Strs Ohio Has $17.14 Million Stock Position in Hershey Company (The) $HSY

Key Points

• Strs Ohio boosted its stake in Hershey by 493% in Q4, ending the period with 94,190 shares worth about $17.14 million after adding 78,307 shares.
• Hershey beat Q1 estimates with adjusted EPS of $2.35 (vs. $2.04) and revenue of $3.10 billion (up 10.7% YoY), but margin pressure from higher input and freight costs and slightly softer near‑term guidance weighed on sentiment.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.452 (annualized $5.81, yield 3.2%) despite a payout ratio of 108%, and analysts maintain a consensus Hold rating with an average target of $220.56.

Strs Ohio lifted its stake in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 493.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 94,190 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 78,307 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohio's holdings in Hershey were worth $17,141,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in Hershey by 6.5% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 15,310 shares of the company's stock worth $2,618,000 after buying an additional 937 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Hershey by 20.2% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 697 shares of the company's stock worth $116,000 after buying an additional 117 shares during the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL acquired a new position in Hershey during the second quarter worth approximately $267,000. Bank of Nova Scotia increased its position in Hershey by 4.5% during the second quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 17,927 shares of the company's stock worth $2,975,000 after buying an additional 769 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in Hershey by 5.4% during the second quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 22,247 shares of the company's stock worth $3,692,000 after buying an additional 1,149 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Hershey Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:HSY opened at $182.32 on Monday. Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $150.04 and a 12-month high of $239.48. The stock has a market cap of $36.96 billion, a PE ratio of 33.95, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.07. The business has a 50 day moving average of $210.21 and a 200-day moving average of $196.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $2.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.04 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $3.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.03 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 28.98% and a net margin of 9.12%.The business's revenue was up 10.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Hershey Company will post 8.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be paid a $1.452 dividend. This represents a $5.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. Hershey's payout ratio is 108.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Hershey from $185.00 to $207.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Hershey from $247.00 to $227.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Hershey from $211.00 to $204.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Finally, DA Davidson set a $243.00 price objective on Hershey in a report on Friday, February 6th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and sixteen have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $220.56.

More Hershey News

Here are the key news stories impacting Hershey this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results topped estimates: Hershey reported stronger-than-expected revenue and adjusted EPS, driven by pricing and cost pass-through, which supports near-term top-line durability. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: GLP‑1 tailwind for mints/gum: Management said rising use of GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs is boosting demand for mints and gum (Ice Breakers), a growing, higher‑margin category offsetting some snack weakness. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend increase/confirmation: Hershey declared its quarterly dividend ($1.452/share), supporting income investors and signaling confidence in cash flow. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings-call color — innovation and seasonal help: Management cited strong Easter sales and innovation/premiumization gains (luxury chocolate initiatives), which support medium‑term brand momentum but are not immediate growth guarantees. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Margin pressure from higher input and freight costs: Several coverage pieces and the company commentary highlight rising costs that compressed margins despite the beat — a key reason investors are less enthused. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Softer guidance focus: Although Hershey reaffirmed 2026 guidance, investors fixated on slightly softer near‑term wording and demand uncertainty, which trimmed sentiment after the print. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst reactions trimmed optimism: Multiple firms kept neutral/hold stances or lowered price targets (Barclays, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, BTIG maintained/adjusted coverage), reflecting concerns about near‑term demand elasticity and a premium valuation — adding selling pressure. Read More. Read More. Read More.

Insider Activity at Hershey

In related news, insider Rohit Grover sold 3,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $226.07, for a total value of $791,245.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 34,568 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,814,787.76. The trade was a 9.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Jason Reiman sold 2,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were 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 owned 41,036 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $9,277,008.52. This trade represents a 4.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 10,000 shares of company stock worth $2,189,090. Company insiders own 0.08% of the company's stock.

About Hershey

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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