KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Trims Stock Holdings in Hershey Company (The) $HSY

Key Points

• KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS trimmed its Hershey stake by 15.7% in Q4, selling 20,600 shares and leaving it with 110,995 shares valued at about $20.2 million per its SEC filing.
• Hershey beat Q4 expectations with EPS of $1.71 (vs. $1.40 est.) and revenue of $3.09B (vs. $2.97B), set FY2026 EPS guidance of 8.200–8.520, and analysts’ consensus for the year is roughly 8.38 EPS.
• Hershey increased its quarterly dividend to $1.452 (annualized $5.81, ~3.0% yield), though the payout ratio is high at ~133.9%, and insiders sold about 10,000 shares in the last quarter (including the CFO’s 1,500-share sale under a 10b5-1 plan).

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS lowered its position in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 15.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 110,995 shares of the company's stock after selling 20,600 shares during the quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS owned approximately 0.05% of Hershey worth $20,199,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp grew its stake in Hershey by 1.8% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,253,041 shares of the company's stock worth $1,356,681,000 after purchasing an additional 128,982 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in Hershey by 1.9% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,614,258 shares of the company's stock worth $301,947,000 after purchasing an additional 29,731 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in Hershey by 6.7% in the third quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 1,605,628 shares of the company's stock worth $300,333,000 after purchasing an additional 101,305 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in Hershey by 3.7% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,473,427 shares of the company's stock worth $275,605,000 after purchasing an additional 52,936 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its stake in Hershey by 240.0% in the third quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,262,671 shares of the company's stock worth $236,183,000 after purchasing an additional 891,287 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Hershey Stock Up 1.9%

Shares of NYSE HSY opened at $192.15 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.95 billion, a PE ratio of 44.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 0.18. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $213.49 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $196.88. Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $150.04 and a 12-month high of $239.48.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.31. The firm had revenue of $3.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.97 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 27.90% and a net margin of 7.55%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.69 EPS. Hershey has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.200-8.520 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Hershey Company will post 8.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were given a $1.452 dividend. This represents a $5.81 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This is a positive change from Hershey's previous quarterly dividend of $1.37. Hershey's payout ratio is 133.87%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Zacks Research cut Hershey from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on Hershey from $212.00 to $200.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 30th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on Hershey in a research note on Monday, April 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and issued a $185.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Piper Sandler reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $249.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research note on Wednesday, February 25th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seventeen have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hershey presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $223.83.

Insider Transactions at Hershey

In other news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, April 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.10, for a total value of $291,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 57,695 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,198,599.50. This trade represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Jason Reiman sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.07, for a total value of $452,140.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 41,036 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,277,008.52. The trade was a 4.65% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 10,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,189,090 in the last quarter. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Trending Headlines about Hershey

Here are the key news stories impacting Hershey this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs reaffirmed a "buy" on HSY, providing support from a major bank and signaling conviction in Hershey's medium-term outlook. The Hershey Company (HSY) Gets a Buy from Goldman Sachs
• Positive Sentiment: Hershey is reshaping its sustainability strategy; management says progress has been made but more work remains — a long-term positive for brand and ESG-focused investors if execution continues. Why Hershey is making big changes to its sustainability strategy
• Neutral Sentiment: CFO Steven Voskuil sold 1,500 shares under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan; planned insider sales reduce the alarm factor but remain a reminder to watch insider activity. Insider Selling: Hershey NYSE: HSY CFO Sells 1,500 Shares of Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley cut its price target from $247 to $227 but kept an "overweight" rating, which supports the stock technically while trimming upside expectations. Morgan Stanley price target note
• Neutral Sentiment: Stifel issued a "hold" on HSY (and a separate piece flagged a pessimistic forecast), reflecting mixed broker sentiment and consensus caution among analysts. Stifel Hold on Hershey
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts and previews (Zacks / Yahoo) expect a decline in upcoming quarterly earnings and note Hershey lacks the drivers that historically produce surprise beats — this raises near-term downside risk if results miss. Analysts Estimate Hershey (HSY) to Report a Decline in Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan and other outlets have lowered expectations or issued cautious notes, contributing to a cluster of analyst downgrades/price-target trims that can pressure sentiment ahead of the earnings report. JPMorgan lowers expectations
• Negative Sentiment: Broader commentary on consumer staples notes the sector has lagged growth stocks; if investors rotate back into growth, staples like Hershey could underperform near-term. 3 Consumer Stocks We Think Twice About

Hershey Profile

The Hershey Company NYSE: HSY is a leading North American chocolatier and snack manufacturer headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The company develops, produces and markets a wide range of confectionery and snack products for retail, foodservice and international customers. Hershey's business spans manufacturing, branded product marketing, packaging and distribution across grocery, convenience, mass merchant and e-commerce channels.

Hershey's product portfolio centers on chocolate and sugar confectionery, including core brands such as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses and Twizzlers, alongside non-chocolate snacks and confectionery brands.

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