VF (NYSE:VFC) Shares Gap Up After Better-Than-Expected Earnings

VF Corporation (NYSE:VFC) shares gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $26.59, but opened at $27.74. VF shares last traded at $28.29, with a volume of 4,806,498 shares changing hands.

The textile maker reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.34 by $0.28. VF had a positive return on equity of 12.53% and a negative net margin of 6.68%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.57 earnings per share.

VF Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Investors of record on Monday, March 10th will be given a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.42%. VF’s dividend payout ratio is currently -20.81%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on VFC. Barclays upped their price target on VF from $25.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of VF from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, October 26th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of VF from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of VF from $21.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 14th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $21.00 target price on shares of VF in a research report on Wednesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, VF has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $19.84.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On VF

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VFC. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC bought a new stake in VF in the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. CKW Financial Group lifted its holdings in shares of VF by 29.4% during the fourth quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,200 shares of the textile maker’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. grew its stake in shares of VF by 100.0% in the fourth quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 6,017 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $129,000 after acquiring an additional 3,008 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of VF by 1,917.1% in the third quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 12,627 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $247,000 after acquiring an additional 12,001 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in VF in the 2nd quarter worth about $241,000. Institutional investors own 86.84% of the company’s stock.

VF Stock Down 4.3 %

The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $21.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.61. The stock has a market cap of $9.90 billion, a P/E ratio of -14.70, a P/E/G ratio of 9.74 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.86, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.30.

VF Company Profile

VF Corp. engages in the business of producing and marketing apparel, footwear, and accessories. It operates through the following segments: Outdoor, Active, Work, and Other. The Outdoor segment includes authentic outdoor-based lifestyle brands such as performance-based and outdoor apparel, footwear, and equipment.