The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Stake Lifted by Isthmus Partners LLC

Isthmus Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 0.4% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 69,585 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 301 shares during the period. Hershey makes up about 1.6% of Isthmus Partners LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Isthmus Partners LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $13,345,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Hershey in the third quarter worth $25,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 218.2% in the second quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 140 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 55.0% in the second 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 bought a new position in shares of Hershey in the second quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 71.9% in the second quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 251 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of Hershey stock opened at $174.09 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $182.58 and a 200 day moving average price of $190.28. The company has a market cap of $35.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.06, a P/E/G ratio of 4.17 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The Hershey Company has a 1 year low of $168.16 and a 1 year high of $211.92.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be paid a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.13%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on HSY shares. Argus cut Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Hershey from $205.00 to $183.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Barclays decreased their target price on Hershey from $202.00 to $180.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. 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. Finally, Citigroup cut Hershey from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $195.00 to $182.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $189.33.

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.