The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Shares Sold by Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC

Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC decreased its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 4.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,405 shares of the company’s stock after selling 72 shares during the quarter. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $238,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth $1,337,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised 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 worth $186,571,000 after buying an additional 389,404 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Hershey by 61.9% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 120,159 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,052,000 after buying an additional 45,936 shares in the last quarter. Pensionfund Sabic boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 55.6% in the fourth quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 8,400 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,423,000 after buying an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Finally, Clark & Stuart Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $654,000. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of Hershey stock opened at $152.82 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.61, a P/E/G ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.38. The Hershey Company has a 1-year low of $150.31 and a 1-year high of $211.92. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $171.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $184.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders 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 3.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s payout ratio is presently 63.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on HSY. Citigroup dropped their target price on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target 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 cut their price objective on shares of Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $183.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Hershey in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 price target for the company. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Hershey has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $176.42.

Hershey 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.