Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. Makes New $945,000 Investment in Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO)

Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 42,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $945,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Flowers Foods by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. now owns 9,800 shares of the company's stock worth $217,000 after acquiring an additional 474 shares during the last quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP grew its stake in shares of Flowers Foods by 46.4% in the third quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 1,539 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 488 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its holdings in Flowers Foods by 5.9% in the third quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 12,505 shares of the company's stock valued at $277,000 after purchasing an additional 696 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Flowers Foods by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 57,303 shares of the company's stock worth $1,271,000 after buying an additional 780 shares during the period. Finally, AM Investment Strategies LLC grew its position in shares of Flowers Foods by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. AM Investment Strategies LLC now owns 11,706 shares of the company's stock valued at $260,000 after buying an additional 805 shares during the last quarter. 75.45% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. DA Davidson began coverage on Flowers Foods in a research note on Friday, March 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $24.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of Flowers Foods from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 9th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $24.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Flowers Foods

In other news, Director Edward J. Jr. Casey bought 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $23.55 per share, with a total value of $117,750.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 20,330 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $478,771.50. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Flowers Foods news, Director Edward J. Jr. Casey acquired 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 2nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $23.55 per share, with a total value of $117,750.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 20,330 shares of the company's stock, valued at $478,771.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Terry S. Thomas sold 36,577 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.11, for a total value of $845,294.47. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 42,740 shares in the company, valued at $987,721.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 11.49% of the company's stock.

Flowers Foods Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of Flowers Foods stock traded up $0.09 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $24.67. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,120,346 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,184,059. Flowers Foods, Inc. has a one year low of $19.64 and a one year high of $29.10. The company has a market capitalization of $5.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.38, a P/E/G ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 0.39. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $22.96 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $22.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 1.04.

Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The company reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.20. Flowers Foods had a return on equity of 18.15% and a net margin of 2.42%. The firm had revenue of $1.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.23 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Flowers Foods, Inc. will post 1.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Flowers Foods Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.73%. Flowers Foods's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 158.62%.

About Flowers Foods

Flowers Foods, Inc produces and markets packaged bakery food products in the United States. Its principal products include fresh breads, buns, rolls, snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas, as well as frozen breads and rolls under the Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Mrs.