Eschler Asset Management LLP Boosts Stake in Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ARCO)

Eschler Asset Management LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. (NYSE:ARCO - Free Report) by 50.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 112,516 shares of the restaurant operator's stock after acquiring an additional 37,516 shares during the period. Arcos Dorados accounts for approximately 1.9% of Eschler Asset Management LLP's investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Eschler Asset Management LLP owned approximately 0.05% of Arcos Dorados worth $819,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. raised its position in shares of Arcos Dorados by 121.7% during the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 22,253 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $162,000 after acquiring an additional 12,217 shares in the last quarter. Diligent Investors LLC increased its position in Arcos Dorados by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Diligent Investors LLC now owns 72,478 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $528,000 after buying an additional 2,317 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. increased its position in Arcos Dorados by 374.7% during the fourth quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 214,563 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $1,562,000 after buying an additional 169,363 shares during the period. American Trust Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Arcos Dorados by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. American Trust Investment Advisors LLC now owns 290,870 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $2,118,000 after buying an additional 7,986 shares during the period. Finally, Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV increased its position in Arcos Dorados by 31.2% during the fourth quarter. Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV now owns 204,339 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $1,488,000 after buying an additional 48,614 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.91% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com lowered Arcos Dorados from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th.

Arcos Dorados Stock Performance

ARCO traded up $0.04 during trading on Friday, hitting $8.02. 913,785 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,404,730. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.46 and a beta of 0.65. Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. has a 1-year low of $6.66 and a 1-year high of $11.35. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $7.73 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $7.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Arcos Dorados (NYSE:ARCO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 12th. The restaurant operator reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.06. Arcos Dorados had a return on equity of 29.74% and a net margin of 3.25%. The company had revenue of $1.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. will post 0.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Arcos Dorados Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be paid a $0.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 22nd. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.99%. Arcos Dorados's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 33.33%.

Arcos Dorados Company Profile

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc operates as a franchisee of McDonald's restaurants. It has the exclusive right to own, operate, and grant franchises of McDonald's restaurants in 20 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, the U.S.