Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Has $21.51 Million Stock Position in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH lifted its stake in Hershey Company (The) (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 3.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 125,763 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 4,150 shares during the quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.06% of Hershey worth $21,509,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Capital International Investors raised its stake in shares of 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 in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Hershey by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,801,145 shares of the company's stock worth $642,139,000 after buying an additional 47,394 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in 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 acquiring an additional 453,428 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Hershey by 10.8% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,578,957 shares of the company's stock valued at $267,396,000 after acquiring an additional 154,238 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its position in shares of Hershey by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,282,681 shares of the company's stock valued at $217,222,000 after acquiring an additional 87,498 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on HSY shares. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of Hershey from $120.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Hershey from $183.00 to $177.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on Hershey from $178.00 to $175.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Wall Street Zen lowered Hershey from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Sunday, July 6th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Hershey from $147.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fifteen have issued a hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $160.16.

Hershey Price Performance

NYSE HSY traded up $3.64 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $187.54. The company had a trading volume of 1,943,816 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,819,132. The company has a market capitalization of $38.00 billion, a PE ratio of 23.12, a P/E/G ratio of 7.05 and a beta of 0.30. Hershey Company has a twelve month low of $140.13 and a twelve month high of $208.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $167.36 and a 200-day moving average price of $165.18.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 business had revenue of $2.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.07 earnings per share. Hershey's revenue for the quarter was down 13.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts anticipate that Hershey Company will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th were issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 16th. Hershey's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 67.57%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hershey

In related news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 5,000 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.00, for a total value of $900,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 61,319 shares of the company's stock, valued at $11,037,420. This trade represents a 7.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP James Turoff sold 1,300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.00, for a total value of $227,500.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 25,321 shares of the company's stock, 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. Insiders have sold a total of 99,021 shares of company stock worth $17,189,088 in the last three months. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

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.