Nisa Investment Advisors LLC Decreases Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lowered its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 2.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 41,988 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,157 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $7,111,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust raised its stake in Hershey by 248.0% in the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in Hershey by 61.7% in the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hershey during the third quarter worth $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of HSY opened at $150.54 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $30.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.34, a PEG ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.38. The Hershey Company has a fifty-two week low of $147.60 and a fifty-two week high of $211.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $169.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $183.49.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.64%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.13%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on HSY. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $180.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on Hershey from $150.00 to $134.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Mizuho dropped their target price on Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 23rd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $171.79.

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.