PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) Shares Sold by Focus Financial Network Inc.

Focus Financial Network Inc. decreased its holdings in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP - Free Report) by 15.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,827 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,096 shares during the period. Focus Financial Network Inc.'s holdings in PepsiCo were worth $1,773,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PepsiCo in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC purchased a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. purchased a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC purchased a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 73.07% of the company's stock.

PepsiCo Trading Up 1.8%

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

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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). The business had revenue of $17.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $17.81 billion. PepsiCo had a return on equity of 58.87% and a net margin of 10.43%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.61 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PepsiCo Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on PEP shares. UBS Group reduced their price target on PepsiCo from $175.00 to $169.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 25th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered PepsiCo from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their target price for the company from $171.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 12th. Evercore ISI set a $140.00 price objective on shares of PepsiCo in a report on Thursday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on PepsiCo from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on PepsiCo from $155.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus 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.