Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Sets New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) reached a new 52-week low on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $155.76 and last traded at $156.99, with a volume of 89729 shares. The stock had previously closed at $157.28.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on HSY shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Hershey from $160.00 to $150.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Hershey from $195.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 23rd. UBS Group downgraded shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their target price for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Hershey has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $182.21.

Hershey Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.03, a PEG ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.38. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $173.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $185.24.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th were paid a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.13%.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HSY. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Hershey in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 55.0% in the second quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 155 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its position in shares of Hershey by 61.7% during 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. bought a new stake in Hershey during the third quarter worth $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC bought a new position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at $48,000. Institutional investors 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.