Village Farms International (NASDAQ:VFF) Cut to "Sell" at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Village Farms International (NASDAQ: VFF) has been downgraded from a "hold" to a "sell" rating by Wall Street Zen, indicating increasing concerns among analysts regarding the company's stock performance.
• The company reported a net loss of ($0.06) earnings per share for the last quarter, falling short of the consensus estimate, which raises concerns about its financial health.
• Insider trading activity was noted, with CFO Stephen C. Ruffini purchasing 25,000 shares at an average price of $1.21, reflecting continued confidence in the company's long-term prospects despite recent downgrades.

Village Farms International (NASDAQ:VFF - Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday.

Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Zelman & Associates reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of Village Farms International in a research report on Monday, June 9th. Alliance Global Partners reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Village Farms International in a report on Tuesday, May 13th.

Village Farms International Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ VFF traded up $0.08 during trading on Friday, reaching $2.56. 1,277,745 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 904,075. Village Farms International has a 52-week low of $0.45 and a 52-week high of $2.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.92 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company has a 50-day moving average of $1.34 and a 200-day moving average of $0.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $287.02 million, a P/E ratio of 28.56 and a beta of 2.14.

Village Farms International (NASDAQ:VFF - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 11th. The company reported $0.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.12. Village Farms International had a negative return on equity of 2.30% and a net margin of 3.42%. The firm had revenue of $59.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $48.86 million. Analysts forecast that Village Farms International will post -0.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Village Farms International

In related news, CFO Stephen C. Ruffini acquired 25,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 30th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1.21 per share, with a total value of $30,250.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer owned 9,783,127 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $11,837,583.67. This trade represents a 0.26% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 12.60% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Village Farms International

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Lighthouse Financial LLC bought a new position in Village Farms International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Stephens Inc. AR grew its position in Village Farms International by 50.6% during the 2nd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 59,500 shares of the company's stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Village Farms International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $146,000. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL bought a new position in Village Farms International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $146,000. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its position in Village Farms International by 625.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 193,000 shares of the company's stock worth $149,000 after acquiring an additional 166,400 shares during the last quarter. 12.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Village Farms International Company Profile

Village Farms International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and sells greenhouse-grown tomatoes, bell peppers, and cucumbers in North America. It operates through four segments: Produce, Cannabis-Canada, Cannabis-U.S., and Energy. The company also produces and supplies cannabis products to other licensed providers and provincial governments in Canada and internationally; develops and sells cannabinoid-based health and wellness products, including ingestible, edibles, and topical applications; and produces power.