RiverFront Investment Group LLC Buys 440 Shares of Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX)

RiverFront Investment Group LLC raised its stake in Starbucks Co. (NASDAQ:SBUX) by 9.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,319 shares of the coffee company’s stock after purchasing an additional 440 shares during the quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Starbucks were worth $485,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SBUX. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in shares of Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Graney & King LLC acquired a new stake in Starbucks in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Collier Financial bought a new position in shares of Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Runnymede Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Starbucks during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Starbucks in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.29% of the company’s stock.

Starbucks Stock Performance

Starbucks stock opened at $97.73 on Friday. Starbucks Co. has a 52 week low of $71.55 and a 52 week high of $117.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $111.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.59 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $105.75 and a 200-day moving average of $99.54.

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) last issued its earnings results 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 negative return on equity of 44.97% and a net margin of 9.73%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.90 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Starbucks Co. will post 2.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SBUX has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their price target on Starbucks from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Wedbush lifted 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 increased their price target on Starbucks from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $110.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased 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. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Starbucks has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $106.12.

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.