Securian Asset Management Inc. Has $5.34 Million Position in PepsiCo, Inc. $PEP

Securian Asset Management Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) by 43.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 37,180 shares of the company’s stock after selling 28,937 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in PepsiCo were worth $5,336,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. JCIC Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in PepsiCo in the third quarter valued at about $27,000. MH & Associates Securities Management Corp ADV bought a new position in shares of PepsiCo in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Imprint Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of PepsiCo in the third quarter worth about $31,000. Strategic Advocates LLC bought a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. 73.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

PepsiCo News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting PepsiCo this week:

• Positive Sentiment: PepsiCo announced a new partnership in the UAE’s Future Industries Lab to support SMEs and young Emiratis, reinforcing its innovation and local investment strategy. MoIAT expands Future Industries Lab with new PepsiCo partnership supporting SMEs and young Emiratis
• Positive Sentiment: PepsiCo and TalusAg Renewables announced a low-carbon ammonia agreement, an ESG-oriented move that could improve supply-chain sustainability and appeal to investors focused on emissions reduction. PepsiCo and TalusAg Renewables announce low-carbon ammonia attribute agreement to help accelerate fertilizer decarbonization
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple articles highlighted PepsiCo’s continued investment in China and its focus on international growth, product innovation, and cost discipline, which supports the long-term bull case. PepsiCo to ‘continue investing’ in Chinese market

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of PepsiCo from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of PepsiCo from $169.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of PepsiCo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, April 18th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of PepsiCo from $154.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Evercore lifted their price objective on shares of PepsiCo from $165.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, PepsiCo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $170.26.

PepsiCo Price Performance

Shares of PepsiCo stock opened at $154.62 on Monday. PepsiCo, Inc. has a twelve month low of $127.60 and a twelve month high of $171.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $157.25 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $152.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $211.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.38.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 15th. The company reported $1.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.06. PepsiCo had a net margin of 9.15% and a return on equity of 56.61%. The business had revenue of $19.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.89 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.48 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.63 EPS for the current year.

PepsiCo Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 5th will be issued a $1.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 5th. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.8%. This is an increase from PepsiCo’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.42. PepsiCo’s payout ratio is 89.32%.

PepsiCo declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, February 3rd that authorizes the company to buyback $10.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 4.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

PepsiCo Company Profile

PepsiCo, Inc (NASDAQ: PEP) is a multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Purchase, New York. The company develops, manufactures, markets and sells a broad portfolio of branded food and beverage products, including carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, salty snacks, cereals, and other convenient foods. Its leading consumer brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana, Quaker, Lay’s, Doritos and Cheetos, among others.

Formed through the 1965 merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay, PepsiCo has grown into a global business with integrated manufacturing, distribution and marketing operations.