KBC Group NV Purchases 2,689 Shares of Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST)

KBC Group NV lifted its position in Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 200,244 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,689 shares during the period. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Monster Beverage were worth $10,524,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sustainable Insight Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Monster Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at $1,214,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Monster Beverage by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 251,570 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,124,000 after buying an additional 15,611 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in Monster Beverage by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 151,364 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,897,000 after buying an additional 9,496 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC bought a new position in Monster Beverage during the 3rd quarter valued at about $630,000. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at about $7,090,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.36% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MNST shares. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $59.00 price objective on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. UBS Group lowered their target price on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 16th. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on Monster Beverage in a research note on Friday, December 6th. They set a “hold” rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Monster Beverage from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $55.42.

Insider Transactions at Monster Beverage

In related news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of the business’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 sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 74,924 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,944,748.60. The trade was a 11.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 7.80% of the company’s stock.

Monster Beverage Stock Up 0.9 %

NASDAQ MNST opened at $49.10 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 3.13, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Monster Beverage Co. has a 12 month low of $43.32 and a 12 month high of $61.22. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $51.98 and its 200 day moving average is $51.22. The stock has a market cap of $47.75 billion, a PE ratio of 31.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.74.

Monster Beverage 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.