Investment Analysts’ Recent Ratings Changes for Hershey (HSY)

Hershey (NYSE: HSY) has recently received a number of price target changes and ratings updates:

• 2/3/2025 – Hershey had its “sector perform” rating reaffirmed by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada. They now have a $178.00 price target on the stock.
• 1/31/2025 – Hershey was downgraded by analysts at Piper Sandler from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating. They now have a $120.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $153.00.
• 1/24/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $180.00 to $170.00. They now have a “hold” rating on the stock.
• 1/23/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $184.00 to $148.00. They now have a “hold” rating on the stock.
• 1/21/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. from $150.00 to $134.00. They now have an “underperform” rating on the stock.
• 1/17/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $150.00 to $140.00. They now have an “underweight” rating on the stock.
• 1/17/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Barclays PLC from $180.00 to $170.00. They now have an “equal weight” rating on the stock.
• 1/16/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at UBS Group AG from $189.00 to $163.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 1/16/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Piper Sandler from $168.00 to $153.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 1/16/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $171.00 to $151.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 1/8/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Citigroup Inc. from $165.00 to $159.00. They now have a “sell” rating on the stock.
• 1/8/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at TD Cowen from $190.00 to $172.00. They now have a “hold” rating on the stock.
• 1/7/2025 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $160.00 to $150.00. They now have an “underweight” rating on the stock.
• 12/23/2024 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Mizuho from $195.00 to $170.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.
• 12/12/2024 – Hershey was downgraded by analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating. They now have a $160.00 price target on the stock, down previously from $175.00.
• 12/12/2024 – Hershey had its “neutral” rating reaffirmed by analysts at Bank of America Co.. They now have a $180.00 price target on the stock.
• 12/10/2024 – Hershey had its “sector perform” rating reaffirmed by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada. They now have a $183.00 price target on the stock.
• 12/9/2024 – Hershey had its price target lowered by analysts at Mizuho from $200.00 to $180.00. They now have a “neutral” rating on the stock.

Hershey Stock Down 2.0 %

Shares of HSY traded down $3.01 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $144.78. 2,169,396 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,910,740. 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 stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $166.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $181.55. The Hershey Company has a 52 week low of $143.95 and a 52 week high of $211.92. The company has a market cap of $29.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.68, a PEG ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th were given a $1.37 dividend. This represents a $5.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s dividend payout ratio is 63.13%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hershey news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $41,144.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,682 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $396,936. The trade was a 9.39 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its position in Hershey by 1.1% in the third quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 5,646 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,083,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the period. Salomon & Ludwin LLC raised its position in shares of Hershey by 23.3% in the third quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LP raised its position in shares of Hershey by 1.6% in the third quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,130 shares of the company’s stock valued at $792,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Hershey by 6.0% in the third quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 1,175 shares of the company’s stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares during the period. Finally, Northstar Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Hershey by 3.3% in the third quarter. Northstar Group Inc. now owns 2,239 shares of the company’s stock valued at $429,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

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.