Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST) Stock Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Monster Beverage shares briefly moved above their 200-day moving average of $43.49, reaching $44.18 before last trading at $42.67; the stock was down 2.8% in the session.
• Analysts remain broadly positive, with 13 Buy ratings and 9 Holds, producing a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $50.33.
• The company exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $0.60 in EPS versus a $0.58 consensus estimate and $2.50 billion in revenue, up 20.2% year over year. Institutional investors own 72.36% of the company’s shares.

Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST - Get Free Report) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $43.49 and traded as high as $44.18. Monster Beverage shares last traded at $42.67, with a volume of 9,717,614 shares trading hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on MNST shares. Morgan Stanley set a $51.50 price target on Monster Beverage and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, June 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on Monster Beverage in a research report on Friday, June 12th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $47.50 price objective on the stock. UBS Group raised their price objective on Monster Beverage from $52.00 to $52.50 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "hold" rating and issued a $100.00 target price on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Monster Beverage in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Monster Beverage currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $50.33.

Monster Beverage Stock Down 2.8%

The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $46.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $43.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $83.59 billion, a PE ratio of 39.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.52.

Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.02. Monster Beverage had a return on equity of 26.02% and a net margin of 23.08%.The firm had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.26 earnings per share. The company's quarterly revenue was up 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Monster Beverage Corporation will post 1.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Monster Beverage

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 4.4% in the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 64,338 shares of the company's stock worth $6,184,000 after purchasing an additional 2,739 shares during the last quarter. Security National Bank of SO Dak bought a new stake in Monster Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at $82,000. IPG Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Monster Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,880,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd bought a new stake in Monster Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at $433,000. Finally, Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in Monster Beverage by 7.6% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,410 shares of the company's stock valued at $520,000 after buying an additional 381 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.36% of the company's stock.

Monster Beverage Company Profile

Monster Beverage Corporation is a beverage company headquartered in Corona, California. It develops, markets and distributes energy drinks and other alternative beverages through a portfolio of brands that includes Monster Energy, Reign, NOS, Full Throttle, Burn and Bang Energy.

The company offers energy drinks in a variety of flavors and formulations, including products positioned for performance, fitness and everyday use. Monster also participates in the alcoholic beverage category through products marketed under the Monster Brewing Company name, including flavored malt beverages and beers.

Monster Beverage traces its roots to Hansen's, a juice and natural beverage business founded in the 1930s.

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