4,711 Shares in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) Bought by Davis Investment Partners LLC

Davis Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 4,711 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $691,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in PepsiCo in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC bought a new stake in PepsiCo in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in PepsiCo in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new stake in PepsiCo in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in PepsiCo in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.07% of the company's stock.

PepsiCo Stock Up 1.8%

Shares of NASDAQ PEP traded up $2.40 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $132.30. 11,432,993 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,648,128. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $135.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $145.63. PepsiCo, Inc. has a one year low of $127.75 and a one year high of $180.91. The company has a market cap of $181.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.04, a P/E/G ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.45.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by ($0.01). PepsiCo had a net margin of 10.43% and a return on equity of 58.87%. The business had revenue of $17.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.81 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.61 earnings per share. PepsiCo's revenue for the quarter was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PepsiCo Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 6th will be given a dividend of $1.4225 per share. This is a boost from PepsiCo's previous quarterly dividend of $1.36. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 6th. This represents a $5.69 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.30%. PepsiCo's dividend payout ratio is presently 83.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on PEP shares. Dbs Bank downgraded shares of PepsiCo from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of PepsiCo from $168.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Evercore ISI set a $140.00 target price on shares of PepsiCo in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of PepsiCo from $155.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of PepsiCo from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $160.69.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo, Inc engages in the manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of various beverages and convenient foods worldwide. The company operates through seven segments: Frito-Lay North America; Quaker Foods North America; PepsiCo Beverages North America; Latin America; Europe; Africa, Middle East and South Asia; and Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand and China Region.