Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) Hits New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company 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.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on BUD. Argus upgraded shares of 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 note on Thursday, March 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, May 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $70.10 to $88.00 in a report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Berenberg Bank began coverage on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Price Performance

The firm 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 50 day moving average is $65.11 and its 200-day moving average is $57.58. 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 released 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 return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 10.98%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.75 EPS. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's quarterly revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate 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. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be issued a $1.0492 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 7th. This is a positive change from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's dividend payout ratio is currently 22.32%.

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

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BUD. Dodge & Cox raised its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 2.8% during the first quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 41,116,138 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $2,531,109,000 after purchasing an additional 1,119,308 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 7,569,492 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $379,004,000 after acquiring an additional 505,206 shares in the last quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.3% during the first quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 2,790,240 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $171,767,000 after purchasing an additional 190,830 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Investors raised its holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 2,594,619 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $129,201,000 after acquiring an additional 134,243 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clarkston Capital Partners LLC grew its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,498,297 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $92,235,000 after purchasing an additional 4,455 shares during the period. 5.53% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.