The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Receives $184.61 Average Price Target from Analysts

Shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Reduce" from the nineteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have assigned a hold rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $184.61.

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of Hershey from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $175.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. UBS Group cut Hershey from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Bank of America reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $180.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Hershey from $191.00 to $199.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hershey

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HSY. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Hershey by 30,461.7% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 573,643 shares of the company's stock worth $1,100,130,000 after purchasing an additional 571,766 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA bought a new position in shares of Hershey during the second quarter valued at $82,123,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in Hershey by 66.7% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company's stock valued at $186,571,000 after purchasing an additional 389,404 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Hershey by 5.8% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,029,551 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,348,127,000 after buying an additional 386,670 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lifted its position in shares of Hershey by 1,194.0% during the second quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 249,347 shares of the company's stock worth $45,837,000 after purchasing an additional 230,077 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of HSY stock traded down $0.56 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $168.79. 864,511 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,807,945. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market cap of $34.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.37. Hershey has a 52 week low of $166.69 and a 52 week high of $211.92. The stock's 50-day moving average is $175.98 and its 200-day moving average is $186.21.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. Hershey's payout ratio is 63.13%.

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.