Petco Health and Wellness (NASDAQ:WOOF) Upgraded at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Petco Health and Wellness (NASDAQ:WOOF) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has $5.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $4.05.

WOOF has been the topic of a number of other reports. Evercore reduced their target price on shares of Petco Health and Wellness from $4.00 to $3.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Petco Health and Wellness in a report on Monday, December 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $3.94.

Petco Health and Wellness Stock Performance

Petco Health and Wellness stock opened at $3.62 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $2.72 and a 200 day simple moving average of $3.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. Petco Health and Wellness has a 12-month low of $2.24 and a 12-month high of $4.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 120.67 and a beta of 1.75.

Petco Health and Wellness (NASDAQ:WOOF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 11th. The company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.02 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $1.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.51 billion. Petco Health and Wellness had a return on equity of 0.89% and a net margin of 0.15%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.05) EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Petco Health and Wellness will post -0.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Petco Health and Wellness

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Petco Health and Wellness by 9.1% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,274,588 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,887,000 after purchasing an additional 106,295 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Petco Health and Wellness by 60.2% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,637,695 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,095,000 after buying an additional 1,367,299 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Petco Health and Wellness by 13.3% during the 2nd quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 76,820 shares of the company’s stock worth $217,000 after buying an additional 9,023 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc bought a new stake in shares of Petco Health and Wellness during the second quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Petco Health and Wellness during the second quarter worth approximately $55,000.

Key Stories Impacting Petco Health and Wellness

Here are the key news stories impacting Petco Health and Wellness this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management set FY2026 targets including EBITDA of $415–$430M and guidance calling for flat to +1.5% sales, signaling a return to growth under the “Reach for the Sky” plan. Petco skyrockets after guidance surprises to the upside
• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies upgraded WOOF to Buy and raised its price target to $5, saying the turnaround is complete and growth is ahead — a catalyst for further upside from analysts. Petco shares jump as Jefferies cites turnaround complete and growth ahead in upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs reiterated a bullish stance with a $3.95 price target, reinforcing analyst support after the quarter. Goldman Sachs Remains Bullish on Petco (WOOF) With $3.95 Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results showed a slight revenue beat and improved margins/EBITDA, which investors view as evidence the company’s operational changes are working. Petco Stock Surges On Better-than-Expected Q4 Sales
• Neutral Sentiment: Management is closing underperforming stores and leaning into services (grooming, training) and fresh food to improve free cash flow and long-term growth; tactical now, payoff over time. Why Petco Stock Popped Today
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and presentations highlight the “Reach for the Sky” strategy and product/service expansion as the company shifts focus from cost cuts to growth initiatives. Petco Bets on Highly Engaged Pet Parents to Ignite Growth
• Negative Sentiment: EPS missed expectations (reported a loss vs. a small positive estimate), which remains a risk if top-line momentum softens. Petco Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue was down ~2.4% year-over-year in the quarter, so the company must sustain execution to turn that trend into consistent growth. Petco’s Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Decrease 2.4% Y/Y

Petco Health and Wellness Company Profile

Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc (NASDAQ: WOOF) is a leading U.S. pet specialty retailer focused on delivering products, services and solutions that improve the health and well-being of pets. The company operates a network of retail locations that provide high-quality pet food, supplies and accessories, along with a growing digital platform that supports online ordering, subscription delivery and telehealth consultations for pets.

In addition to its retail offerings, Petco has built a full suite of in-store and virtual services, including grooming, training, dog daycare and veterinary care.