Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV Has $3.40 Million Position in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV increased its stake in shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 56.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 37,234 shares of the coffee company's stock after purchasing an additional 13,507 shares during the quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV's holdings in Starbucks were worth $3,403,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gradient Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Starbucks by 18.9% during the 1st quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 285,322 shares of the coffee company's stock worth $26,076,000 after buying an additional 45,322 shares during the period. Wesbanco Bank Inc. raised its position in shares of Starbucks by 18.4% during the first quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 144,042 shares of the coffee company's stock worth $13,164,000 after acquiring an additional 22,385 shares during the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Starbucks by 4.5% in the first quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 13,123 shares of the coffee company's stock worth $1,199,000 after acquiring an additional 565 shares during the period. Regatta Capital Group LLC boosted its holdings in Starbucks by 10.9% in the first quarter. Regatta Capital Group LLC now owns 16,861 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $1,541,000 after acquiring an additional 1,651 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stablepoint Partners LLC increased its position in Starbucks by 15.4% during the 1st quarter. Stablepoint Partners LLC now owns 25,652 shares of the coffee company's stock valued at $2,344,000 after purchasing an additional 3,416 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Michael Aaron Conway sold 3,250 shares of Starbucks stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.39, for a total transaction of $277,517.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 81,199 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,933,582.61. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 7,250 shares of company stock worth $651,738. Corporate insiders own 1.98% of the company's stock.

Starbucks Trading Down 2.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ SBUX traded down $1.82 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $73.11. The company had a trading volume of 22,153,770 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,042,146. Starbucks Co. has a 1 year low of $72.67 and a 1 year high of $108.12. The company has a market capitalization of $82.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.14, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.97. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $88.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $93.84.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 30th. The coffee company reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $8.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.12 billion. Starbucks had a net margin of 11.38% and a negative return on equity of 49.91%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.74 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Starbucks Co. will post 3.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 17th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 16th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.12%. Starbucks's payout ratio is currently 62.81%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on SBUX. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Starbucks from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $108.00 to $89.00 in a research note on Wednesday. William Blair downgraded Starbucks from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday. Stephens reissued an "equal weight" rating and issued a $110.00 price objective on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Starbucks from $106.00 to $100.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and issued a $102.00 price target on shares of Starbucks in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Seventeen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $97.09.

Starbucks Profile

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.

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