Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Analysts

Shares of Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Hold" from the twenty-three ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, eight have given a hold recommendation and thirteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $66.0476.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on MNST shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on Monster Beverage from $67.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Roth Capital reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $60.00 price target (up previously from $56.00) on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Wednesday, August 13th. Bank of America increased their price objective on Monster Beverage from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and set a $79.00 price objective (up previously from $76.00) on shares of Monster Beverage in a report on Thursday. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Monster Beverage from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th.

Insider Transactions at Monster Beverage

In related news, Director Mark Vidergauz sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.73, for a total transaction of $637,300.00. Following the sale, the director owned 51,191 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,262,402.43. This represents a 16.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 8.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Monster Beverage

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BNC Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. BNC Wealth Management LLC now owns 44,778 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,014,000 after acquiring an additional 2,230 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. raised its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 91.9% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 100,497 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,764,000 after acquiring an additional 48,117 shares in the last quarter. LVM Capital Management Ltd. MI purchased a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage in the 3rd quarter valued at about $545,000. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 675.7% in the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 574 shares of the company's stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage in the 3rd quarter valued at about $324,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.36% of the company's stock.

Monster Beverage Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MNST opened at $69.62 on Friday. Monster Beverage has a one year low of $45.70 and a one year high of $70.06. The business's fifty day moving average price is $64.31 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.98 billion, a PE ratio of 43.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.54.

Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.04. Monster Beverage had a return on equity of 27.46% and a net margin of 20.54%.The firm had revenue of $2.11 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.08 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.41 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Monster Beverage will post 1.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Monster Beverage

Monster Beverage Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in development, marketing, sale, and distribution of energy drink beverages and concentrates in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Monster Energy Drinks, Strategic Brands, Alcohol Brands, and Other.

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