Walker Asset Management LLC Boosts Stake in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP)

Walker Asset Management LLC boosted its position in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) by 6.4% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 2,097 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 127 shares during the period. Walker Asset Management LLC’s holdings in PepsiCo were worth $319,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in PEP. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates grew its holdings in PepsiCo by 59.0% during the 3rd quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 159 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Cross Staff Investments Inc boosted its stake in shares of PepsiCo by 0.9% during the third quarter. Cross Staff Investments Inc now owns 7,080 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,204,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in PepsiCo by 2.1% in the third quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,986 shares of the company’s stock worth $508,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in PepsiCo by 0.8% during the third quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc now owns 7,573 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,288,000 after buying an additional 62 shares during the period. Finally, Demars Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of PepsiCo by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Demars Financial Group LLC now owns 5,721 shares of the company’s stock valued at $973,000 after acquiring an additional 62 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.07% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Redburn Atlantic raised PepsiCo to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of PepsiCo from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a $185.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of PepsiCo from $170.00 to $155.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on PepsiCo from $185.00 to $183.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on PepsiCo from $177.00 to $176.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $178.60.

PepsiCo Stock Performance

PEP opened at $148.25 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. PepsiCo, Inc. has a 12-month low of $141.51 and a 12-month high of $183.41. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $155.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $165.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $203.40 billion, a PE ratio of 21.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.54.

PepsiCo Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were issued a $1.355 dividend. This represents a $5.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 6th. PepsiCo’s payout ratio is 79.94%.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo, Inc engages in the manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of various beverages and convenient foods worldwide. The company operates through seven segments: Frito-Lay North America; Quaker Foods North America; PepsiCo Beverages North America; Latin America; Europe; Africa, Middle East and South Asia; and Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand and China Region.