WCM Investment Management LLC Has $1.26 Million Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

WCM Investment Management LLC grew its stake in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY - Free Report) by 311.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,505 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 4,925 shares during the quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC's holdings in Hershey were worth $1,258,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Hershey by 14.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,341,721 shares of the company's stock worth $3,372,965,000 after buying an additional 2,158,912 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 6.5% in the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,487,565 shares of the company's stock valued at $289,327,000 after purchasing an additional 90,329 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 66.7% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company's stock valued at $186,571,000 after purchasing an additional 389,404 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 787,377 shares of the company's stock valued at $144,743,000 after purchasing an additional 25,780 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 23.2% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 783,128 shares of the company's stock valued at $143,962,000 after purchasing an additional 147,215 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have weighed in on HSY shares. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Hershey in a research note on Monday, August 12th. They issued a "sell" rating and a $185.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America decreased their target price on Hershey from $200.00 to $195.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Argus downgraded Hershey from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded Hershey from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $230.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Hershey from $205.00 to $183.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Hershey presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $189.33.

Hershey Stock Performance

Shares of HSY stock traded up $0.38 on Wednesday, reaching $181.88. The stock had a trading volume of 736,611 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,688,459. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The firm's 50-day moving average is $188.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $192.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.91, a P/E/G ratio of 4.35 and a beta of 0.38. The Hershey Company has a 12 month low of $171.67 and a 12 month high of $211.92.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.01%. Hershey's dividend payout ratio is presently 63.13%.

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.