UBS Group Has Lowered Expectations for Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST) Stock Price

Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST) had its price objective reduced by UBS Group from $57.00 to $53.00 in a report released on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Needham & Company LLC assumed coverage on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Friday, December 6th. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of Monster Beverage from $55.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Monster Beverage from $50.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on shares of Monster Beverage from $61.00 to $59.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Two equities 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, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $55.47.

Monster Beverage Stock Performance

Shares of MNST stock opened at $49.42 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $48.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a current ratio of 3.13. Monster Beverage has a 52 week low of $43.32 and a 52 week high of $61.22. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $52.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $51.24.

Insider Transactions at Monster Beverage

In related news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 $3,944,748.60. This represents a 11.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 7.80% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Monster Beverage

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MNST. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its stake in Monster Beverage by 109.3% in the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 22,559,092 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,176,913,000 after buying an additional 11,779,162 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 1,148.0% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 2,596,888 shares of the company’s stock worth $135,480,000 after acquiring an additional 2,388,798 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,742,390 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,760,341,000 after acquiring an additional 2,168,379 shares during the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage in the 3rd quarter valued at $73,600,000. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 27,142,970 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,416,048,000 after purchasing an additional 1,229,789 shares during the last quarter. 72.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.