Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR) Short Interest Update

Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR - Get Free Report) TSE: QSR was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 12,530,000 shares, a growth of 18.9% from the March 15th total of 10,540,000 shares. Approximately 3.9% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 2,310,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.4 days.

Restaurant Brands International Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE QSR traded up $0.22 during trading on Friday, hitting $62.81. 1,546,940 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,853,549. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $64.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.75, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.02. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.58 billion, a PE ratio of 19.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.72. Restaurant Brands International has a 12-month low of $58.71 and a 12-month high of $77.24.

Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR - Get Free Report) TSE: QSR last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The restaurant operator reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.29). Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 28.53% and a net margin of 12.15%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Restaurant Brands International will post 3.72 EPS for the current year.

Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Friday, March 21st were given a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.95%. This is a positive change from Restaurant Brands International's previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 21st. Restaurant Brands International's dividend payout ratio is presently 77.99%.

Insider Transactions at Restaurant Brands International

In other news, insider Duncan Fulton sold 27,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.66, for a total value of $1,778,150.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 34,822 shares in the company, valued at $2,251,590.52. This represents a 44.13 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joshua Kobza sold 93,619 shares of Restaurant Brands International stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.35, for a total value of $5,837,144.65. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 848,578 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $52,908,838.30. This represents a 9.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 278,716 shares of company stock worth $17,740,281 over the last 90 days. 1.36% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Restaurant Brands International

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in QSR. Bleakley Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 3,137 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the period. GeoWealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 2,487 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $162,000 after acquiring an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Waterfront Wealth Inc. increased its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Waterfront Wealth Inc. now owns 14,034 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $915,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. Capital Analysts LLC lifted its position in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 24.3% during the fourth quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 952 shares of the restaurant operator's stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 400 shares of the restaurant operator's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

QSR has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Argus raised shares of Restaurant Brands International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Guggenheim raised their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Restaurant Brands International from $80.00 to $78.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $83.00 to $78.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Restaurant Brands International presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $76.25.

About Restaurant Brands International

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.