Hershey Trust Co., a significant shareholder in The Hershey Company (NASDAQ: HSY), executed a sequence of common-stock sales totaling roughly $3.85 million across April 16 and April 17, 2026. The transactions disposed of 20,000 common shares at prices that ranged from $190.2791 to $194.1778 per share.
According to transaction data, the Trust sold 10,000 shares on April 16 in four separate trades. The weighted average prices for those April 16 transactions spanned from $190.9522 to $193.2078. On April 17, the Trust sold another 10,000 shares in five trades, with weighted average prices reported between $190.2791 and $194.1778.
At the time these transactions were noted, Hershey shares were trading at $191.50 and had declined 2.5% over the prior week. InvestingPro analysis referenced in the transaction disclosure characterized the stock as trading above its Fair Value and reported a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.32. The same analysis noted Hershey’s dividend yield at 3.02% and recorded a streak of 56 consecutive years of dividend payments.
Following the April sales, Hershey Trust Co. directly holds 1,826,119 shares of Hershey common stock. In addition to those direct holdings, the Trust holds 39,630 shares indirectly through Hershey Trust Company, which is wholly owned by Milton Hershey School Trust and serves as its trustee.
The Trust also retains a substantial position in Class B Common Stock: 54,612,012 shares. Those Class B shares are convertible into common stock on a one-for-one basis at any time. The conversion price is determined as the market price of the common stock on the previous business day, and there is no expiration date on the convertibility of these Class B shares.
Separately, several corporate and analyst developments affecting Hershey were disclosed in the same period. The company announced that its U.S. President, Andrew Archambault, will depart effective May 1, 2026, and the company is searching for a successor. On the analyst front, BTIG initiated coverage of Hershey with a Neutral rating and projected earnings estimates slightly above consensus for coming years. TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating with a $210 price target, citing the company’s outlook for 15% to 20% EPS growth by 2027. DA Davidson reduced its price target to $230 from $243, noting valuation concerns related to a contraction in peer-group multiples while keeping a Neutral rating.
Industry commentary included a Barclays observation that major packaged-food companies, including Hershey, are cutting back on promotional spending after finding that promotions delivered disappointing returns in 2025. That adjustment reflects a broader reassessment within packaged foods of the effectiveness of discounting to drive volume.
Taken together, the Trust’s recent sales, its remaining convertible and common holdings, the executive departure, and the range of analyst perspectives underline ongoing reassessments at both Hershey and across the packaged-food sector. The Trust maintains a sizeable economic and voting stake through its direct common shares, indirect holdings, and the substantial block of convertible Class B stock that can be converted into additional common shares at market prices on the prior business day.
Note on sources and disclosures: Transaction and holdings data were disclosed in connection with the reported trades. The article does not introduce additional facts beyond the reported transactions, balance of holdings, analyst actions, and company announcement provided in the disclosure materials.