Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Given "Hold (C-)" Rating at Weiss Ratings

Key Points

• Freshpet's stock has been restated with a "hold (C-)" rating by Weiss Ratings, as the company faces target price adjustments from various brokerage firms.
• The company's most recent earnings report showed an EPS of $0.33, exceeding analyst expectations, but revenue was slightly below forecasts at $264.69 million.
• Insider trading activity has increased, with directors Timothy R. Mclevish and Jacki Sue Kelley purchasing shares, reflecting growing confidence in the company.

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "hold (c-)" rating restated by research analysts at Weiss Ratings in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Weiss Ratings reports.

A number of other brokerages have also recently weighed in on FRPT. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Freshpet from $88.00 to $65.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 25th. DA Davidson set a $101.00 target price on shares of Freshpet in a report on Thursday, August 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on shares of Freshpet in a report on Wednesday, August 20th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $70.00 target price for the company. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Freshpet from $65.00 to $48.00 and set a "sell" rating for the company in a report on Monday, September 8th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $103.33.

Freshpet Price Performance

NASDAQ FRPT opened at $49.51 on Wednesday. Freshpet has a 12 month low of $46.76 and a 12 month high of $164.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 4.81 and a quick ratio of 3.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.42 billion, a PE ratio of 73.90, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.74. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $57.02 and its 200 day simple moving average is $70.04.

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 4th. The company reported $0.33 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $264.69 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $269.75 million. Freshpet had a net margin of 3.23% and a return on equity of 4.82%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 12.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.03) earnings per share. Freshpet has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Freshpet will post 1.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Timothy R. Mclevish bought 3,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $56.00 per share, for a total transaction of $196,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 35,290 shares in the company, valued at $1,976,240. This represents a 11.01% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Jacki Sue Kelley bought 814 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $56.50 per share, with a total value of $45,991.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 11,907 shares in the company, valued at approximately $672,745.50. This represents a 7.34% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders purchased a total of 6,008 shares of company stock worth $332,305 in the last quarter. 4.43% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Freshpet

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Banque Transatlantique SA purchased a new stake in Freshpet in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. WPG Advisers LLC bought a new position in shares of Freshpet during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Freshpet by 1,388.2% during the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 506 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 472 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming bought a new position in shares of Freshpet during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. bought a new position in shares of Freshpet during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000.

Freshpet Company Profile

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.

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