United Asset Strategies Inc. Purchases 14,092 Shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX)

United Asset Strategies Inc. raised its stake in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 11.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 136,852 shares of the coffee company's stock after acquiring an additional 14,092 shares during the quarter. Starbucks makes up 1.5% of United Asset Strategies Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position. United Asset Strategies Inc.'s holdings in Starbucks were worth $13,139,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BCK Partners Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,640,000. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Starbucks by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 27,634 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $2,514,000 after buying an additional 1,872 shares in the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Starbucks by 37.5% during the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 7,152 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $651,000 after buying an additional 1,952 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $198,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Starbucks by 77.5% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 6,912 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $629,000 after buying an additional 3,017 shares in the last quarter. 72.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Starbucks Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NASDAQ:SBUX traded up $0.25 on Tuesday, hitting $85.42. The company had a trading volume of 8,866,426 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,390,786. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $91.51 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $94.53. Starbucks Co. has a 1 year low of $84.29 and a 1 year high of $115.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $96.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.98.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The coffee company reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.92 by ($0.02). Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 50.76% and a net margin of 11.70%. The company had revenue of $9.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $9.60 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.75 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Starbucks Co. will post 4.05 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 31st. Investors of record on Friday, May 17th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 16th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.67%. Starbucks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 60.96%.

Insider Activity at Starbucks

In other news, insider Michael Aaron Conway sold 3,250 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.03, for a total value of $305,597.50. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 84,153 shares in the company, valued at $7,912,906.59. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders sold a total of 4,000 shares of company stock valued at $375,665 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.98% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $100.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. HSBC assumed coverage on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $107.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird lowered their target price on shares of Starbucks from $106.00 to $100.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 18th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Starbucks from $120.00 to $115.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wedbush reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $95.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $107.43.

About Starbucks

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.