The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Shares Sold by Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co.

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. reduced its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 13.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,150 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,099 shares during the period. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co.’s holdings in Hershey were worth $1,211,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of HSY. Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its holdings in Hershey by 1.1% in the third quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 5,646 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,083,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its position in shares of Hershey by 23.3% during the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,130 shares of the company’s stock valued at $792,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Hershey by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 1,175 shares of the company’s stock valued at $225,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northstar Group Inc. raised its stake in Hershey by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Northstar Group Inc. now owns 2,239 shares of the company’s stock worth $429,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Hershey Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of Hershey stock opened at $147.67 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $166.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $181.87. The Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $146.48 and a 12-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 $29.88 billion, a PE ratio of 17.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.71%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio is presently 63.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HSY has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 23rd. 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 report on Friday, January 24th. Piper Sandler downgraded shares of Hershey from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $153.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Hershey from $184.00 to $148.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $169.79.

Hershey Company 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.