Vest Financial LLC Takes $3.28 Million Position in PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSMT)

Vest Financial LLC purchased a new stake in PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSMT - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 37,328 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,279,000. Vest Financial LLC owned 0.12% of PriceSmart at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of PSMT. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of PriceSmart by 536.7% during the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 312 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 263 shares in the last quarter. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of PriceSmart during the 4th quarter worth approximately $53,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of PriceSmart by 393.1% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 715 shares of the company's stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of PriceSmart by 17,300.0% in the fourth quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 870 shares of the company's stock worth $80,000 after purchasing an additional 865 shares in the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in PriceSmart by 49.0% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,159 shares of the company's stock worth $107,000 after purchasing an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. 80.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded PriceSmart from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 31st.

PriceSmart Stock Performance

Shares of PSMT stock traded down $0.10 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $108.25. 226,008 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 194,248. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.84 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 1.26. PriceSmart, Inc. has a 52 week low of $77.51 and a 52 week high of $109.69. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $99.88 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $93.57.

PriceSmart (NASDAQ:PSMT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.51 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $1.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.34 billion. PriceSmart had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 2.76%. PriceSmart's revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.31 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that PriceSmart, Inc. will post 5.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at PriceSmart

In related news, EVP Paul Kovaleski sold 896 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.85, for a total transaction of $90,361.60. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 43,039 shares in the company, valued at $4,340,483.15. The trade was a 2.04% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Francisco Velasco sold 550 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.74, for a total value of $54,857.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 78,458 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,825,400.92. The trade was a 0.70% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 9,836 shares of company stock valued at $1,005,273. 17.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

PriceSmart Profile

PriceSmart, Inc owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia. The company provides basic and private label consumer products under the Member's Selection brand, including groceries, cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids, meat, produce, deli, seafood, and poultry.