Check Capital Management Inc. CA Buys 792 Shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Check Capital Management Inc. CA lifted its stake in shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) by 0.6% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 137,662 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 792 shares during the period. Hershey makes up 0.8% of Check Capital Management Inc. CA’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Check Capital Management Inc. CA’s holdings in Hershey were worth $26,401,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 55.0% in the 2nd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 155 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY boosted its stake in Hershey by 0.8% in the third quarter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY now owns 7,355 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,411,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. grew its position in Hershey by 3.7% during the second quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 1,673 shares of the company’s stock valued at $308,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Hershey by 2.3% during the second quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 2,631 shares of the company’s stock worth $484,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Valley Brook Capital Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Hershey by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Valley Brook Capital Group Inc. now owns 4,067 shares of the company’s stock worth $748,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.96% of the company’s stock.

Hershey Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HSY opened at $178.77 on Friday. 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 company has a 50 day simple moving average of $188.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $192.05. The Hershey Company has a fifty-two week low of $171.67 and a fifty-two week high of $211.92. The company has a market capitalization of $36.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.60, a P/E/G ratio of 4.42 and a beta of 0.38.

Hershey Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 18th. Hershey’s payout ratio is 63.13%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Piper Sandler lifted their target price on shares of Hershey from $165.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. UBS Group lowered Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Hershey from $195.00 to $180.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price objective on Hershey from $200.00 to $195.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $189.33.

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.