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

National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ) hit 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. The stock had previously closed at $40.21.

Insider Transactions at National Beverage

In other National Beverage news, Director Cecil D. Conlee sold 2,736 shares of National Beverage stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.01, for a total transaction of $128,619.36. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 53,744 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,526,505.44. The trade was a 4.84 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 74.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National Beverage

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FIZZ. Norges Bank bought a new stake in National Beverage during the 4th quarter valued at $9,718,000. Marshall Wace LLP raised its position in National Beverage by 1,461.6% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 100,939 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,307,000 after purchasing an additional 94,475 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in National Beverage by 151.4% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 133,050 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,677,000 after purchasing an additional 80,126 shares in the last quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. raised its position in National Beverage by 47.1% during the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 216,763 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,249,000 after purchasing an additional 69,400 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC raised its position in National Beverage by 72.3% during the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 148,892 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,989,000 after purchasing an additional 62,464 shares in the last quarter. 23.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

National Beverage Trading Up 0.6 %

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $41.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $44.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.73 billion, a P/E 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.