Mizuho Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Hershey (NYSE:HSY) Stock Price

Hershey (NYSE:HSY) had its target price lowered by stock analysts at Mizuho from $200.00 to $180.00 in a research report issued on Monday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “neutral” rating on the stock. Mizuho’s price target suggests a potential downside of 3.83% from the company’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of Hershey from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $226.00 to $209.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Hershey from $188.00 to $180.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Hershey from $163.00 to $161.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Hershey from $191.00 to $199.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded shares of Hershey from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and cut their price target for the company from $230.00 to $205.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and fourteen have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $187.94.

Hershey Stock Down 3.4 %

Hershey stock opened at $187.16 on Monday. 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 capitalization of $37.87 billion, a PE ratio of 21.56, a PEG ratio of 4.18 and a beta of 0.37. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $180.67 and its 200 day moving average is $188.69. Hershey has a 12-month low of $168.16 and a 12-month high of $211.92.

Institutional Trading of Hershey

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in Hershey by 95.4% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 218,055 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,558,000 after purchasing an additional 106,450 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC raised its stake in Hershey by 14.9% in the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 8,360 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,603,000 after buying an additional 1,083 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB raised its position in shares of Hershey by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 116,432 shares of the company’s stock worth $22,329,000 after acquiring an additional 2,391 shares in the last quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co lifted its position in shares of Hershey by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pine Valley Investments Ltd Liability Co now owns 5,697 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,093,000 after buying an additional 153 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. lifted its position in Hershey by 3.1% in the third quarter. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. now owns 8,249 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,582,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. 57.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.