DA Davidson Has Bearish Outlook for Hershey FY2025 Earnings

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) – Analysts at DA Davidson reduced their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Hershey in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, February 3rd. DA Davidson analyst B. Holland now expects that the company will earn $6.88 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $8.02. The consensus estimate for Hershey’s current full-year earnings is $9.06 per share.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on HSY. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Hershey from $170.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Citigroup decreased their target price on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Bernstein Bank cut their price target on Hershey from $177.00 to $146.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Hershey in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a “sell” rating and a $165.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Hershey from $150.00 to $134.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $167.10.

Hershey Stock Up 0.8 %

Hershey stock opened at $145.96 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $29.53 billion, a PE ratio of 16.82, a PEG ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.37. Hershey has a 12-month low of $140.13 and a 12-month high of $211.92. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $165.80 and its 200 day moving average is $181.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hershey news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $41,144.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,682 shares in the company, valued at $396,936. The trade was a 9.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hershey

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its position in Hershey by 1.1% in the third quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 5,646 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,083,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC increased its holdings in Hershey by 23.3% in the 3rd quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 64 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLC raised its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Finally, Northstar Group Inc. boosted its position in Hershey by 3.3% during the third quarter. Northstar Group Inc. now owns 2,239 shares of the company’s stock worth $429,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.