The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Stock Holdings Decreased by Banque Cantonale Vaudoise

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise lowered its stake in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 85.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 439 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,594 shares during the period. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise’s holdings in Hershey were worth $84,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of HSY. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Hershey by 30,461.7% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 573,643 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,100,130,000 after purchasing an additional 571,766 shares during the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Hershey by 297.9% during the 2nd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 717,831 shares of the company’s stock valued at $131,959,000 after buying an additional 537,419 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA bought a new stake in shares of Hershey during the 2nd quarter valued at about $82,123,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Hershey by 66.7% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company’s stock valued at $186,571,000 after buying an additional 389,404 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of Hershey by 1,194.0% during the 2nd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 249,347 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,837,000 after buying an additional 230,077 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

HSY has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Hershey in a research report on Monday, August 12th. They issued a “sell” rating and a $185.00 target price for the company. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Hershey from $200.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Argus cut shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $205.00 to $183.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Hershey presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $189.33.

Hershey Stock Down 0.1 %

Hershey stock opened at $174.81 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $35.37 billion, a PE ratio of 20.14, a P/E/G ratio of 4.08 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $184.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $191.01. The Hershey Company has a twelve month low of $168.16 and a twelve month high of $211.92.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.