Post (NYSE:POST) Posts Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.36 EPS

Key Points

• Post Holdings reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $2.03, surpassing analysts' expectations by $0.36.
• The company's revenue for the quarter was $1.98 billion, slightly exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion and representing a 1.9% increase compared to the previous year.
• Post's stock price rose $4.90 to $107.80 after the earnings announcement, with an analyst consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $131.25.

Post (NYSE:POST - Get Free Report) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.36, Zacks reports. Post had a return on equity of 10.84% and a net margin of 4.62%. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.95 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.54 EPS. The business's revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year.

Post Stock Performance

Shares of POST stock traded up $4.90 on Friday, hitting $107.80. The company had a trading volume of 1,158,439 shares, compared to its average volume of 702,810. The firm has a market cap of $6.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.33 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $108.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $110.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81. Post has a twelve month low of $101.05 and a twelve month high of $125.84.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on POST. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Post from $130.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on Post from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 11th. Mizuho cut their price target on Post from $133.00 to $127.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Post from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Post from $120.00 to $117.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $131.25.

Insider Activity

In other Post news, Director William P. Stiritz purchased 186,740 shares of Post stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 5th. The stock was bought at an average price of $109.11 per share, with a total value of $20,375,201.40. Following the acquisition, the director owned 4,298,667 shares of the company's stock, valued at $469,027,556.37. This trade represents a 4.54% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Nicolas Catoggio sold 1,750 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.97, for a total value of $190,697.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 43,751 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,767,546.47. The trade was a 3.85% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 11.40% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Post

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Focus Partners Wealth raised its holdings in Post by 11.1% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,287 shares of the company's stock worth $382,000 after purchasing an additional 328 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in Post by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,436 shares of the company's stock worth $516,000 after purchasing an additional 487 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in Post by 181.1% in the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 11,771 shares of the company's stock worth $1,370,000 after purchasing an additional 7,583 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Post by 74.2% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 57,535 shares of the company's stock worth $6,694,000 after purchasing an additional 24,514 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.85% of the company's stock.

Post Company Profile

Post Holdings, Inc operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, and Refrigerated Retail. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereals under Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, and Malt-O-Meal brand names; hot cereal; peanut butter under the Peter Pan brand; and branded and private label dog and cat food products under Rachael Ray Nutrish, Nature's Recipe, 9Lives, Kibbles 'n Bits and Gravy Train brand names.

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