Blueshift Asset Management LLC Makes New Investment in US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:USFD)

Key Points

• Blueshift Asset Management LLC has made a new investment of approximately $1.92 million in US Foods Holding Corp, acquiring nearly 29,262 shares, which represents 0.8% of their total investment portfolio.
• Institutional investors now hold about 98.76% of US Foods' stock, with notable new stakes from Raymond James Financial Inc. and Commerce Bank valued at around $48.6 million and $47.0 million respectively.
• US Foods' recent quarterly earnings reported a slight miss on EPS at $0.68, missing estimates by $0.01, with revenue also below expectations at $9.35 billion.

Blueshift Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE:USFD - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 29,262 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,915,000. US Foods comprises 0.8% of Blueshift Asset Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of US Foods during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,611,000. Commerce Bank bought a new position in shares of US Foods during the first quarter valued at approximately $47,049,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of US Foods by 133.8% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,151,913 shares of the company's stock valued at $77,708,000 after acquiring an additional 659,283 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its stake in US Foods by 240.4% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 612,000 shares of the company's stock worth $41,286,000 after purchasing an additional 432,200 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in US Foods by 25.0% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,029,419 shares of the company's stock worth $136,905,000 after purchasing an additional 405,871 shares during the period. 98.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Dirk J. Locascio sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total value of $1,125,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 115,077 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,630,775. This represents a 11.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.60% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

USFD has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on US Foods from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $80.00 target price on shares of US Foods in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of US Foods in a research note on Sunday, July 13th. Citigroup started coverage on US Foods in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised US Foods from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $78.42.

US Foods Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:USFD traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $83.28. 1,898,482 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,330,051. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a current ratio of 1.17. The company has a market cap of $19.27 billion, a PE ratio of 38.20, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.44. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $79.11 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $71.88. US Foods Holding Corp. has a twelve month low of $50.49 and a twelve month high of $85.11.

US Foods (NYSE:USFD - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.42 billion. US Foods had a net margin of 1.38% and a return on equity of 15.58%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.54 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that US Foods Holding Corp. will post 3.59 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About US Foods

US Foods Holding Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in marketing, sale, and distribution of fresh, frozen, and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. The company's customers include independently owned single and multi-unit restaurants, regional concepts, national restaurant chains, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels and motels, country clubs, government and military organizations, colleges and universities, and retail locations.