Village Super Market (NASDAQ:VLGEA) Shares Gap Up - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Village Super Market shares opened higher, rising from a prior close of $43.23 to $44.56 before last trading at $44.1580 on light volume.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with the stock carrying an average “Buy” rating, despite one downgrade from “strong buy” to “hold.”
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, equivalent to $1.00 annually and a 2.3% yield; the dividend is payable October 22 to shareholders of record October 1.

Shares of Village Super Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:VLGEA - Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $43.23, but opened at $44.56. Village Super Market shares last traded at $44.1580, with a volume of 1,409 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Village Super Market from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, June 6th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Village Super Market in a report on Tuesday, September 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Buy".

Village Super Market Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $657.79 million, a PE ratio of 12.12 and a beta of 0.45. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $43.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.17.

Village Super Market Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 1st. Village Super Market's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.17%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in shares of Village Super Market by 824.6% during the 2nd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,729 shares of the company's stock worth $73,000 after purchasing an additional 1,542 shares during the period. Morton Brown Family Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Village Super Market during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $77,000. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in shares of Village Super Market by 44.9% in the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 4,718 shares of the company's stock valued at $199,000 after purchasing an additional 1,461 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Village Super Market in the 1st quarter valued at $216,000. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Village Super Market by 997.0% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 5,441 shares of the company's stock valued at $230,000 after purchasing an additional 4,945 shares during the period. 39.02% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Village Super Market

Village Super Market, Inc is a supermarket operator headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey. The company primarily operates supermarkets under the ShopRite banner, offering a broad selection of grocery products, fresh produce, meat and seafood, dairy items, bakery goods, prepared foods, household merchandise and health and beauty products. Many of its stores also provide pharmacy services, catering, online ordering and home delivery.

The company serves shoppers primarily in the New York metropolitan area and the Mid-Atlantic region, with operations in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

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