32%. The company had revenue of $2.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.07 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was down 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Hershey Company will post 6.12 EPS for the current year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th were given a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 16th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.22%. Hershey's dividend payout ratio is currently 67.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on HSY. Mizuho dropped their price target on Hershey from $167.00 to $155.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Barclays raised their target price on Hershey from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen cut Hershey from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Sunday. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their price target on Hershey from $147.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Hershey from $183.00 to $177.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fifteen have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hershey has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $158.84.

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.