Short Interest in National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ) Declines By 5.7%

National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,490,000 shares, a drop of 5.7% from the November 30th total of 2,640,000 shares. Approximately 11.5% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 151,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 16.5 days.

Insider Transactions at National Beverage

In other National Beverage news, Director Cecil D. Conlee sold 2,736 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.01, for a total value of $128,619.36. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 53,744 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,526,505.44. This trade represents a 4.84 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 74.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in National Beverage by 84.9% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 145,172 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,814,000 after acquiring an additional 66,661 shares during the period. Verition Fund Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of National Beverage by 72.3% during the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 148,892 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,989,000 after purchasing an additional 62,464 shares during the last quarter. Algert Global LLC boosted its position in shares of National Beverage by 69.3% in the 3rd quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 102,098 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,792,000 after purchasing an additional 41,777 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of National Beverage by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,145,227 shares of the company’s stock worth $58,680,000 after buying an additional 40,488 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC increased its position in National Beverage by 389.9% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 41,810 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,962,000 after buying an additional 33,275 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 23.95% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, UBS Group cut their price target on shares of National Beverage from $46.00 to $45.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 10th.

National Beverage Price Performance

FIZZ stock opened at $42.67 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $47.00 and a 200 day moving average of $47.14. The company has a market cap of $3.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.44 and a beta of 0.83. National Beverage has a 1 year low of $42.18 and a 1 year high of $53.58.

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.