Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC Lowers Stake in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC lowered its position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 5,299 shares of the company’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $897,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd grew its position in Hershey by 788.4% during the 4th quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 57,158 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,617,000 after acquiring an additional 50,724 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN boosted its stake in shares of Hershey by 8.4% during the 4th quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 3,309 shares of the company’s stock valued at $560,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. Lawson Kroeker Investment Management Inc. NE raised its position in shares of Hershey by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Lawson Kroeker Investment Management Inc. NE now owns 54,412 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,215,000 after acquiring an additional 4,674 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB lifted its position in Hershey by 5.4% during the fourth quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 143,294 shares of the company’s stock valued at $24,267,000 after buying an additional 7,396 shares during the period. Finally, Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey in the fourth quarter worth about $6,230,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HSY opened at $152.00 on Friday. 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 firm has a market cap of $30.76 billion, a PE ratio of 17.51, a PEG ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.38. The Hershey Company has a one year low of $147.60 and a one year high of $211.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $167.90 and a 200 day moving average of $182.50.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.61%. Hershey’s payout ratio is currently 63.13%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 24th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered Hershey from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $230.00 to $205.00 in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Barclays lowered their price target on Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $184.00 to $148.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 23rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $170.05.

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.