Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) Stock Rating Upgraded by The Goldman Sachs Group

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) was upgraded by equities research analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report released on Monday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has a $88.00 target price on the consumer goods maker's stock, up from their prior target price of $70.10. The Goldman Sachs Group's price target indicates a potential upside of 30.35% from the company's previous close.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on BUD. StockNews.com upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, May 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, Argus raised shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Price Performance

Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV stock traded down $0.01 on Monday, hitting $67.51. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,196,027 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,870,796. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.69. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a 1 year low of $45.94 and a 1 year high of $67.60. The company has a market capitalization of $121.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $63.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $56.80.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 10.98%. The company's revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter worth $28,540,000. B&D White Capital Company LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth approximately $290,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 15.8% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,409 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 464 shares during the period. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 30.3% in the 4th quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,493,842 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $74,797,000 after purchasing an additional 347,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,311,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.53% of the company's stock.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, exports, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.