Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) is Fruth Investment Management’s 10th Largest Position

Fruth Investment Management decreased its position in shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 1.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 77,799 shares of the coffee company’s stock after selling 1,300 shares during the quarter. Starbucks accounts for 2.0% of Fruth Investment Management’s portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Fruth Investment Management’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $7,099,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Starbucks during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. DT Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Starbucks by 39.4% during the third quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 428 shares of the coffee company’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. FSA Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Starbucks during the third quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Friedenthal Financial purchased a new stake in Starbucks in the third quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new stake in Starbucks during the 4th quarter valued at $56,000. Institutional investors own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Rachel Ruggeri sold 1,491 shares of Starbucks stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.54, for a total value of $148,414.14. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 80,124 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,975,542.96. The trade was a 1.83 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.09% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Starbucks Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ SBUX opened at $112.25 on Thursday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $96.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $94.07. Starbucks Co. has a fifty-two week low of $71.55 and a fifty-two week high of $112.42. The company has a market cap of $127.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.21, a PEG ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 1.00.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a net margin of 9.73% and a negative return on equity of 44.97%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.90 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Starbucks Co. will post 3 earnings per share for the current year.

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 28th. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Starbucks’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 78.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $118.00 to $117.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Starbucks from $98.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Wedbush upped their price objective on Starbucks from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Citigroup lifted their target price on Starbucks from $96.00 to $99.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $105.33.

Starbucks Company 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.