Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) Reaches New 1-Year High - Here's What Happened

Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $69.05 and last traded at $68.86, with a volume of 1474939 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $68.56.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, May 18th. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Trading Up 1.1%

The business has a 50 day moving average price of $64.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $125.86 billion, a PE ratio of 21.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

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 net margin of 10.98% and a return on equity of 15.29%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.75 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be given a dividend of $1.0492 per share. This is an increase from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 7th. This represents a yield of 1.2%. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.32%.

Institutional Trading of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth about $28,540,000. B&D White Capital Company LLC acquired a new stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $290,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 15.8% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,409 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $171,000 after purchasing an additional 464 shares during the period. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC lifted its position 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 buying an additional 347,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,311,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.53% of the company's stock.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

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.