Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) Hits New 12-Month High – Should You Buy?

Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $69.05 and last traded at $68.86, with a volume of 1474939 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $68.56.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on BUD. Berenberg Bank began coverage on shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a “buy” rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $70.10 to $88.00 in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, May 18th. Argus raised shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $70.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $71.50.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Trading Up 1.4%

The business’s 50-day moving average price is $64.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $57.11. The company has a market cap of $124.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.69.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.04. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a net margin of 10.98% and a return on equity of 15.29%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.75 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.37 earnings per share for the current year.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be given a $1.0492 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 7th. This is an increase from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV’s previous annual dividend of $0.87. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.32%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Alberta Investment Management Corp bought a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,540,000. B&D White Capital Company LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter worth about $290,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 15.8% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,409 shares of the consumer goods maker’s stock worth $171,000 after buying an additional 464 shares during the last quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 30.3% during the 4th quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,493,842 shares of the consumer goods maker’s stock worth $74,797,000 after buying an additional 347,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter worth about $37,311,000. Institutional investors own 5.53% of the company’s stock.

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile

Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, exports, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands.