National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) Reaches New 12-Month Low on Analyst Downgrade

National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Thursday after UBS Group lowered their price target on the stock from $46.00 to $41.00. UBS Group currently has a sell rating on the stock. National Beverage traded as low as $38.25 and last traded at $38.92, with a volume of 21370 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $40.21.

Insider Activity at National Beverage

In related news, Director Cecil D. Conlee sold 2,736 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.01, for a total value of $128,619.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 53,744 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,526,505.44. This trade represents a 4.84 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 74.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National Beverage

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in FIZZ. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in National Beverage by 1.1% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,747,752 shares of the company’s stock valued at $117,247,000 after purchasing an additional 31,062 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in National Beverage by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,248,681 shares of the company’s stock valued at $53,281,000 after purchasing an additional 32,003 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in National Beverage by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 721,810 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,805,000 after purchasing an additional 15,734 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in National Beverage by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 295,028 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,589,000 after purchasing an additional 28,186 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in National Beverage by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 271,658 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,592,000 after purchasing an additional 7,075 shares during the last quarter. 23.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

National Beverage Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $41.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $44.87. The firm has a market cap of $3.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.02 and a beta of 0.84.

National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 5th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. National Beverage had a return on equity of 42.80% and a net margin of 15.63%.

About National Beverage

National Beverage Corp., through its subsidiaries, develops, produces, markets, and sells a portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks primarily in the United States and Canada. The company's Power+ brand portfolio offers sparkling water products under the LaCroix, LaCroix Cúrate, and LaCroix NiCola; non-carbonated flavored water under the Clear Fruit; energy drink and shots under the Rip It; juice and juice-based products under Everfresh, Everfresh Premier Varietals, and Mr.