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Hershey CEO Michele Buck sells shares worth over $179k

Published 07/09/2024, 06:18 am
HSY
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In a recent transaction, Michele Buck, the Chairman, President, and CEO of Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY), sold 900 shares of the company's stock. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $199.000 to $199.470, with a weighted average price of $199.2444, totaling over $179,319.


This sale was conducted under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which was previously adopted by Buck on May 23, 2024. Rule 10b5-1 allows corporate insiders to set up a trading plan for selling stocks they own in a pre-established manner to avoid accusations of insider trading.


On the same day, Michele Buck also acquired 900 shares of Hershey's common stock at a price of $105.91 per share, amounting to a total of $95,319. This acquisition was part of an exercise of options that vested over a period from 2016 to 2019.


Following these transactions, the CEO still owns a significant number of shares in the company, indicating a continued investment in Hershey's future performance. The details of the transactions were disclosed in a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated September 6, 2024.


Investors often monitor insider buying and selling as it can provide insights into how the top executives perceive the company's valuation and future prospects. With Hershey's leadership actively engaged in the market, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these transactions might align with the company's strategic direction and performance.


In other recent news, The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) has announced significant developments. Michael Del Pozzo has been appointed as the new President of its U.S. Confection segment. Del Pozzo, with a 23-year tenure at PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP), is set to take his position on September 16. He succeeds Charles Raup, who is stepping down after a 15-year career with Hershey. In the midst of these developments, Hershey is planning significant workforce reductions as part of a broader trend of layoffs across various sectors of U.S. and Canadian companies.


In financial analysis, Citi downgraded Hershey's stock from Neutral to Sell, adjusting the price target to $182 from the previous $195. Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) initiated coverage on Hershey with a Sell rating, citing potential downward estimate revisions due to ongoing losses in market share. However, RBC Capital maintained its "Sector Perform" rating on Hershey, reducing its price target from $209 to $205.


During its second quarter 2024 earnings call, Hershey outlined its pricing strategy amid cocoa price volatility. The company plans a 6-7% price increase and has secured cocoa prices for 2024. Despite minor adjustments to its full-year guidance, Hershey anticipates a stronger second half of the year, driven by innovation and merchandising improvements. These are some of the recent developments concerning Hershey.


InvestingPro Insights


Amid the recent insider trading activity at Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY), investors are keen to understand the company's financial health and future outlook. The InvestingPro platform provides a snapshot of Hershey's current market stance and potential signals for investors.


With a robust market capitalization of $40.46 billion, Hershey is a significant player in the confectionery market. The company's P/E ratio stands at 22.22, which suggests that investors are willing to pay a premium for Hershey's earnings compared to the broader market. This is further evidenced by an adjusted P/E ratio of 19.96 for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, indicating a slight decrease in valuation over time. However, this valuation comes with a high PEG ratio of 5.61, which may imply that the price is steep relative to the company's earnings growth.


InvestingPro Tips highlight that Hershey has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years and has maintained dividend payments for an impressive 54 consecutive years. This consistent dividend growth, with a recent increase of 32.24% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, reflects the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders.


Additionally, eight analysts have revised their earnings estimates upwards for the upcoming period, signaling potential optimism about the company's financial performance. This is a crucial piece of information for investors, especially when considering the CEO's recent stock transactions. Investors can access even more InvestingPro Tips, with a total of 11 tips available on the platform, offering deeper insights into Hershey's financial strategies and market position.


For those interested in a more comprehensive analysis, the InvestingPro platform provides an extensive array of metrics and insights to help investors make informed decisions. The detailed financials, including revenue growth and dividend yields, alongside expert analysis, are part of the valuable resources available to users.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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