UBS Group Lowers Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Price Target to $163.00

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) had its target price cut by analysts at UBS Group from $189.00 to $163.00 in a research report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “neutral” rating on the stock. UBS Group’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 6.66% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other research firms also recently commented on HSY. Citigroup decreased their price target on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Hershey from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and issued a $183.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective 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. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $176.42.

Hershey Stock Down 0.8 %

HSY stock opened at $152.82 on Thursday. Hershey has a one year low of $150.31 and a one year high of $211.92. The firm has a market cap of $30.92 billion, a PE ratio of 17.61, a PEG ratio of 4.31 and a beta of 0.38. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $171.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $184.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.85.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its holdings in Hershey by 248.0% in the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. raised its stake in Hershey by 61.7% in the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

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.