Motley Fool Asset Management LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST)

Motley Fool Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) by 11.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,503 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,570 shares during the quarter. Motley Fool Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Monster Beverage were worth $2,045,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Monster Beverage in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in Monster Beverage by 360.0% during the fourth quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 506 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 396 shares during the period. Rise Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Monster Beverage by 187.6% during the first quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 716 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 467 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its holdings in Monster Beverage by 68.1% in the first quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 950 shares of the company’s stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the period. Finally, Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Monster Beverage in the first quarter valued at approximately $66,000. Institutional investors own 72.36% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MNST shares. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $64.00 target price on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Monday, July 1st. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Monster Beverage from $63.00 to $57.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Monster Beverage from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, June 14th. Roth Mkm reduced their price objective on Monster Beverage from $59.00 to $56.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Monster Beverage from $65.00 to $59.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $59.48.

Monster Beverage Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:MNST traded up $0.23 on Wednesday, hitting $50.72. 5,366,375 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,440,796. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $51.29 and its 200 day moving average is $54.76. The company has a market capitalization of $52.84 billion, a PE ratio of 31.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.76. Monster Beverage Co. has a 1-year low of $47.13 and a 1-year high of $61.22.

Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.43 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.90 billion. Monster Beverage had a net margin of 22.83% and a return on equity of 20.74%. The firm’s revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.38 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Monster Beverage Co. will post 1.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Monster Beverage

In other Monster Beverage news, Director Mark J. Hall sold 250,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.22, for a total transaction of $13,055,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 532,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,820,413.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Monster Beverage news, Director Mark Vidergauz sold 15,077 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.85, for a total transaction of $781,742.45. Following the transaction, the director now owns 68,167 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,534,458.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Mark J. Hall sold 250,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.22, for a total value of $13,055,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 532,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,820,413.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 307,221 shares of company stock valued at $16,070,374 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 7.80% of the company’s stock.

Monster Beverage Profile

Monster Beverage Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in development, marketing, sale, and distribution of energy drink beverages and concentrates in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Monster Energy Drinks, Strategic Brands, Alcohol Brands, and Other.