Lazard Asset Management LLC Invests $52,000 in National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ)

Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 1,237 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $52,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in National Beverage by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,994 shares of the company’s stock worth $128,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in shares of National Beverage by 38.3% during the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,499 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in shares of National Beverage by 8.1% during the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 5,661 shares of the company’s stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of National Beverage by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC now owns 37,256 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,590,000 after purchasing an additional 564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV lifted its holdings in shares of National Beverage by 89.3% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,357 shares of the company’s stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 640 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 23.95% of the company’s stock.

National Beverage Price Performance

Shares of National Beverage stock opened at $43.95 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $43.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $43.50. National Beverage Corp. has a 12 month low of $38.25 and a 12 month high of $53.48. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.09 and a beta of 0.88.

National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 6th. The company reported $0.42 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.45 by ($0.03). National Beverage had a net margin of 15.63% and a return on equity of 42.80%. The business had revenue of $267.05 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $282.22 million.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Stanley Michael Sheridan sold 8,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.40, for a total transaction of $347,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 62,408 shares in the company, valued at $2,708,507.20. The trade was a 11.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 74.80% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, UBS Group dropped their price target on National Beverage from $46.00 to $41.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 27th.

About National Beverage

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.