Jefferies Financial Group Has Lowered Expectations for Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Stock Price

Hershey (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) had its target price lowered by equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $150.00 to $134.00 in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "underperform" rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group's price objective would indicate a potential downside of 12.72% from the stock's current price.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Hershey from $168.00 to $153.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Hershey from $150.00 to $140.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Friday. UBS Group reduced their price target on Hershey from $189.00 to $163.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Hershey in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a "sell" rating and a $165.00 price target for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $175.00.

Hershey Stock Up 0.4 %

NYSE:HSY traded up $0.66 on Tuesday, hitting $153.53. 1,743,872 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,041,672. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. Hershey has a 1 year low of $150.31 and a 1 year high of $211.92. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $171.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $184.17. The company has a market cap of $31.07 billion, a PE ratio of 17.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.20 and a beta of 0.38.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG bought a new stake in Hershey in the third quarter valued at $1,337,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 66.7% during the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company's stock worth $186,571,000 after purchasing an additional 389,404 shares during the last quarter. Woodstock Corp grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 34.8% during the fourth quarter. Woodstock Corp now owns 6,896 shares of the company's stock worth $1,168,000 after purchasing an additional 1,780 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 61.9% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 120,159 shares of the company's stock worth $23,052,000 after purchasing an additional 45,936 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pensionfund Sabic grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 55.6% during the fourth quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 8,400 shares of the company's stock worth $1,423,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hershey Company 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.