Investors Buy High Volume of Call Options on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors purchased 14,014 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 141% compared to the typical daily volume of 5,827 call options.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from $65.00 to $55.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $64.00.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BUD opened at $59.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.51. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $50.35 and a 200 day moving average price of $56.79. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a 1-year low of $45.94 and a 1-year high of $67.49. The company has a market cap of $107.06 billion, a PE ratio of 18.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.08.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.13. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 10.98%. The firm had revenue of $14.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.07 billion. Sell-side analysts forecast that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the third quarter valued at $27,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Rakuten Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2,722.7% in the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 621 shares of the consumer goods maker’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 599 shares during the period. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. 5.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, exports, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.