Insider Trading March 17, 2026

Monster Beverage CFO Disposes of Shares Amid Recent Vesting, Analysts Highlight Strong Q4 Sales

Thomas J. Kelly sold 8,000 shares for $617,760 as Monster reports robust revenue growth and analysts raise targets

By Maya Rios MNST
Monster Beverage CFO Disposes of Shares Amid Recent Vesting, Analysts Highlight Strong Q4 Sales
MNST

Monster Beverage Corp Chief Financial Officer Thomas J. Kelly executed several transactions on March 13 and 14, 2026, selling a total of 16,579 shares in multiple tranches and acquiring shares tied to vested performance units. The largest single sale was 8,000 shares at $77.22 for proceeds of $617,760. The stock is trading close to those levels while analysts have reacted positively to the company’s fourth-quarter results, raising price targets amid continued expansion in energy drink distribution.

Key Points

  • CFO Thomas J. Kelly sold 8,000 shares on March 13, 2026 at $77.22 per share, receiving $617,760; additional sales of 6,920 and 1,659 shares were recorded at $77.11 and $77.05.
  • Kelly received shares tied to vested performance share units: 13,600 shares on March 13, plus 1,134, 1,000 and 1,125 shares on March 14.
  • Monster reported a 17.6% year-over-year increase in fourth-quarter sales, beating expectations by 500 basis points and surpassing EPS estimates by two cents; multiple analysts raised price targets and reiterated positive ratings.

Thomas J. Kelly, Chief Financial Officer of Monster Beverage Corp (NASDAQ:MNST), reported a sequence of insider transactions on March 13 and March 14, 2026, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing shows that Kelly sold 8,000 shares of common stock on March 13 at $77.22 per share, generating proceeds of $617,760.

The Form 4 filing lists additional dispositions tied to the same two-day window. Kelly disposed of 6,920 shares at $77.11 per share and 1,659 shares at $77.05 per share. The recorded transactions span March 13 and March 14, with the combined pattern showing multiple sales around the same price band.

At the same time, Kelly received newly issued shares as vesting criteria were met for performance share units awarded under the Monster Beverage Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. On March 13 Kelly acquired 13,600 shares after the applicable vesting conditions were achieved. Additional acquisitions are recorded on March 14 consisting of 1,134 shares, 1,000 shares and 1,125 shares respectively.

Market context in the filing notes the company is trading near the transaction prices, with Monster’s share price at $77.58 at the time of the report. The company carries a market valuation of $75.87 billion and is trading at a price to earnings ratio of 39.92. An InvestingPro analysis referenced in the filing characterizes Monster Beverage as appearing overvalued at current levels, pointing to its high earnings multiple as a valuation consideration among a set of proprietary tips available to subscribers.

Those corporate filings come as Monster released solid fourth-quarter financial results. The company reported fourth-quarter sales growth of 17.6% year-over-year, outperforming consensus expectations by 500 basis points. Earnings per share also topped estimates by 2 cents. Those results prompted several analyst reactions and target changes.

Jefferies raised its price target on Monster Beverage to $100 while maintaining a Buy rating. TD Cowen lifted its price target to $88, citing the company’s strong sales performance in both U.S. and international markets. Evercore’s commentary highlighted that Monster continues to deliver, noting energy drink sales are expanding at a low double-digit percentage rate. Jefferies additionally framed the recent pullback in the stock as an opportunity to buy, reiterating its positive stance.

Analysts pointed to distribution gains as a structural support for the company’s performance. Jefferies noted that over the past three years energy drink distribution has expanded in U.S. retail channels, including a 23% rise in grocery store presence and a 25% increase in availability at convenience stores. Those distribution gains were cited as part of the rationale behind the firm’s outlook and higher targets.

The Form 4 details of Kelly’s trades together with the company’s strong quarter and elevated valuation present a mixed picture: insider sales and concurrent vesting-related acquisitions occurred against the backdrop of robust operational results and favorable analyst commentary.

Risks

  • Valuation concerns as InvestingPro analysis flags Monster Beverage as appearing overvalued with a high earnings multiple; this impacts investor sentiment in equity markets.
  • Insider transactions involve both sales and vesting-related acquisitions, which may be interpreted variably by market participants and could influence short-term stock volatility in the consumer beverages sector.
  • Sustaining recent sales momentum depends in part on continued expansion of distribution channels; any slowdown in retail placement growth could affect future revenue trajectories for the energy drink market.

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