Franklin Resources Inc. Has $69.36 Million Holdings in The Campbell Soup Company (NASDAQ:CPB)

Franklin Resources Inc. decreased its stake in shares of The Campbell Soup Company (NASDAQ:CPB) by 13.0% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,656,162 shares of the company’s stock after selling 248,278 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in Campbell Soup were worth $69,360,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Handelsbanken Fonder AB raised its stake in Campbell Soup by 161.8% during the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 186,277 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,801,000 after buying an additional 115,122 shares during the period. ING Groep NV bought a new position in shares of Campbell Soup in the 4th quarter worth $1,062,000. Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. grew its position in Campbell Soup by 133.3% in the 4th quarter. Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. now owns 147,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,156,000 after purchasing an additional 84,000 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Campbell Soup by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,787,481 shares of the company’s stock valued at $74,860,000 after purchasing an additional 21,849 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC raised its holdings in Campbell Soup by 34.2% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 165,494 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,096,000 after buying an additional 42,216 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 52.35% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Campbell Soup news, EVP Charles A. Brawley III sold 2,498 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.03, for a total value of $99,994.94. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 37,590 shares in the company, valued at $1,504,727.70. This represents a 6.23 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 20.19% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Campbell Soup Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ CPB opened at $39.82 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $39.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $42.80. The Campbell Soup Company has a one year low of $36.92 and a one year high of $52.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 21.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.50.

Campbell Soup (NASDAQ:CPB) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, March 5th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $2.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.74 billion. Campbell Soup had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 23.79%. The company’s revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Campbell Soup Company will post 3.15 EPS for the current year.

Campbell Soup Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be given a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.92%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 3rd. Campbell Soup’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 90.17%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Consumer Edge reissued an “equal weight” rating on shares of Campbell Soup in a research report on Monday, March 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Campbell Soup from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and dropped their target price for the company from $48.00 to $37.00 in a report on Thursday, March 6th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Campbell Soup from $47.00 to $40.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 24th. BNP Paribas upgraded Campbell Soup to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Campbell Soup from $49.00 to $46.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Campbell Soup currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $44.86.

Campbell Soup Profile

Campbell Soup Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets food and beverage products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Meals & Beverages and Snacks segments. The Meals & Beverages segment engages in the retail and foodservice businesses in the United States and Canada.