Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Stock Price Up 1.8% – Here’s What Happened

Shares of Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT) traded up 1.8% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $109.34 and last traded at $109.00. 169,796 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 1,028,743 shares. The stock had previously closed at $107.09.

Analyst Ratings Changes

FRPT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Freshpet from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Monday, February 24th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Freshpet from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 21st. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Freshpet from $160.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $180.00 to $140.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 24th. Finally, Truist Financial reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $140.00 price objective (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Freshpet in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Freshpet presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $156.47.

Freshpet Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of $141.88 and a 200 day moving average of $142.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 3.91 and a current ratio of 4.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 113.86 and a beta of 1.42.

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36. The business had revenue of $262.71 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $275.46 million. Freshpet had a return on equity of 3.92% and a net margin of 4.81%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Freshpet, Inc. will post 1.55 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Scott James Morris sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.38, for a total value of $786,900.00. Following the transaction, the president now owns 122,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,260,164.40. This represents a 3.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 3.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Freshpet

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. M&T Bank Corp lifted its stake in Freshpet by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 2,253 shares of the company’s stock worth $333,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Freshpet by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,887 shares of the company’s stock worth $805,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Freshpet by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 2,111 shares of the company’s stock valued at $313,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Freshpet by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,678 shares of the company’s stock valued at $249,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Freshpet by 19.1% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 573 shares of the company’s stock valued at $85,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the last quarter.

Freshpet Company Profile

Freshpet, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells dog food, cat food, and dog treats under the Freshpet brand name; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online.