Empower Advisory Group LLC Increases Stock Position in Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST)

Empower Advisory Group LLC boosted its stake in Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,262,180 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 77,278 shares during the period. Empower Advisory Group LLC’s holdings in Monster Beverage were worth $66,340,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. increased its stake 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 during the last quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its stake in Monster Beverage by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 13,578 shares of the company’s stock worth $714,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its stake in Monster Beverage by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 6,991 shares of the company’s stock valued at $367,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the period. Accretive Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 1.3% during the third quarter. Accretive Wealth Partners LLC now owns 17,821 shares of the company’s stock valued at $930,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sapient Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Monster Beverage by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Sapient Capital LLC now owns 46,082 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,422,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.36% of the company’s stock.

Monster Beverage Trading Down 0.5 %

Monster Beverage stock opened at $49.25 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $47.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.74. Monster Beverage Co. has a 1 year low of $43.32 and a 1 year high of $61.22. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $50.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a current ratio of 3.13.

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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 74,924 shares in the company, valued at $3,944,748.60. This trade represents a 11.78 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 7.80% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Monster Beverage from $52.00 to $51.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Needham & Company LLC initiated coverage on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Friday, December 6th. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Monster Beverage from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on 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 research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Monster Beverage presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $55.53.

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.