Teacher Retirement System of Texas Has $1.22 Million Stock Holdings in Pilgrim’s Pride Co. (NASDAQ:PPC)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas decreased its position in Pilgrim’s Pride Co. (NASDAQ:PPC) by 26.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,911 shares of the company’s stock after selling 9,443 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas’ holdings in Pilgrim’s Pride were worth $1,221,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Pilgrim’s Pride by 903.9% during the third quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 1,455,513 shares of the company’s stock worth $67,026,000 after acquiring an additional 1,310,530 shares in the last quarter. Ruffer LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Pilgrim’s Pride during the fourth quarter worth about $8,381,000. Advisors Preferred LLC bought a new position in shares of Pilgrim’s Pride during the 4th quarter valued at about $8,601,000. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new position in shares of Pilgrim’s Pride in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $4,989,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in Pilgrim’s Pride by 106.0% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 158,826 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,314,000 after purchasing an additional 81,727 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.64% of the company’s stock.

Pilgrim’s Pride Stock Up 0.3 %

Pilgrim’s Pride stock opened at $53.39 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.01, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75. Pilgrim’s Pride Co. has a 1-year low of $33.67 and a 1-year high of $57.16. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $50.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $48.53. The company has a market cap of $12.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.71 and a beta of 0.71.

Pilgrim’s Pride Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a special dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 3rd will be given a $6.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 3rd. This is an increase from Pilgrim’s Pride’s previous special dividend of $2.75.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Santander started coverage on shares of Pilgrim’s Pride in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. StockNews.com lowered shares of Pilgrim’s Pride from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, March 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Pilgrim’s Pride from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $46.33.

Pilgrim’s Pride Company Profile

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. engages in the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of fresh, frozen and value-added chicken and pork products to retailers, distributors, and foodservice operators. It operates through the following segments: U.S., U.K. and Europe, and Mexico. The company was founded by Lonnie A.