The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Shares Purchased by Hilltop Holdings Inc.

Hilltop Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 8.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,565 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 504 shares during the quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc.’s holdings in Hershey were worth $1,259,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in Hershey by 218.2% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 140 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Hershey by 55.0% during the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 155 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in Hershey during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC boosted its stake in Hershey by 71.9% during the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 251 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on HSY shares. Argus cut shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Bank of America reduced their price target on Hershey from $200.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Hershey in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a “sell” rating and a $165.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $189.33.

Hershey Stock Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:HSY opened at $179.46 on Wednesday. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $36.31 billion, a PE ratio of 20.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.26 and a beta of 0.37. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $181.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $189.40. The Hershey Company has a 1 year low of $168.16 and a 1 year high of $211.92.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.37 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.05%. 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.