LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC Raises Holdings in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX)

LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX - Free Report) by 103.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,546 shares of the coffee company's stock after buying an additional 5,374 shares during the period. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Starbucks were worth $962,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SBUX. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Graney & King LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Collier Financial purchased a new position in shares of Starbucks during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Starbucks during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.29% of the company's stock.

Starbucks Price Performance

SBUX stock traded up $0.74 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $81.50. The stock had a trading volume of 9,784,353 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,492,765. Starbucks Co. has a 52-week low of $71.55 and a 52-week high of $117.46. The firm has a market cap of $92.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 1.00. The business has a 50-day moving average of $99.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $98.26.

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

Starbucks Announces Dividend

The business 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 $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. Starbucks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 78.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SBUX has been the topic of several research reports. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Argus upgraded Starbucks from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $115.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Wedbush upped their target price on Starbucks from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Starbucks from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Starbucks in a report on Friday, January 24th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $104.24.

Starbucks 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.