United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) Trading Down 5.5% – Time to Sell?

United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI) shares were down 5.5% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $27.95 and last traded at $27.99. Approximately 807,811 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 17% from the average daily volume of 690,372 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.62.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on UNFI shares. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of United Natural Foods from $16.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on United Natural Foods from $15.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Roth Mkm increased their price objective on United Natural Foods from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Northcoast Research upgraded United Natural Foods from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $22.60.

United Natural Foods Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $22.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.00. The company has a market capitalization of $1.71 billion, a PE ratio of -18.15 and a beta of 0.64.

United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.18. United Natural Foods had a negative net margin of 0.30% and a positive return on equity of 1.27%. The firm had revenue of $7.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.61 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.04) earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that United Natural Foods, Inc. will post 0.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Danielle Benedict sold 9,050 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.10, for a total transaction of $200,005.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 88,218 shares in the company, valued at $1,949,617.80. This represents a 9.30 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its position in shares of United Natural Foods by 12.2% in the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 6,584 shares of the company’s stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 716 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its holdings in United Natural Foods by 7.6% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 13,506 shares of the company’s stock worth $227,000 after purchasing an additional 953 shares in the last quarter. Keynote Financial Services LLC lifted its position in United Natural Foods by 6.6% during the second quarter. Keynote Financial Services LLC now owns 17,517 shares of the company’s stock valued at $229,000 after buying an additional 1,091 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of United Natural Foods by 3.6% during the 2nd quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 37,235 shares of the company’s stock valued at $488,000 after buying an additional 1,303 shares in the last quarter. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC grew its position in shares of United Natural Foods by 85.7% in the 3rd quarter. nVerses Capital LLC now owns 3,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 1,800 shares during the period. 87.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Natural Foods Company Profile

United Natural Foods, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail. The company offers grocery and general merchandise, produce, perishables and frozen foods, wellness and personal care items, and bulk and foodservice products.