Sentry Investment Management LLC Trims Stake in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Sentry Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 14.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,669 shares of the coffee company’s stock after selling 1,411 shares during the quarter. Sentry Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $791,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of SBUX. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Starbucks in the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. Weil Company Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 31.2% during the 3rd quarter. Weil Company Inc. now owns 34,580 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $3,371,000 after acquiring an additional 8,222 shares during the last quarter. Maia Wealth LLC grew its position in Starbucks by 69.1% in the third quarter. Maia Wealth LLC now owns 18,582 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $1,805,000 after acquiring an additional 7,596 shares in the last quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario increased its stake in Starbucks by 48.6% in the third quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 37,584 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $3,664,000 after acquiring an additional 12,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aljian Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Starbucks by 48.5% in the third quarter. Aljian Capital Management LLC now owns 30,422 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $2,966,000 after acquiring an additional 9,936 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

SBUX has been the subject of a number of research reports. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $110.00 price objective on shares of Starbucks in a report on Monday, November 11th. Redburn Atlantic reaffirmed a “sell” rating and issued a $77.00 target price (down previously from $84.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Wedbush lifted their target price on shares of Starbucks from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Starbucks has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $105.33.

Starbucks Price Performance

Shares of SBUX opened at $113.19 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $97.72. The firm has a market capitalization of $128.57 billion, a PE ratio of 36.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 1.00. Starbucks Co. has a one year low of $71.55 and a one year high of $114.68.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 44.97% and a net margin of 9.73%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Starbucks Co. will post 2.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Starbucks Profile

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.