Brokerages Set Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) Price Target at $55.42

Shares of Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the twenty-one brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $55.42.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MNST shares. Needham & Company LLC began coverage on shares of Monster Beverage in a research note on Friday, December 6th. They issued a “hold” rating for the company. Bank of America lifted their price objective on Monster Beverage from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Argus increased their price target on shares of Monster Beverage from $55.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $59.00 price objective on shares of Monster Beverage in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Monster Beverage from $50.00 to $49.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th.

Monster Beverage Price Performance

MNST opened at $46.57 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.85, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.74. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $50.85 and a 200-day moving average price of $51.05. The company has a current ratio of 3.13, a quick ratio of 2.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Monster Beverage has a 12-month low of $43.32 and a 12-month high of $61.22.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of Monster Beverage stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.65, for a total transaction of $526,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 74,924 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,944,748.60. The trade was a 11.78 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 7.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Monster Beverage

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Monster Beverage by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 528 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Monster Beverage during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Monster Beverage during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Monster Beverage in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Monster Beverage in the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. 72.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Monster Beverage Company Profile

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.