25 High Dividend Stocks Being Targeted By Short Sellers

19. The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY)

Short % of Float as of April 15: 6.18%

Dividend Yield as of April 28: 3.38%

The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) is a multinational confectionery company that is known for its chocolates, snacks, and pantry items. The company is currently navigating some challenges. Cocoa prices have surged so dramatically that Hershey has little room to pass the added costs onto consumers. As a result, it will likely need to shoulder the burden itself for the time being, which is expected to weigh on its 2025 earnings. The stock is down by over 3% since the start of 2025.

Despite these pressures, The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) remains focused on growing its revenue and expanding its market share. It continues to push forward with its transformation plans and productivity initiatives, aiming to set itself up for long-term success ahead of industry peers. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the company posted revenue of $2.9 billion, marking an increase of nearly 9% compared to the same period a year earlier. The figure also came in $45 million higher than what analysts had forecasted.

On an organic basis and at constant currency, net sales rose by 9.0%. Acquisitions provided a small lift of 0.2 percentage points, while currency movements dragged sales down by 0.5 percentage points. Reported net income for the quarter stood at $796.6 million, or $3.92 per diluted share, representing a substantial 130.6% jump.

By the end of fiscal 2024, The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) maintained a strong cash position, with roughly $731 million in cash and cash equivalents, up significantly from $402 million the previous year. The company’s quarterly dividend comes in at $1.37 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.38%. HSY is grabbing investors’ attention with 15 consecutive years of dividend growth under its belt.