Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) Hits New 1-Year High - Still a Buy?

Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $70.72 and last traded at $70.14, with a volume of 1646206 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $69.28.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BUD has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, May 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research report on Monday, May 12th. 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. Argus raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $126.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.76, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.83. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $65.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $57.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates 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 period last year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research 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 firm also recently announced 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 represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 7th. This is a positive change from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's dividend payout ratio is presently 22.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 7,678 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $473,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 1.1% in the first quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 16,991 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $1,046,000 after acquiring an additional 179 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 23.5% in the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,050 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Callan Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Callan Capital LLC now owns 10,607 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $531,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares during the period. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 5,329 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $267,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. 5.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.