Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Hits New 1-Year Low - Should You Sell?

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $147.30 and last traded at $146.91, with a volume of 8657 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $149.25.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Piper Sandler cut shares of Hershey from a "neutral" rating to an "underweight" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $153.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Friday, January 31st. TD Cowen cut their price target on Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a "sell" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Bernstein Bank cut their target price on shares of Hershey from $177.00 to $146.00 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and set a $178.00 price target on shares of Hershey in a research note on Monday. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $167.10.

Hershey Trading Up 0.8 %

The stock's 50-day moving average price is $165.80 and its 200 day moving average price is $181.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.53 billion, a PE ratio of 16.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.37.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a dividend of $1.37 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.75%. Hershey's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.13%.

Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of the firm'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 sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $396,936. This trade represents a 9.39 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hershey

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 30,461.7% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 573,643 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,100,130,000 after purchasing an additional 571,766 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its position in Hershey by 66.7% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company's stock valued at $186,571,000 after buying an additional 389,404 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in Hershey by 5.8% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,029,551 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,348,127,000 after buying an additional 386,670 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Hershey by 31.3% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 586,565 shares of the company's stock worth $112,491,000 after acquiring an additional 139,831 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 2.6% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,387,715 shares of the company's stock worth $841,476,000 after acquiring an additional 109,336 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.96% of the company's stock.

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.