PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) Shares Purchased by Stratos Investment Management LLC

Stratos Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP - Free Report) by 56.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,446 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,987 shares during the quarter. Stratos Investment Management LLC's holdings in PepsiCo were worth $2,916,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Elite Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in PepsiCo during the first quarter worth $28,000. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. acquired a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. acquired a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC acquired a new stake in PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.07% of the company's stock.

PepsiCo Stock Down 0.4%

NASDAQ PEP traded down $0.56 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $134.48. 7,759,078 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,080,434. The stock has a market cap of $184.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.22 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.83. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $131.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $141.93. PepsiCo, Inc. has a 1 year low of $127.60 and a 1 year high of $180.91.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP - Get Free Report) last announced 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 58.28% and a net margin of 10.24%. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.61 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate 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 was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 6th were issued a $1.4225 dividend. This is an increase from PepsiCo's previous quarterly dividend of $1.36. This represents a $5.69 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.23%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. PepsiCo's payout ratio is presently 83.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on PEP shares. Barclays cut their target price on PepsiCo from $143.00 to $135.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on PepsiCo from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Bank of America dropped their price objective on PepsiCo from $155.00 to $150.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on PepsiCo from $168.00 to $153.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on PepsiCo from $170.00 to $160.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. One 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. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $159.75.

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.