CapWealth Advisors LLC Grows Stock Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

CapWealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 64,355 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 929 shares during the quarter. CapWealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $10,899,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Good Life Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Hershey by 108.1% in the third quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 5,052 shares of the company’s stock valued at $969,000 after buying an additional 2,624 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Hershey by 1.7% in the third quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC now owns 4,916 shares of the company’s stock valued at $943,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. Onyx Bridge Wealth Group LLC purchased a new position in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth $208,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its position in Hershey by 28.9% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 2,344 shares of the company’s stock valued at $450,000 after purchasing an additional 525 shares during the period. Finally, M3 Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth $202,000. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Hershey

In related news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $41,144.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $396,936. This represents a 9.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on HSY shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of Hershey from $150.00 to $134.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and issued a $178.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Bernstein Bank reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $177.00 to $146.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. DA Davidson dropped their target price on Hershey from $164.00 to $149.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered Hershey from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $153.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and sixteen have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $164.15.

Hershey Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of Hershey stock opened at $157.99 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $31.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.49, a PEG ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.96. The Hershey Company has a 52-week low of $140.13 and a 52-week high of $211.92. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $162.83 and a 200-day moving average of $179.58.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.29. Hershey had a net margin of 19.83% and a return on equity of 44.77%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that The Hershey Company will post 6.77 EPS for the current year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 17th will be issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.28%.

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.