Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Price Target Lowered to $170.00 at Stifel Nicolaus

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) had its target price reduced by Stifel Nicolaus from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a “hold” rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus’ target price would suggest a potential upside of 12.75% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on HSY. TD Cowen lowered their price target 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. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Hershey in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price for the company. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on shares of Hershey from $150.00 to $134.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Hershey from $189.00 to $163.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $171.79.

Hershey Stock Up 0.6 %

NYSE HSY traded up $0.89 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $150.78. 282,963 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,875,927. Hershey has a 52-week low of $147.60 and a 52-week high of $211.92. The firm has a market cap of $30.51 billion, a PE ratio of 17.37, a PEG ratio of 4.28 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $170.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $183.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.54.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HSY. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in shares of Hershey by 48.3% in the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 80,858 shares of the company’s stock worth $14,864,000 after purchasing an additional 26,318 shares during the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC bought a new position in Hershey during the 2nd quarter worth about $460,000. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in Hershey by 64.3% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 5,470 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,006,000 after acquiring an additional 2,140 shares in the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp grew its holdings in Hershey by 59.8% during the 2nd quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 28,601 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,258,000 after acquiring an additional 10,706 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AXA S.A. grew its holdings in Hershey by 7.6% during the 2nd quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 46,303 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,512,000 after acquiring an additional 3,290 shares in the last quarter. 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.