Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC Grows Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 36.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 21,460 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,700 shares during the period. Hershey makes up about 2.3% of Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest position. Eliot Finkel Investment Counsel LLC's holdings in Hershey were worth $3,634,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in Hershey in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust lifted its stake in Hershey by 248.0% during the 4th quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 124 shares during the period. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey in the third quarter worth $46,000. Finally, City State Bank raised its holdings in shares of Hershey by 210.0% during the fourth quarter. City State Bank now owns 310 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of Hershey stock traded up $0.61 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $176.99. 1,185,884 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,814,155. The business has a fifty day moving average of $160.89 and a two-hundred day moving average of $176.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The company has a market capitalization of $35.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.90 and a beta of 0.37. The Hershey Company has a 1 year low of $140.13 and a 1 year high of $211.92.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.29. Hershey had a net margin of 19.83% and a return on equity of 44.77%. As a group, research analysts predict that The Hershey Company will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 17th will be paid a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Hershey's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 50.28%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

HSY has been the topic of several recent research reports. TD Cowen lowered their price target on shares of Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and issued a $178.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Piper Sandler cut Hershey from a "neutral" rating to an "underweight" rating and reduced their price target for the company from $153.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday, January 31st. DA Davidson decreased their price target on Hershey from $164.00 to $149.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Hershey from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and sixteen have given a hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Hershey has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $164.15.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hershey

In related news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of the company'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 completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,682 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $396,936. This represents a 9.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.34% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.