Hershey Trust Co, the fiduciary entity managing the Milton Hershey School Trust and a substantial 10% shareholder in The Hershey Company (NASDAQ:HSY), has executed a notable reduction in its equity position. The trust reported the sale of approximately $3.45 million worth of the confectionery giant's common stock across two trading days in July 2026. These transactions, finalized on July 9 and July 10, involve the disposal of 19,960 shares. The execution of these sales occurred within a price band ranging from $170.9564 to $174.1141 per share. This divestiture takes place while HSY stock is trading at $173.66, a figure that represents a contraction of roughly 27% from its 52-week high of $239.48. Despite the insider selling activity, certain valuation analyses suggest the stock may remain undervalued relative to current market conditions.
The liquidation process was structured through multiple discrete blocks of transactions rather than a single bulk sale. On July 9, the trust initiated the reduction by selling a total of 10,000 shares distributed across four separate transactions. The first block consisted of 338 shares traded at an average price of $170.9564, with prices fluctuating between $170.9200 and $170.9900. This was followed by a larger block of 6,389 shares executed at an average price of $171.5197, ranging from $171.0000 to $171.9959. The trust then sold 2,665 shares at an average of $172.4322, with a range of $172.0000 to $172.9600. The final transaction on July 9 involved 608 shares at an average price of $173.2107, ranging from $173.0000 to $173.7500.
Trading activity continued on July 10 with the sale of an additional 9,960 shares, also divided into four distinct transactions. The first sale on this day comprised 1,031 shares at an average price of $171.7933, ranging from $171.3900 to $171.9800. Subsequently, 4,444 shares were sold at an average of $172.4309, with prices between $172.0000 and $172.9900. The trust then disposed of 3,869 shares at an average price of $173.5850, ranging from $173.0000 to $173.9900. The final block of the day consisted of 656 shares sold at an average price of $174.1141, with a range of $174.0000 to $174.2500.
Following these recent transactions, Hershey Trust Co maintains a direct holding of 1,256,119 shares of Hershey Co common stock. The trust's indirect holdings include 39,630 shares held through Hershey Trust Company, an entity wholly owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust. Furthermore, the trust retains a substantial position in the company's capital structure, holding 54,612,012 shares of Class B Common Stock. These Class B shares possess the option to be converted into common stock on a one-for-one basis at any time. The conversion price is not fixed but is determined by the market price of the Common Stock on the previous business day, with no expiration date attached to this conversion right.
The insider activity report was formally signed by Joshua D. Shannon, Deputy CIO, acting on behalf of Hershey Trust Co. This financial disclosure coincides with a period of significant operational and analytical developments for The Hershey Company. Moody's Ratings has affirmed Hershey's A1 issuer rating and shifted its outlook to stable. This adjustment reflects expectations of margin expansion and earnings growth that could support deleveraging in the coming months. Moody's anticipates a 30-35% increase in adjusted EBITDA for 2026, primarily driven by pricing actions implemented in the previous year.
Analyst sentiment regarding the stock remains divided. Evercore ISI upgraded Hershey's stock rating to Outperform, setting a price target of $255. This bullish stance is driven by a positive outlook for the confection sector in the latter half of 2026. Conversely, Piper Sandler has lowered its price target for Hershey to $200, maintaining an Overweight rating. The firm cites concerns over cocoa futures impacting earnings upside for 2027, highlighting the cost pressures inherent in the confectionery supply chain.
Operational leadership changes further define the current landscape for Hershey. The company announced Heather Hoytink as the new President of U.S. operations, effective July 2026. Hoytink brings experience from PepsiCo to the role. Additionally, Mitchell Arends has been named Chief Supply Chain Officer, taking over from Jason Reiman. Reiman will retire after a long tenure with the company. These developments reflect a dynamic period for Hershey as it navigates market conditions and leadership transitions.
The confectionery sector faces ongoing scrutiny regarding input costs and consumer demand elasticity. The Hershey Company's ability to maintain margin expansion, as anticipated by Moody's, depends heavily on the success of its pricing strategies and the management of raw material costs. The divergence in analyst price targets underscores the uncertainty surrounding the company's earnings trajectory for 2027.