AMI Investment Management Inc. Raises Stock Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

AMI Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 2.7% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 11,005 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 288 shares during the quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Hershey were worth $1,864,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Hershey during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its position in Hershey by 248.0% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the period. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its position in Hershey by 61.7% during the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at about $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Citigroup dropped their price target on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $176.42.

Hershey Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of Hershey stock opened at $152.82 on Monday. The Hershey Company has a 1-year low of $150.31 and a 1-year high of $211.92. The company has a market capitalization of $30.92 billion, a PE ratio of 17.61, a P/E/G ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.38. 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 business has a 50-day moving average of $171.86 and a 200-day moving average of $184.39.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a dividend of $1.37 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.