The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) Shares Purchased by Daiwa Securities Group Inc.

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 11.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,127 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,877 shares during the quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in Hershey were worth $3,476,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Hershey by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC now owns 11,118 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,162,000 after buying an additional 495 shares in the last quarter. Tidal Investments LLC increased its position in shares of Hershey by 86.7% during the first quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 11,869 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,308,000 after acquiring an additional 5,511 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank increased its position in shares of Hershey by 3.4% during the first quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 49,456 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,619,000 after acquiring an additional 1,607 shares during the last quarter. Swedbank AB acquired a new position in shares of Hershey in the first quarter worth about $25,588,000. Finally, Atria Investments Inc boosted its holdings in Hershey by 30.5% in the first quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 32,581 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,337,000 after purchasing an additional 7,612 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Trading Up 0.5 %

Hershey stock opened at $174.09 on Thursday. The Hershey Company has a 52-week low of $168.16 and a 52-week high of $211.92. 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 has a market capitalization of $35.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.06, a PEG ratio of 4.21 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $183.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $190.39.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.13%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

HSY has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Citigroup cut shares of Hershey from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and cut their price target for the company from $195.00 to $182.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Hershey from $188.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 14th. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on shares of Hershey in a research note on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target 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. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus 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.