Monte Financial Group LLC Buys 5,671 Shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Monte Financial Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 17.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 37,963 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,671 shares during the quarter. Hershey comprises 2.8% of Monte Financial Group LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 8th largest position. Monte Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $6,429,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in HSY. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Hershey during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust increased its holdings in shares of Hershey by 248.0% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. raised its stake in shares of Hershey by 61.7% in the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC bought a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Trading Up 0.4 %

HSY opened at $150.54 on Friday. The Hershey Company has a twelve month low of $147.60 and a twelve month high of $211.92. The firm has a market cap of $30.46 billion, a PE ratio of 17.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.38. 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 firm’s fifty day moving average is $169.13 and its two-hundred day moving average is $183.26.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a $1.37 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.64%. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 63.13%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $184.00 to $148.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, December 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $183.00 target price on shares of Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Hershey from $171.00 to $151.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Hershey has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $171.79.

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.