Entropy Technologies LP Buys 5,816 Shares of Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM)

Key Points

• Entropy Technologies LP increased its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market by 37.0% in the 1st quarter, acquiring an additional 5,816 shares, bringing its total holdings to 21,549 shares valued at $3,289,000.
• Securities filed with the SEC show that **insiders have sold a total of 70,725 shares** worth approximately $11.5 million in recent months, indicating potential concerns about the stock's performance.
• Sprouts Farmers Market reported **EPS of $1.35**, exceeding analyst estimates, and a revenue of **$2.22 billion**, marking a **17.3% year-over-year increase**.

Entropy Technologies LP grew its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM - Free Report) by 37.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 21,549 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 5,816 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP's holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market were worth $3,289,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in SFM. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 7,201 shares of the company's stock worth $1,099,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market by 92.0% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 192 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 30,664 shares of the company's stock worth $3,896,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 2.1% in the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 4,899 shares of the company's stock valued at $748,000 after buying an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JT Stratford LLC raised its holdings in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 0.9% in the fourth quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 11,091 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,409,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on SFM shares. Evercore ISI reduced their price target on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from $195.00 to $190.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday. Roth Capital set a $155.00 price target on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Barclays raised Sprouts Farmers Market from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $173.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, July 31st. UBS Group set a $180.00 price objective on Sprouts Farmers Market in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on Sprouts Farmers Market from $173.00 to $176.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $172.20.

Sprouts Farmers Market Stock Down 0.6%

Sprouts Farmers Market stock traded down $0.91 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $147.83. 1,567,757 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,516,335. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.42, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.78. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $94.68 and a fifty-two week high of $182.00. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $160.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $158.76.

Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ:SFM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.16 billion. Sprouts Farmers Market had a return on equity of 36.53% and a net margin of 5.77%. The firm's revenue was up 17.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.94 EPS. Research analysts expect that Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. will post 4.29 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sprouts Farmers Market

In related news, Director Joseph D. O'leary sold 2,937 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $150.07, for a total transaction of $440,755.59. Following the sale, the director owned 14,994 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,250,149.58. This trade represents a 16.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Terri F. Graham sold 1,278 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.00, for a total value of $230,040.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 32,910 shares in the company, valued at $5,923,800. The trade was a 3.74% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 67,225 shares of company stock worth $10,950,283 in the last three months. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Sprouts Farmers Market Profile

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. It offers perishable product categories, including fresh produce, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, deli, bakery, floral, and dairy and dairy alternatives; and non-perishable product categories, such as grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.