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

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $71.29 and last traded at $71.25, with a volume of 2212666 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $70.49.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on BUD shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Argus raised 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 research note on Thursday, March 27th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, May 18th. BNP Paribas raised shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 30th. Finally, Berenberg Bank began 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Up 0.1%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of $127.57 billion, a PE ratio of 21.91, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.85. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $66.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $58.07.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 firm's revenue for the quarter was down 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.75 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 EPS for the current year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be issued a dividend of $1.0492 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. This is a boost from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's payout ratio is presently 24.35%.

Institutional Trading of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BUD. Dodge & Cox grew its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 27.7% during the 4th quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 39,996,830 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $2,002,641,000 after purchasing an additional 8,670,940 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth approximately $56,849,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,311,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,540,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.2% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 7,569,492 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $379,004,000 after acquiring an additional 505,206 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.