The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Shares Purchased by Lawson Kroeker Investment Management Inc. NE

Lawson Kroeker Investment Management Inc. NE increased its position in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 9.4% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 54,412 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,674 shares during the quarter. Hershey accounts for approximately 1.7% of Lawson Kroeker Investment Management Inc. NE’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Lawson Kroeker Investment Management Inc. NE’s holdings in Hershey were worth $9,215,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its stake in Hershey by 248.0% in the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its stake in Hershey by 61.7% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. 57.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Hershey Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of Hershey stock opened at $149.41 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.21, a PEG ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $168.39 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $182.73. The Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $147.60 and a 12-month high of $211.92.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.67%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio is 63.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on HSY. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $180.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Mizuho lowered their target price on Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Hershey from $184.00 to $148.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Hershey in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Hershey from $168.00 to $153.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $171.79.

Hershey Company Profile

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.