Integrated Advisors Network LLC Grows Stock Position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 3.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,794 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $334,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. First Financial Corp IN acquired a new position in Hershey during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Highlander Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Hershey by 125.3% during the fourth quarter. Highlander Capital Management LLC now owns 169 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. Rakuten Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Hershey during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new position in Hershey during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Stock Performance

NYSE HSY opened at $182.72 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $194.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $192.45. The Hershey Company has a twelve month low of $178.82 and a twelve month high of $262.30. The company has a market capitalization of $36.95 billion, a PE ratio of 18.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.18 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) last released its earnings results on Friday, May 3rd. The company reported $3.07 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.33. Hershey had a return on equity of 50.15% and a net margin of 18.13%. The firm had revenue of $3.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.96 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that The Hershey Company will post 9.6 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 17th were issued a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 16th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.00%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.31%.

Insider Transactions at Hershey

In other news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $185.83, for a total value of $278,745.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 38,728 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,196,824.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders have sold a total of 4,500 shares of company stock worth $882,405 in the last three months. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on HSY. BNP Paribas lowered Hershey from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $208.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, March 26th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Hershey from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Hershey from $200.00 to $179.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 15th. Barclays lowered their target price on Hershey from $210.00 to $204.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and issued a $213.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a report on Friday, March 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Hershey currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $210.22.

Hershey 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.