Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) Major Shareholder Margaret Haas Sells 2,279 Shares

Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) major shareholder Margaret Haas sold 2,279 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.01, for a total transaction of $54,718.79. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Large shareholders that own at least 10% of a company’s stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

Levi Strauss & Co. Stock Performance

LEVI traded up $0.31 on Thursday, hitting $23.69. 1,965,915 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,715,071. The company has a 50 day moving average of $21.09 and a 200-day moving average of $21.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.11 billion, a PE ratio of 15.09, a PEG ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.35. Levi Strauss & Co. has a 12-month low of $16.50 and a 12-month high of $24.82.

Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 7th. The blue-jean maker reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $1.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.65 billion. Levi Strauss & Co. had a return on equity of 25.35% and a net margin of 9.52%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.38 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Levi Strauss & Co. will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Levi Strauss & Co. Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 22nd were given a $0.14 dividend. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 22nd. Levi Strauss & Co.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $27.00 target price on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. TD Cowen restated a “buy” rating and issued a $28.00 price objective on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a research report on Wednesday. Weiss Ratings upgraded Levi Strauss & Co. from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. Raymond James Financial reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Levi Strauss & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. They set a “buy” rating and a $25.00 target price for the company. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $26.79.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Levi Strauss & Co.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Levi Strauss & Co. by 181.6% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 151,645 shares of the blue-jean maker’s stock valued at $2,364,000 after buying an additional 97,800 shares in the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Levi Strauss & Co. during the 1st quarter worth about $224,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. increased its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 133.5% during the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 3,286 shares of the blue-jean maker’s stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 1,879 shares in the last quarter. Caxton Associates LLP purchased a new stake in Levi Strauss & Co. during the 1st quarter worth about $241,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC increased its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 1,597,687 shares of the blue-jean maker’s stock worth $24,908,000 after purchasing an additional 52,332 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.14% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Levi Strauss & Co.

Here are the key news stories impacting Levi Strauss & Co. this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to view Levi Strauss & Co. as a generally favorable name, with the stock carrying a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average target price above recent trading levels. Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s latest earnings beat expectations, with revenue and EPS both topping estimates and revenue rising 14.1% year over year, reinforcing the view that Levi’s direct-to-consumer growth is helping results. Levi Strauss Gains as DTC Continues to Fuel Revenue Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent commentary focused on valuation after a rally, noting that LEVI has traded above some fair-value estimates, which may limit near-term upside even if the business remains healthy. A Look at Levi Strauss & Co (LEVI) After 4.6% Gain
• Negative Sentiment: Major shareholder Robert D. Haas disclosed several stock sales, including a large block sale, which can weigh on sentiment because insider selling sometimes signals limited conviction near current prices, even though the trades were made under a pre-arranged 10b5-1 plan.

Levi Strauss & Co. Company Profile

Levi Strauss & Co is a global apparel company best known for its denim jeans and casual wear. Founded in 1853 in San Francisco by Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss, the company pioneered the modern blue jean with the introduction of rivet-reinforced work pants. Over its more than 160-year history, Levi Strauss has evolved into a lifestyle brand, offering a broad portfolio that includes denim for men, women and children, as well as tops, outerwear, footwear and accessories.

The company’s flagship label, Levi’s®, is recognized worldwide for its iconic styles such as the 501® Original Fit Jeans, while additional brands, including Dockers®, Target core metric, and Denizen® by Levi’s, cater to diverse price points and consumer segments.