Mizuho Lowers Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Price Target to $140.00

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) had its price target decreased by equities research analysts at Mizuho from $170.00 to $140.00 in a research report issued on Wednesday. Mizuho’s target price indicates a potential downside of 3.57% from the company’s current price.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Hershey in a research report on Tuesday, October 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating and a $165.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Hershey from $150.00 to $134.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price target on Hershey from $184.00 to $148.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Hershey from $180.00 to $170.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on Hershey from $165.00 to $159.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hershey presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $167.10.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of HSY traded up $0.44 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $145.18. 1,910,784 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,910,946. The company has a market cap of $29.38 billion, a PE ratio of 16.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.30 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $165.80 and a two-hundred day moving average of $181.22. Hershey has a 52-week low of $140.13 and a 52-week high of $211.92.

Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 278 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total transaction of $41,144.00. Following the completion of 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 transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new stake in Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,337,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 66.7% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 972,836 shares of the company’s stock valued at $186,571,000 after acquiring an additional 389,404 shares in the last quarter. Woodstock Corp lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 34.8% in the fourth quarter. Woodstock Corp now owns 6,896 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,168,000 after purchasing an additional 1,780 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 61.9% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 120,159 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,052,000 after purchasing an additional 45,936 shares during the period. Finally, Pensionfund Sabic lifted its stake in shares of Hershey by 55.6% in the fourth quarter. Pensionfund Sabic now owns 8,400 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,423,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Company 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.