Monster Beverage (NASDAQ:MNST) Stock Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST - Get Free Report)'s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $51.10 and traded as high as $52.88. Monster Beverage shares last traded at $52.53, with a volume of 3,813,433 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on MNST. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Monster Beverage from $61.00 to $59.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Monster Beverage from $50.00 to $49.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th. BNP Paribas dropped their target price on shares of Monster Beverage from $46.00 to $45.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Monster Beverage from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Monster Beverage currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $56.30.

Monster Beverage Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $51.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.74. The company has a quick ratio of 2.51, a current ratio of 3.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $53.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $51.14.

Insider Activity at Monster Beverage

In other news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of Monster Beverage stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.65, for a total value of $526,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 74,924 shares in the company, valued at $3,944,748.60. The trade was a 11.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 7.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Monster Beverage

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its stake in shares of Monster Beverage by 109.3% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 22,559,092 shares of the company's stock worth $1,176,913,000 after buying an additional 11,779,162 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in Monster Beverage by 1,148.0% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 2,596,888 shares of the company's stock worth $135,480,000 after purchasing an additional 2,388,798 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Monster Beverage by 6.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,742,390 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,760,341,000 after purchasing an additional 2,168,379 shares during the period. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Monster Beverage during the 3rd quarter valued at about $73,600,000. Finally, Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its stake in shares of Monster Beverage by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 27,142,970 shares of the company's stock worth $1,416,048,000 after purchasing an additional 1,229,789 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 72.36% of the company's stock.

About Monster Beverage

Monster Beverage Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in development, marketing, sale, and distribution of energy drink beverages and concentrates in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Monster Energy Drinks, Strategic Brands, Alcohol Brands, and Other.