Oxford Asset Management LLP Acquires Shares of 9,376 Pilgrim’s Pride Co. (NASDAQ:PPC)

Oxford Asset Management LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Co. (NASDAQ:PPC) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 9,376 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $426,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in Pilgrim’s Pride in the 4th quarter worth approximately $59,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in Pilgrim’s Pride by 132.1% in the fourth quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,344 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 765 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Pilgrim’s Pride during the fourth quarter valued at $118,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Pilgrim’s Pride by 31.9% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,688 shares of the company’s stock valued at $122,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Pilgrim’s Pride in the 3rd quarter worth $141,000. 16.64% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pilgrim’s Pride Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NASDAQ:PPC opened at $53.55 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.71 billion, a PE ratio of 11.74 and a beta of 0.63. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.54 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.90. Pilgrim’s Pride Co. has a 1 year low of $33.67 and a 1 year high of $57.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a current ratio of 2.01 and a quick ratio of 1.31.

Pilgrim’s Pride Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a special dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 3rd were issued a dividend of $6.30 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 3rd. This is a boost from Pilgrim’s Pride’s previous special dividend of $2.75.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of Pilgrim’s Pride from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. StockNews.com downgraded Pilgrim’s Pride from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, March 2nd. Finally, Santander began coverage on Pilgrim’s Pride in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Pilgrim’s Pride presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $48.40.

About Pilgrim’s Pride

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.