Algert Global LLC Increases Stake in Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF)

Algert Global LLC boosted its stake in Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF - Free Report) by 375.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 206,009 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 162,656 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC owned about 0.20% of Herbalife worth $1,378,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its stake in Herbalife by 777.0% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,987,490 shares of the company's stock worth $19,986,000 after acquiring an additional 2,646,848 shares in the last quarter. Long Focus Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Herbalife by 27.3% during the fourth quarter. Long Focus Capital Management LLC now owns 4,758,127 shares of the company's stock worth $31,832,000 after purchasing an additional 1,020,127 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Herbalife by 7.5% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,271,417 shares of the company's stock worth $75,406,000 after purchasing an additional 785,574 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP grew its holdings in shares of Herbalife by 83.8% during the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,444,343 shares of the company's stock worth $9,663,000 after purchasing an additional 658,536 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Herbalife by 9.9% during the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 7,088,868 shares of the company's stock worth $47,425,000 after purchasing an additional 638,567 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on HLF shares. StockNews.com cut Herbalife from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Herbalife from $13.00 to $11.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, DA Davidson upgraded Herbalife from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from $7.50 to $14.00 in a report on Friday, March 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $11.50.

Herbalife Stock Down 3.4%

HLF traded down $0.24 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $6.82. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,897,729 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,260,717. Herbalife Ltd. has a twelve month low of $5.04 and a twelve month high of $12.79. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $7.57 and its 200-day moving average price is $7.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $694.60 million, a P/E ratio of 2.74, a PEG ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 0.88.

Herbalife (NYSE:HLF - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.19. Herbalife had a negative return on equity of 20.78% and a net margin of 5.09%. The company had revenue of $1.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.49 earnings per share. Herbalife's revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Herbalife Ltd. will post 1.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Herbalife

In other Herbalife news, Director Juan Miguel Mendoza acquired 5,000 shares of Herbalife stock in a transaction on Friday, May 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $6.73 per share, for a total transaction of $33,650.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 140,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $942,200. This trade represents a 3.70% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In the last three months, insiders purchased 12,500 shares of company stock valued at $94,900. 1.73% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Herbalife Company Profile

Herbalife Ltd. provides health and wellness products in North America, Mexico, South and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, China, and the Asia Pacific. It offers products in the areas of weight management; targeted nutrition; energy, sports, and fitness; outer nutrition; and literature and promotional items.