Tevis Investment Management Makes New Investment in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Tevis Investment Management bought a new position in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 3,855 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $653,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of HSY. Atomi Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Hershey in the third quarter valued at approximately $235,000. Brookstone Capital Management increased its position in shares of Hershey by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 10,107 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,938,000 after purchasing an additional 544 shares during the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital raised its holdings in shares of Hershey by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 1,372 shares of the company's stock valued at $257,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt lifted its position in shares of Hershey by 41.6% during the 3rd quarter. Livforsakringsbolaget Skandia Omsesidigt now owns 5,450 shares of the company's stock worth $1,045,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 7.2% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Financial Group LLC now owns 1,145 shares of the company's stock worth $215,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at Hershey

In related news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total transaction of $41,144.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,682 shares of the company's stock, valued at $396,936. This trade represents a 9.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on HSY shares. UBS Group cut their price target on Hershey from $189.00 to $163.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Mizuho cut their target price on Hershey from $170.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Hershey in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a "sell" rating and a $165.00 target price for the company. TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating and set a $178.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fifteen have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Hershey currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $166.35.

Hershey Price Performance

Hershey stock traded up $2.64 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $154.98. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,394,691 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,139,031. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.96. The Hershey Company has a fifty-two week low of $140.13 and a fifty-two week high of $211.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.36 billion, a PE ratio of 14.22, a P/E/G ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 0.37. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $164.38 and its 200 day simple moving average is $180.46.

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, topping 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%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that The Hershey Company will post 6.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 17th will be given a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Hershey's dividend payout ratio is currently 50.28%.

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.