JPMorgan Chase & Co. Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Stock Price

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) had its price target cut by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $171.00 to $151.00 in a research note issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “neutral” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target points to a potential downside of 0.49% from the stock’s previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Barclays lowered their target price on Hershey from $202.00 to $180.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Hershey from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, October 25th. Finally, UBS Group lowered shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $226.00 to $209.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $180.68.

Hershey Stock Down 2.3 %

Shares of NYSE HSY opened at $151.75 on Thursday. 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’s 50-day moving average is $173.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $185.04. Hershey has a 12-month low of $150.31 and a 12-month high of $211.92. The company has a market capitalization of $30.71 billion, a PE ratio of 17.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.38.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hershey during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its stake in Hershey by 61.7% during the 4th 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 position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth $46,000. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, City State Bank grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 210.0% during the fourth quarter. City State Bank now owns 310 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.