Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Given New $180.00 Price Target at Barclays

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) had its price target trimmed by Barclays from $202.00 to $180.00 in a report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on the company. UBS Group cut Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Hershey from $191.00 to $199.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Hershey in a report on Monday, August 12th. They set a “sell” rating and a $185.00 price target on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of Hershey from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and cut their target price for the company from $230.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $189.33.

Hershey Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HSY opened at $178.77 on Monday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $188.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $192.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.54. Hershey has a 1 year low of $171.67 and a 1 year high of $211.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $36.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th will be issued a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s payout ratio is presently 63.13%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hershey

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HSY. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Hershey during the third quarter worth $25,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its holdings in shares of Hershey by 218.2% during the second quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 140 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Hershey by 55.0% during the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 155 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Hershey in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

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.