PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) Shares Up 0.7% – Still a Buy?

PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) shares were up 0.7% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $151.83 and last traded at $151.34. Approximately 1,072,786 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 84% from the average daily volume of 6,551,753 shares. The stock had previously closed at $150.25.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of PepsiCo to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 10th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of PepsiCo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of PepsiCo from $183.00 to $165.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 24th. Piper Sandler began coverage on PepsiCo in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $171.00 price objective for the company. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their price objective on PepsiCo from $183.00 to $160.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $176.73.

PepsiCo Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a current ratio of 0.89. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $153.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $165.17. The firm has a market cap of $206.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.54.

PepsiCo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 6th. Investors of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a $1.355 dividend. This represents a $5.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.60%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 6th. PepsiCo’s payout ratio is 79.94%.

Institutional Trading of PepsiCo

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PEP. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,681,000. Viewpoint Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of PepsiCo by 6.2% during the fourth quarter. Viewpoint Capital Management LLC now owns 16,600 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,524,000 after acquiring an additional 976 shares during the period. Certuity LLC increased its position in shares of PepsiCo by 33.9% during the fourth quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 4,222 shares of the company’s stock worth $642,000 after acquiring an additional 1,070 shares during the period. Sage Private Wealth Group LLC purchased a new position in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $203,000. Finally, Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. increased its holdings in PepsiCo by 9.0% during the fourth quarter. Signet Investment Advisory Group Inc. now owns 19,076 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,901,000 after buying an additional 1,581 shares during the period. 73.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

PepsiCo Company Profile

PepsiCo, Inc engages in the manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of various beverages and convenient foods worldwide. The company operates through seven segments: Frito-Lay North America; Quaker Foods North America; PepsiCo Beverages North America; Latin America; Europe; Africa, Middle East and South Asia; and Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand and China Region.