Almanack Investment Partners LLC. Raises Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Almanack Investment Partners LLC. grew its stake in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 12.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,723 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 196 shares during the quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC.’s holdings in Hershey were worth $292,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its stake in Hershey by 23.3% during the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,130 shares of the company’s stock worth $792,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLC increased its position in Hershey by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 1,175 shares of the company’s stock worth $225,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital raised its holdings in Hershey by 5.7% in the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 1,372 shares of the company’s stock valued at $257,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Wealth Management lifted its position in Hershey by 1.3% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 6,007 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,152,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total transaction of $41,144.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,682 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $396,936. This trade represents a 9.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Stock Performance

HSY opened at $154.98 on Friday. The Hershey Company has a twelve month low of $140.13 and a twelve month high of $211.92. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The stock has a market cap of $31.36 billion, a PE ratio of 17.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.38. The business’s 50 day moving average is $164.81 and its 200-day moving average is $180.78.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.29. Hershey had a net margin of 16.17% and a return on equity of 43.24%. On average, analysts predict that The Hershey Company will post 9.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 17th will be paid a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio is currently 63.13%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 price objective on the stock. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Bernstein Bank dropped their price objective on shares of Hershey from $177.00 to $146.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Hershey from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on Hershey from $184.00 to $148.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fifteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $166.35.

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.