Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. Has $1.62 Million Stock Position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc. cut its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 86.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,570 shares of the company's stock after selling 58,789 shares during the period. Campbell Newman Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Hershey were worth $1,621,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. boosted its stake in Hershey by 59.4% in the 4th quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 2,721 shares of the company's stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 1,014 shares during the period. Park Avenue Securities LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 11.5% during the fourth quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 6,293 shares of the company's stock worth $1,066,000 after buying an additional 647 shares in the last quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hershey in the fourth quarter valued at about $401,000. Board of the Pension Protection Fund acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the fourth quarter valued at about $762,000. Finally, SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Hershey by 21.2% during the fourth quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,703 shares of the company's stock worth $288,000 after acquiring an additional 298 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on HSY shares. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 23rd. Redburn Atlantic initiated coverage on Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They set a "sell" rating and a $165.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 25th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Hershey from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $182.21.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of HSY traded down $3.56 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $151.75. The stock had a trading volume of 3,583,794 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,093,826. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.85. The Hershey Company has a 12 month low of $150.31 and a 12 month high of $211.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.71 billion, a PE ratio of 17.48, a PEG ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.38. The company's 50-day moving average is $173.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $185.04.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.61%. Hershey's dividend payout ratio is presently 63.13%.

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.