Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Sets New 52-Week Low on Analyst Downgrade

Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday after Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on the stock from $155.00 to $135.00. Stifel Nicolaus currently has a buy rating on the stock. Freshpet traded as low as $88.97 and last traded at $89.16, with a volume of 911470 shares. The stock had previously closed at $96.86.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on FRPT. StockNews.com downgraded Freshpet from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Freshpet from $170.00 to $142.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Freshpet from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Monday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $154.00 to $102.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Freshpet from $155.00 to $142.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $151.67.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Freshpet

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FRPT. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in Freshpet in the fourth quarter worth about $14,678,000. Forum Financial Management LP bought a new position in shares of Freshpet during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its holdings in Freshpet by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 51,129 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,573,000 after acquiring an additional 10,009 shares in the last quarter. Elequin Capital LP bought a new stake in Freshpet during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its stake in Freshpet by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 174,580 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,857,000 after acquiring an additional 13,298 shares during the period.

Freshpet Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $4.14 billion, a PE ratio of 90.48 and a beta of 1.58. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $136.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $141.04. The company has a quick ratio of 3.91, a current ratio of 4.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36. The company had revenue of $262.71 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $275.46 million. Freshpet had a net margin of 4.81% and a return on equity of 3.92%. As a group, research analysts expect that Freshpet, Inc. will post 1.55 EPS for the current year.

About Freshpet

Freshpet, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells dog food, cat food, and dog treats under the Freshpet brand name; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online.