Buy/Sell: Wall Street’s top 10 stock calls this week
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 31 2025
0mins
Should l Buy HSY?
Source: Business Insider
Top Buy Calls: Wall Street analysts have upgraded several stocks, including Meta Platforms, Qorvo, Cisco, Autodesk, and Electronic Arts, citing strong business outlooks and potential for growth in various sectors such as AI and operational efficiencies.
Top Sell Calls: Analysts have downgraded Rivian, Floor & Decor, PagerDuty, Hershey, and MeridianLink due to concerns over market competition, rising costs, and expectations of prolonged high interest rates affecting revenue growth.
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Analyst Views on HSY
Wall Street analysts forecast HSY stock price to fall
17 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
14 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 226.260
Low
181.00
Averages
196.27
High
222.00
Current: 226.260
Low
181.00
Averages
196.27
High
222.00
About HSY
The Hershey Company is a snacks company. The Company's segments include North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks and International. The North America Confectionery segment is responsible for its traditional chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery market position in the United States and Canada. This includes its business in chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery, gum and refreshment products, protein bars, spreads, snack bites and mixes, as well as pantry and food service lines. This segment also includes its retail operations. The North America Salty Snacks segment is responsible for its salty snacking products in the United States. This includes ready-to-eat popcorn, baked and trans fat free snacks, pretzels and other snacks. The Company's portfolio includes chocolate and confectionery brands such as Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, LesserEvil, Shaq-a-licious alongside salty snacks, including SkinnyPop and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- High Demand Call Options: Notably, the $60 strike call option expiring on March 20, 2026, has seen 3,340 contracts traded today, representing about 334,000 underlying shares, suggesting investor expectations for future price increases.
- Hershey Options Activity: Hershey Company recorded an options trading volume of 14,351 contracts, approximately 1.4 million shares, accounting for 58.6% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, reflecting ongoing market interest in the company.
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- Dutch Bros Options Volume: Dutch Bros Inc saw options trading volume of 36,024 contracts, equivalent to approximately 3.6 million shares, representing 60.4% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, indicating strong market interest in the stock.
- High Demand Call Options: Notably, the $60 strike call option expiring on March 20, 2026, has seen 3,340 contracts traded today, representing about 334,000 underlying shares, suggesting investor expectations for future price increases.
- Hershey Options Activity: Hershey Company recorded an options trading volume of 14,351 contracts, approximately 1.4 million shares, accounting for 58.6% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, reflecting ongoing market interest in the company.
- Significant Call Option Trading: The $185 strike call option expiring on February 20, 2026, has seen a trading volume of 4,665 contracts today, representing around 466,500 underlying shares, indicating optimistic sentiment among investors regarding Hershey's future performance.
See More
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- Record Spending: According to the National Retail Federation's latest survey, Americans are expected to spend a record $29.1 billion this Valentine's Day, surpassing the previous record of $27.5 billion set in 2025 by nearly 6%.
- Increased Average Expenditure: The survey indicates that the average consumer will spend approximately $200 on gifts, up from last year's average of $188.81, reflecting a growing willingness to invest in gifts.
- Diverse Gift Choices: Popular gifts include candy, flowers, greeting cards, dining experiences, and jewelry, with jewelry projected to account for $7 billion in spending, highlighting consumers' preference for luxury items.
- Shift in Shopping Channels: Online shopping remains the primary channel, followed by department stores, discount stores, and specialty shops, indicating a gradual shift towards digital shopping as consumers adapt to new spending trends.
See More
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- Overbought Warning: As of February 12, 2026, Hershey Co (NYSE:HSY) and Darling Ingredients Inc (NYSE:DAR) are flagged as overbought in the consumer staples sector, potentially posing risks to momentum-focused investors, indicating excessive market optimism towards these stocks.
- Market Trends: These overbought signals suggest that investors chasing short-term gains may overlook potential market correction risks, leading to increased price volatility in the future, which could impact overall investment strategies.
- Investor Caution: For momentum-driven investors, the current overbought status may necessitate a reassessment of holdings to avoid significant losses during market corrections, highlighting the importance of risk management.
- Sector Analysis: The overbought phenomenon in the consumer staples sector may signal a shift in overall market sentiment, prompting investors to monitor industry dynamics closely to adjust their portfolios timely and maintain competitiveness in a volatile market.
See More
Tech Heavy Portfolios Under Pressure
- Money Flow Analysis: In early trading, positive money flows were observed in Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla, indicating investor confidence in these tech giants, which could further drive their stock prices upward.
- Market Concentration Issues: Most portfolios are now heavily concentrated in the 'Magnificent Seven' stocks, which may lead to increased market volatility, prompting investors to be mindful of potential risks and reward balances.
- Bitcoin Trading Status: Bitcoin is currently trading below $70,000, failing to maintain this psychological support level, which is disappointing for bullish investors and may affect overall market sentiment.
- Investment Strategy Recommendations: Investors are advised to continue holding long-term quality assets while adding tactical positions based on market signals to navigate the current uncertainty and volatility.
See More
Wells Fargo Increases Target Price for The Hershey Company to $220, Up from $182
Hershey Company Update: Wells Fargo has raised the target price for Hershey Company shares to $220 from $182.
Market Implications: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on Hershey's performance in the market.
See More
US Stocks Plunge as Tech Sector Leads Decline
- Tech Sector Decline: Qualcomm's (QCOM) forecast of weaker-than-expected Q2 revenue led to an over 8% drop in its stock, triggering a sell-off across the tech sector, with the Nasdaq 100 index hitting a 2.5-month low, indicating waning investor confidence in technology stocks.
- Weak Labor Market Signals: Challenger's report revealed a staggering 117.8% year-over-year increase in job cuts for January, totaling 108,435, the highest for January since 2009, while initial jobless claims rose by 22,000 to 231,000, highlighting vulnerabilities in the US labor market that could hinder economic recovery.
- Bitcoin Plunge: Bitcoin (^BTCUSD) plummeted over 12% to a 1.25-year low, reflecting deepening negative momentum in the cryptocurrency market, with approximately $2 billion flowing out of Bitcoin ETFs in the past month, signaling a decline in investor confidence.
- Earnings Season Impact: Despite 150 S&P 500 companies set to report earnings this week, market focus on economic data intensifies, with S&P 500 earnings expected to grow by 8.4% in Q4, yet overall market sentiment remains suppressed by recent economic weakness.
See More
