National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume on Analyst Upgrade

National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday after UBS Group raised their price target on the stock from $47.00 to $48.00. UBS Group currently has a sell rating on the stock. Approximately 140,607 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the previous session’s volume of 161,976 shares.The stock last traded at $51.13 and had previously closed at $50.75.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Cecil D. Conlee sold 12,000 shares of National Beverage stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.94, for a total transaction of $575,280.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 60,480 shares in the company, valued at $2,899,411.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 75.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of National Beverage

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in FIZZ. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in National Beverage by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 16,773 shares of the company’s stock worth $797,000 after buying an additional 565 shares in the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of National Beverage by 1.1% during the first quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 36,800 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,747,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL boosted its position in National Beverage by 2.0% during the first quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 51,578 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,448,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its stake in National Beverage by 8.1% in the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 20,861 shares of the company’s stock valued at $989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,557 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in National Beverage by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,769,994 shares of the company’s stock worth $131,464,000 after purchasing an additional 18,216 shares during the last quarter. 23.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

National Beverage Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $4.79 billion, a PE ratio of 27.11 and a beta of 0.79. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $46.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.08.

National Beverage Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 24th. Investors of record on Monday, June 24th will be given a dividend of $3.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 24th. This is a positive change from National Beverage’s previous dividend of $3.00.

About National Beverage

National Beverage Corp., through its subsidiaries, develops, produces, markets, and sells a portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks primarily in the United States and Canada. The company's Power+ brand portfolio offers sparkling water products under the LaCroix, LaCroix Cúrate, and LaCroix NiCola; non-carbonated flavored water under the Clear Fruit; energy drink and shots under the Rip It; juice and juice-based products under Everfresh, Everfresh Premier Varietals, and Mr.