Brokerages Set The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Target Price at $184.61

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) has received a consensus recommendation of “Reduce” from the twenty research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and fourteen have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $182.21.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. TD Cowen reduced their price target on Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and issued a $183.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a report on Tuesday, December 10th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th.

Hershey Trading Down 1.8 %

HSY stock opened at $162.51 on Thursday. Hershey has a 52 week low of $159.87 and a 52 week high of $211.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.85. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $174.83 and its 200 day simple moving average is $185.77. The company has a market capitalization of $32.88 billion, a PE ratio of 18.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.37%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.13%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Lantz Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the second quarter worth $1,841,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in Hershey by 2.7% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 87,962 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,170,000 after buying an additional 2,350 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in shares of Hershey by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 30,405 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,590,000 after buying an additional 2,013 shares during the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey in the second quarter valued at about $55,000. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its position in shares of Hershey by 20.9% during the second quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 67,375 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,386,000 after acquiring an additional 11,656 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.96% 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.