Principal Securities Inc. Sells 825 Shares of Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST)

Principal Securities Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) by 9.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,628 shares of the company’s stock after selling 825 shares during the quarter. Principal Securities Inc.’s holdings in Monster Beverage were worth $401,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. boosted its position in Monster Beverage by 62.5% during the fourth quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 528 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management bought a new stake in Monster Beverage during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Monster Beverage in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Monster Beverage in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Monster Beverage by 16,085.7% in the third quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 1,133 shares of the company’s stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 1,126 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.36% of the company’s stock.

Monster Beverage Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MNST opened at $53.00 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $50.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $50.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 3.13 and a quick ratio of 2.51. Monster Beverage Co. has a 1-year low of $43.32 and a 1-year high of $61.22. The company has a market cap of $51.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.74.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on MNST shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on Monster Beverage in a report on Friday, December 6th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Monster Beverage from $61.00 to $59.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 8th. UBS Group lowered their price target on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on Monster Beverage from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Monster Beverage has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $55.53.

Insider Transactions at Monster Beverage

In related news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.65, for a total value of $526,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 74,924 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,944,748.60. This represents a 11.78 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 7.80% of the company’s stock.

Monster Beverage Company 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.