Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. Sells 58,789 Shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 86.0% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,570 shares of the company’s stock after selling 58,789 shares during the period. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Hershey were worth $1,621,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth $25,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth about $46,000. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in Hershey by 61.7% during the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its position in Hershey by 123.9% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 25th. Mizuho cut their price target on Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 23rd. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Hershey from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Bank of America reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $180.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $182.21.

Hershey Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:HSY traded down $0.31 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $155.00. 126,666 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,705,097. The stock has a market cap of $31.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.86, a P/E/G ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.38. 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 Hershey Company has a fifty-two week low of $154.46 and a fifty-two week high of $211.92. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $173.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $185.04.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.37 dividend. 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 3.54%. Hershey’s payout ratio is 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.