Millennium Management LLC Trims Stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)

Millennium Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Free Report) by 32.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 745,098 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock after selling 358,363 shares during the quarter. Millennium Management LLC's holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV were worth $37,307,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BUD. Dodge & Cox lifted its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 27.7% during the fourth quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 39,996,830 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $2,002,641,000 after buying an additional 8,670,940 shares in the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the fourth quarter worth approximately $56,849,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,311,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp purchased a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,540,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.2% during the fourth quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 7,569,492 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $379,004,000 after buying an additional 505,206 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.53% of the company's stock.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Up 1.4%

BUD traded up $0.97 on Friday, hitting $69.32. 1,823,671 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,881,636. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a twelve month low of $45.94 and a twelve month high of $69.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. The company has a market cap of $124.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.83. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $64.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $57.11.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 in the prior year, the company posted $0.75 earnings per share. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's revenue for the quarter was down 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict 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 company 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. This is an increase from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 7th. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's payout ratio is presently 22.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BUD has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Argus raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 27th. Berenberg Bank started coverage on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Wall Street Zen cut Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Sunday, May 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Two investment 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 company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $71.50.

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.