Maximus (MMS) Shareholder Clearbridge Investments Has Cut Its Stake by $14.16 Million; Yum Brands (YUM) Holder State Of Wisconsin Investment Board Boosted Holding

January 28, 2018 - By Maria Brooks

State Of Wisconsin Investment Board increased its stake in Yum Brands Inc (YUM) by 2.49% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. State Of Wisconsin Investment Board bought 14,605 shares as the company’s stock rose 2.44% with the market. The institutional investor held 600,801 shares of the consumer services company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $44.23 million, up from 586,196 at the end of the previous reported quarter. State Of Wisconsin Investment Board who had been investing in Yum Brands Inc for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $29.05 billion market cap company. The stock increased 0.63% or $0.54 during the last trading session, reaching $86.2. About 1.33 million shares traded. Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) has risen 21.70% since January 28, 2017 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 5.00% the S&P500.

Clearbridge Investments Llc decreased its stake in Maximus Inc (MMS) by 11.6% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. Clearbridge Investments Llc sold 221,296 shares as the company’s stock rose 6.69% with the market. The institutional investor held 1.69 million shares of the miscellaneous company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $108.83 million, down from 1.91M at the end of the previous reported quarter. Clearbridge Investments Llc who had been investing in Maximus Inc for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $4.57B market cap company. The stock increased 0.62% or $0.43 during the last trading session, reaching $70.15. About 320,657 shares traded. MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) has risen 15.99% since January 28, 2017 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 0.71% the S&P500.

Investors sentiment increased to 0.99 in Q3 2017. Its up 0.22, from 0.77 in 2017Q2. It increased, as 50 investors sold YUM shares while 238 reduced holdings. 67 funds opened positions while 219 raised stakes. 239.50 million shares or 0.41% less from 240.48 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Williams Jones And Assocs Lc has 5,500 shares for 0.01% of their portfolio. Carlson Capital Ltd Partnership holds 0.58% or 457,671 shares in its portfolio. Franklin Street Advisors Nc has invested 1.08% in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM). Glg Limited Liability, New York-based fund reported 28,948 shares. Duncker Streett & has invested 0.03% in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM). Caxton Assoc LP has 73,800 shares. Cap One Association accumulated 0.03% or 5,970 shares. Argent stated it has 0.13% in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM). North Star Asset Mngmt owns 57,901 shares. M&R Capital Mngmt Inc owns 11,296 shares or 0.2% of their US portfolio. Envestnet Asset has invested 0.01% in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM). Utd Cap Financial Advisers Llc holds 0.1% in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) or 156,042 shares. Pinnacle Incorporated owns 17,988 shares. Boys Arnold & Inc owns 10,454 shares. Wagner Bowman has invested 0.51% of its portfolio in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM).

Among 27 analysts covering YUM! Brands (NYSE:YUM), 12 have Buy rating, 1 Sell and 14 Hold. Therefore 44% are positive. YUM! Brands had 93 analyst reports since July 1, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The rating was maintained by RBC Capital Markets with “Buy” on Thursday, June 22. RBC Capital Markets maintained the shares of YUM in report on Thursday, June 15 with “Buy” rating. The rating was maintained by Deutsche Bank on Monday, July 11 with “Hold”. The firm earned “Overweight” rating on Thursday, August 20 by JP Morgan. Barclays Capital maintained it with “Equal-Weight” rating and $78 target in Wednesday, October 18 report. Jefferies maintained Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) rating on Friday, November 3. Jefferies has “Hold” rating and $75.0 target. Credit Suisse maintained Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) on Thursday, July 14 with “Neutral” rating. The stock has “Neutral” rating by BTIG Research on Thursday, July 14. The firm has “Buy” rating by Bernstein given on Thursday, August 13. The firm has “Equal-Weight” rating by Morgan Stanley given on Friday, November 3.

Since August 9, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 2 sales for $811,632 activity. Niccol Brian R also sold $194,761 worth of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) on Monday, January 22.

State Of Wisconsin Investment Board, which manages about $33.85 billion US Long portfolio, decreased its stake in Kroger Co (NYSE:KR) by 295,911 shares to 817,748 shares, valued at $16.40 million in 2017Q3, according to the filing. It also reduced its holding in Lilly Eli & Co (NYSE:LLY) by 45,964 shares in the quarter, leaving it with 1.00M shares, and cut its stake in Broadcom Ltd.

Among 8 analysts covering MAXIMUS (NYSE:MMS), 1 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 7 Hold. Therefore 13% are positive. MAXIMUS had 33 analyst reports since August 6, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The stock has “Hold” rating by Robert W. Baird on Monday, October 2. The company was upgraded on Thursday, August 20 by Sidoti. On Thursday, November 9 the stock rating was maintained by KeyBanc Capital Markets with “Hold”. The stock of MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) earned “Neutral” rating by Sidoti on Tuesday, November 15. The firm earned “Hold” rating on Wednesday, December 13 by Canaccord Genuity. The firm has “Buy” rating given on Tuesday, May 31 by Jefferies. The firm has “Buy” rating given on Friday, April 7 by Canaccord Genuity. The stock has “Buy” rating by Maxim Group on Thursday, August 6. Stifel Nicolaus initiated the shares of MMS in report on Friday, December 4 with “Buy” rating. Canaccord Genuity initiated MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) rating on Wednesday, September 16. Canaccord Genuity has “Hold” rating and $65 target.

Since August 10, 2017, it had 0 buys, and 12 insider sales for $9.06 million activity. RUDDY RAYMOND B sold 25,000 shares worth $1.51 million. On Monday, August 14 the insider LEDERER PAUL R sold $133,903. On Tuesday, August 15 MONTONI RICHARD A sold $1.76M worth of MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) or 29,203 shares. Andrekovich Mark sold $194,400 worth of stock or 2,700 shares. FRANCIS DAVID sold 3,000 shares worth $195,840.

Investors sentiment decreased to 1.39 in Q3 2017. Its down 0.01, from 1.4 in 2017Q2. It dived, as 22 investors sold MMS shares while 77 reduced holdings. 42 funds opened positions while 96 raised stakes. 57.34 million shares or 3.44% less from 59.39 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Moreover, Ftb Advsr has 0% invested in MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) for 223 shares. State Of Tennessee Treasury Department accumulated 110,000 shares. Tradewinds Capital Mngmt Ltd invested in 0.01% or 196 shares. Asset Mgmt holds 0% of its portfolio in MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) for 16 shares. Old Comml Bank In stated it has 0.01% of its portfolio in MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS). P2 Partners Ltd stated it has 2.36% in MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS). Pnc Fincl Serv Group Incorporated reported 7,302 shares stake. Jane Street Group Ltd Company owns 5,567 shares. Clinton Grp Inc Inc holds 45,302 shares or 0.32% of its portfolio. Comerica Secs invested in 0.04% or 4,631 shares. Virginia Retirement System Et Al holds 41,800 shares or 0.03% of its portfolio. Credit Suisse Ag accumulated 113,000 shares. 13,370 are held by Dupont Cap Mgmt. Spectrum Management Gru Incorporated holds 0% or 12 shares. Rhumbline Advisers holds 0.02% or 158,332 shares.

Analysts await MAXIMUS, Inc. (NYSE:MMS) to report earnings on February, 8. They expect $0.77 EPS, up 8.45% or $0.06 from last year’s $0.71 per share. MMS’s profit will be $50.15M for 22.78 P/E if the $0.77 EPS becomes a reality. After $0.81 actual EPS reported by MAXIMUS, Inc. for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts -4.94% negative EPS growth.