Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) Shares Sold by Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC

Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC trimmed its holdings in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 2.0% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 38,601 shares of the coffee company’s stock after selling 807 shares during the quarter. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $3,522,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of SBUX. Aspire Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Starbucks by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Aspire Capital Advisors LLC now owns 23,210 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $2,118,000 after buying an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Riverview Trust Co raised its position in Starbucks by 3.4% in the third quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 3,199 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $312,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Optas LLC boosted its position in shares of Starbucks by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Optas LLC now owns 16,711 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $1,525,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Starbucks by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Boomfish Wealth Group LLC now owns 15,335 shares of the coffee company’s stock worth $1,399,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Foster Group Inc. lifted its stake in Starbucks by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 2,885 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $263,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. 72.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Starbucks

In related news, CFO Rachel Ruggeri sold 1,491 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.54, for a total transaction of $148,414.14. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 80,124 shares in the company, valued at $7,975,542.96. This represents a 1.83 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Starbucks Price Performance

NASDAQ SBUX opened at $112.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $127.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.52 and a beta of 1.00. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $97.12 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.57. Starbucks Co. has a fifty-two week low of $71.55 and a fifty-two week high of $112.62.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 44.97% and a net margin of 9.73%. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.90 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Starbucks Co. will post 3 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio is 78.71%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Redburn Atlantic reaffirmed a “sell” rating and issued a $77.00 price target (down previously from $84.00) on shares of Starbucks in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Citigroup upped their target price on Starbucks from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. TD Cowen reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $110.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Starbucks presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $105.33.

Starbucks Company Profile

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.