Scientech Research LLC Grows Position in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM)

Scientech Research LLC raised its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM - Free Report) by 292.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,120 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 7,541 shares during the quarter. Scientech Research LLC's holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market were worth $1,286,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of SFM. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market by 115.4% in the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 265 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares during the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market by 93.5% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 269 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market by 84.1% in the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 289 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Sprouts Farmers Market in the 4th quarter valued at $51,000.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Jack Sinclair sold 49,898 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.42, for a total value of $6,856,983.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 189,449 shares of the company's stock, valued at $26,034,081.58. This represents a 20.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CMO Alisa Gmelich sold 445 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.42, for a total value of $61,151.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 4,436 shares of the company's stock, valued at $609,595.12. This trade represents a 9.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 126,362 shares of company stock worth $18,430,847. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Sprouts Farmers Market Trading Down 0.5%

Shares of NASDAQ:SFM traded down $0.91 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $168.02. 828,792 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,446,480. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $157.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $150.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.59. The stock has a market cap of $16.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.87. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $74.15 and a fifty-two week high of $178.99.

Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ:SFM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $2.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.20 billion. Sprouts Farmers Market had a return on equity of 29.86% and a net margin of 4.93%. Sprouts Farmers Market's revenue was up 18.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.12 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. will post 4.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SFM has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on Sprouts Farmers Market from $195.00 to $196.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Sprouts Farmers Market from $119.00 to $139.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Sprouts Farmers Market from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $163.00 to $190.00 in a research note on Monday, March 17th. StockNews.com upgraded Sprouts Farmers Market from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Roth Mkm upped their target price on Sprouts Farmers Market from $105.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $167.79.

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.