National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ) Short Interest Down 5.7% in December

National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ - Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,490,000 shares, a decline of 5.7% from the November 30th total of 2,640,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 151,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 16.5 days. Approximately 11.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of National Beverage from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 10th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other National Beverage news, Director Cecil D. Conlee sold 2,736 shares of National Beverage stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.01, for a total transaction of $128,619.36. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 53,744 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,526,505.44. The trade was a 4.84 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 74.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On National Beverage

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its holdings in shares of National Beverage by 84.9% in the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 145,172 shares of the company's stock worth $6,814,000 after purchasing an additional 66,661 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC raised its stake in shares of National Beverage by 72.3% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 148,892 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,989,000 after buying an additional 62,464 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC lifted its position in shares of National Beverage by 69.3% during the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 102,098 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,792,000 after buying an additional 41,777 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of National Beverage by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,145,227 shares of the company's stock worth $58,680,000 after acquiring an additional 40,488 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its stake in National Beverage by 389.9% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 41,810 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,962,000 after acquiring an additional 33,275 shares during the period. 23.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

National Beverage Price Performance

Shares of FIZZ stock traded up $0.17 on Wednesday, hitting $42.67. The stock had a trading volume of 162,744 shares, compared to its average volume of 169,653. The business has a 50 day moving average of $47.00 and a 200 day moving average of $47.14. National Beverage has a 12-month low of $42.18 and a 12-month high of $53.58. The stock has a market cap of $3.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44 and a beta of 0.83.

National Beverage Company Profile

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.