United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) Sets New 1-Year High After Analyst Upgrade

United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday after The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on the stock from $25.00 to $28.00. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock. United Natural Foods traded as high as $32.56 and last traded at $33.12, with a volume of 62591 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $31.97.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on UNFI. Roth Mkm lifted their target price on shares of United Natural Foods from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Guggenheim restated a “neutral” rating on shares of United Natural Foods in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $26.40.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Natural Foods

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNFI. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its holdings in United Natural Foods by 66.5% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 931 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 372 shares during the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. purchased a new position in United Natural Foods during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in United Natural Foods during the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Aquatic Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in United Natural Foods during the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of United Natural Foods by 796.2% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,882 shares of the company’s stock worth $51,000 after buying an additional 1,672 shares during the period. 87.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

United Natural Foods Trading Down 1.1 %

The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $28.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 0.53.

United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 10th. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.02) by $0.18. The company had revenue of $7.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.61 billion. United Natural Foods had a negative net margin of 0.30% and a positive return on equity of 1.27%. United Natural Foods’s revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.04) EPS. On average, analysts forecast that United Natural Foods, Inc. will post 0.76 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About United Natural Foods

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.