Marshall Wace LLP Has $3.29 Million Position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Marshall Wace LLP lifted its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 47.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 19,441 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,226 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP's holdings in Hershey were worth $3,292,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Montag & Caldwell LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Hershey in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Grove Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Hershey by 248.0% during the fourth 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. Vision Financial Markets LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Hershey in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Lee Danner & Bass Inc. acquired a new position in Hershey in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Hershey Stock Performance

Shares of HSY traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $163.30. 1,298,033 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,781,261. The stock's fifty day moving average is $169.36 and its 200 day moving average is $169.32. The stock has a market cap of $33.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.90 and a beta of 0.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.96. 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 announced 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%. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Hershey Company will post 6.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Monday, February 17th were paid a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.36%. Hershey's payout ratio is currently 50.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on HSY. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Hershey from $150.00 to $134.00 and set an "underperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Piper Sandler cut shares of Hershey from a "neutral" rating to an "underweight" rating and lowered their price target for the company from $153.00 to $120.00 in a report on Friday, January 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Hershey from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, March 14th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Hershey from $170.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Hershey from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fifteen have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $163.35.

Insider Activity at Hershey

In other Hershey news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $41,144.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,682 shares in the company, valued at approximately $396,936. The trade was a 9.39 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.