Sound Income Strategies LLC Has $105,000 Holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 18.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 620 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Sound Income Strategies LLC’s holdings in Hershey were worth $105,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Grove Bank & Trust raised its position in shares of Hershey by 248.0% in the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 174 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 61.7% during the 4th quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 262 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at about $48,000. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hershey Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE 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 business’s fifty day moving average is $169.13 and its 200 day moving average is $183.26. 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 company has a market cap of $30.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on HSY shares. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $183.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on Hershey from $190.00 to $172.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Hershey from $171.00 to $151.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. UBS Group dropped their target price on Hershey from $189.00 to $163.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $171.79.

Hershey Profile

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.