Monster Beverage Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NASDAQ:MNST)

Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Investors bought 34,725 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 554% compared to the typical daily volume of 5,306 put options.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $59.00 price objective on shares of Monster Beverage in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Needham & Company LLC initiated coverage on shares of Monster Beverage in a report on Friday, December 6th. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Monster Beverage from $61.00 to $59.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Monster Beverage from $52.00 to $51.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Finally, BNP Paribas dropped their price objective on shares of Monster Beverage from $46.00 to $45.00 and set an “underperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $55.53.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.65, for a total value of $526,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 74,924 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,944,748.60. This represents a 11.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 7.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Monster Beverage

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sustainable Insight Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at about $1,214,000. Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 5.3% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 154,125 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,101,000 after acquiring an additional 7,780 shares during the period. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in Monster Beverage by 6.6% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 251,570 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,124,000 after purchasing an additional 15,611 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its holdings in Monster Beverage by 6.7% during the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 151,364 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,897,000 after acquiring an additional 9,496 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $7,090,000. 72.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Monster Beverage Stock Performance

Shares of Monster Beverage stock traded up $0.27 on Thursday, reaching $51.92. 4,568,479 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,336,018. The company’s 50-day moving average is $50.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $51.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a current ratio of 3.13. The firm has a market cap of $50.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.74. Monster Beverage has a 1-year low of $43.32 and a 1-year high of $61.22.

About Monster Beverage

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.