Monte Financial Group LLC Raises Stake in Campbell Soup (NASDAQ:CPB)

Monte Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Campbell Soup (NASDAQ:CPB) by 5.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 124,507 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 6,562 shares during the quarter. Campbell Soup comprises 2.2% of Monte Financial Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Monte Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Campbell Soup were worth $5,214,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Campbell Soup by 1,593.8% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 1,904,440 shares of the company’s stock worth $91,623,000 after buying an additional 1,792,005 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its position in shares of Campbell Soup by 43.8% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,228 shares of the company’s stock valued at $451,000 after purchasing an additional 2,809 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Campbell Soup by 34.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 165,494 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,096,000 after buying an additional 42,216 shares in the last quarter. Centiva Capital LP bought a new stake in Campbell Soup in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,806,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Campbell Soup by 6.8% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 278,607 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,629,000 after buying an additional 17,663 shares in the last quarter. 52.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Campbell Soup Price Performance

Shares of CPB opened at $38.98 on Friday. Campbell Soup has a fifty-two week low of $37.61 and a fifty-two week high of $52.81. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $41.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $46.03. The stock has a market cap of $11.62 billion, a PE ratio of 21.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 0.91.

Campbell Soup (NASDAQ:CPB) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 3rd. The company reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by $0.02. Campbell Soup had a return on equity of 23.79% and a net margin of 5.57%. Analysts anticipate that Campbell Soup will post 3.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Campbell Soup Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. This is a positive change from Campbell Soup’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.00%. Campbell Soup’s payout ratio is currently 85.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Campbell Soup from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Campbell Soup from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the company from $55.00 to $58.00 in a report on Monday, October 7th. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of Campbell Soup from $47.00 to $40.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Campbell Soup from $44.00 to $41.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Stephens reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Campbell Soup in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $50.17.

Insider Activity at Campbell Soup

In other Campbell Soup news, EVP Anthony Sanzio sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.90, for a total value of $83,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,551 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $693,486.90. This represents a 10.78 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 20.19% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Campbell Soup Profile

Campbell Soup Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets food and beverage products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Meals & Beverages and Snacks segments. The Meals & Beverages segment engages in the retail and foodservice businesses in the United States and Canada.