Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) Shares Sold by Motley Fool Asset Management LLC

Motley Fool Asset Management LLC decreased its stake in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 63.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 51,625 shares of the coffee company's stock after selling 90,886 shares during the period. Motley Fool Asset Management LLC's holdings in Starbucks were worth $4,711,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new position in Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Collier Financial acquired a new position in Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. 72.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on SBUX shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Robert W. Baird restated a "neutral" rating and set a $85.00 price objective (down previously from $114.00) on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Monday. Wedbush boosted their price target on shares of Starbucks from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $115.00 price objective on shares of Starbucks in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Starbucks from $110.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $105.12.

Starbucks Price Performance

Starbucks stock traded up $2.32 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $82.32. 7,233,532 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,271,760. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $104.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $99.29. The firm has a market cap of $93.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 1.00. Starbucks Co. has a 1 year low of $71.55 and a 1 year high of $117.46.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 28th. The coffee company reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.01. Starbucks had a negative return on equity of 44.97% and a net margin of 9.73%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Starbucks Co. will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

Starbucks Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 16th. Starbucks's dividend payout ratio is presently 78.71%.

Starbucks Company Profile

Starbucks Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of coffee worldwide. The company operates through three segments: North America, International, and Channel Development. Its stores offer coffee and tea beverages, roasted whole beans and ground coffees, single serve products, and ready-to-drink beverages; and various food products, such as pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch items.