GTS Securities LLC Sells 32,504 Shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP)

GTS Securities LLC trimmed its holdings in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP - Free Report) by 59.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,449 shares of the company's stock after selling 32,504 shares during the quarter. GTS Securities LLC's holdings in PepsiCo were worth $3,414,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. 73.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

PepsiCo Stock Performance

PEP stock traded up $0.88 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $130.22. 3,248,037 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,461,749. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05. PepsiCo, Inc. has a 52 week low of $127.75 and a 52 week high of $180.91. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $139.16 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $147.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $178.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.47.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share 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 company 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 firm earned $1.61 earnings per share. PepsiCo's revenue for the quarter was down 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PepsiCo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th will be issued a $1.4225 dividend. This is an increase from PepsiCo's previous quarterly dividend of $1.36. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 6th. This represents a $5.69 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.37%. PepsiCo's dividend payout ratio is currently 83.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on PEP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on PepsiCo from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a "sector perform" rating and issued a $163.00 price objective on shares of PepsiCo in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Wall Street Zen lowered PepsiCo from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on PepsiCo from $155.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI set a $140.00 price objective on PepsiCo in a report on Thursday, April 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $160.69.

PepsiCo Company Profile

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.