Hershey 4Q profit climbs; dividend raised
Hershey
Higher prices and lower charges sparked a profit increase for Hershey Co. as the nation's second-biggest candy maker continued to push its brands to cost-conscious consumers and gain market share.
 The company also maintained its 2010 adjusted earnings and sales forecasts while boosting its quarterly dividend. The news sent Hershey's stock up 19 cents to $37 in premarket trading.
 Hershey  based in Hershey  Pennsylvania  recently said it would not bid for British rival Cadbury PLC. Cadbury shareholders are expected to vote on Kraft Foods Inc.'s $19.5 billion offer on Tuesday.
 In the prior-year period Hershey's charges totaled 23 cents per share.
 Sales grew 2 percent to $1.41 billion during the quarter which included Halloween and Christmas -- usually a strong period for the maker of Hershey's chocolate bars and Reese's peanut butter cups. Analysts expected $1.42 billion in revenue.
 West said the candymaker will launch its Hershey's Bliss white chocolate during the first half of the year  as well as continue to expand its Pieces product line to include Hershey's Special Dark  Almond Joy and York.
 The company expect to boost its ad spending by 25 to 30 percent to promote brands such as Reese's  Hershey's Kisses  Bliss  Twizzlers  Kit Kat and its namesake. New ad campaigns are also planned for Almond Joy  Mounds and York.
 Hershey said its earnings  combined with improved working capital and higher operating cash flow  led it to raise its quarterly dividend by 2.25 cents to 32 cents. The dividend will be paid on March 15 to shareholders of record Feb. 25.
Higher prices and lower charges sparked a profit increase for [TGT] as the nation's second-biggest candy maker continued to push its brands to cost-conscious consumers and gain market share.
 [TGT] also maintained [TGT] 2010 adjusted earnings and sales forecasts while boosting [TGT] quarterly dividend. The news sent [TGT]'s stock up 19 cents to $37 in premarket trading.
 [TGT]  based in [TGT]  Pennsylvania  recently said it would not bid for British rival Cadbury PLC. Cadbury shareholders are expected to vote on Kraft Foods Inc.'s $19.5 billion offer on Tuesday.
 In the prior-year period [TGT]'s charges totaled 23 cents per share.
 Sales grew 2 percent to $1.41 billion during the quarter which included Halloween and Christmas -- usually a strong period for the maker of [TGT]'s chocolate bars and Reese's peanut butter cups. Analysts expected $1.42 billion in revenue.
 West said the candymaker will launch its [TGT]'s Bliss white chocolate during the first half of the year  as well as continue to expand its Pieces product line to include [TGT]'s Special Dark  Almond Joy and York.
 [TGT] expect to boost [TGT] ad spending by 25 to 30 percent to promote brands such as Reese's  [TGT]'s Kisses  Bliss  Twizzlers  Kit Kat and its namesake. New ad campaigns are also planned for Almond Joy  Mounds and York.
 [TGT] said [TGT] earnings  combined with improved working capital and higher operating cash flow  led [TGT] to raise [TGT] quarterly dividend by 2.25 cents to 32 cents. The dividend will be paid on March 15 to shareholders of record Feb. 25.