Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Decreases Stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV decreased its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Free Report) by 8.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 56,503 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock after selling 5,549 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV's holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV were worth $2,829,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of BUD. Dodge & Cox grew its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 27.7% during the 4th quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 39,996,830 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock worth $2,002,641,000 after acquiring an additional 8,670,940 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership purchased a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the fourth quarter worth about $56,849,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,311,000. Alberta Investment Management Corp bought a new position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,540,000. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 7.2% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 7,569,492 shares of the consumer goods maker's stock valued at $379,004,000 after buying an additional 505,206 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 5.53% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on BUD shares. Argus raised Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $70.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, March 27th. StockNews.com upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $66.00.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of BUD stock traded up $0.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $67.30. 2,603,701 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,871,609. The company's 50-day moving average price is $63.33 and its 200-day moving average price is $56.72. The company has a market cap of $120.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.77, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a 12 month low of $45.94 and a 12 month high of $67.55.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a net margin of 10.98% and a return on equity of 15.29%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.75 EPS. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be paid a $1.0492 dividend. This is a boost from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's previous annual dividend of $0.87. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 7th. This represents a yield of 1.2%. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV's payout ratio is presently 26.46%.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

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.