Czech National Bank Has $5.43 Million Stock Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Czech National Bank increased its holdings in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 6.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,034 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,952 shares during the period. Czech National Bank’s holdings in Hershey were worth $5,425,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in HSY. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its stake in Hershey by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 34,942 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,423,000 after buying an additional 709 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Hershey by 1.8% during the second quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 11,320 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,081,000 after acquiring an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Hershey by 10.4% during the second quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 647 shares of the company’s stock valued at $119,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the second quarter worth approximately $82,123,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 787,377 shares of the company’s stock worth $144,743,000 after purchasing an additional 25,780 shares in the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hershey Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HSY opened at $151.75 on Thursday. The Hershey Company has a 12-month low of $150.31 and a 12-month high of $211.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.48, a price-to-earnings-growth 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 firm has a 50 day moving average of $173.19 and a 200 day moving average of $185.04.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.61%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio is currently 63.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Hershey from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $230.00 to $205.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued 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 $182.21.

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.