Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST) Stock Holdings Lessened by State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D

State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D trimmed its position in Monster Beverage Co. (NASDAQ:MNST - Free Report) by 3.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 273,635 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,430 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D's holdings in Monster Beverage were worth $14,382,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. grew its stake in Monster Beverage by 62.5% in the fourth quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 528 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management acquired a new position in Monster Beverage in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Monster Beverage in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Monster Beverage in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Monster Beverage by 16,085.7% in the third quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 1,133 shares of the company's stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 1,126 shares in the last quarter. 72.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.65, for a total transaction of $526,500.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 74,924 shares of the company's stock, 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 7.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on MNST. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Monster Beverage from $57.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Monster Beverage from $52.00 to $51.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. Argus lifted their target price on Monster Beverage from $55.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Monster Beverage from $61.00 to $59.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $55.53.

Monster Beverage Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MNST traded up $1.79 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $53.00. 7,703,034 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,357,763. Monster Beverage Co. has a twelve month low of $43.32 and a twelve month high of $61.22. The firm has a market cap of $51.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.97, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.74. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $50.18 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 3.13 and a quick ratio of 2.51.

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.