Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Reduce” by Analysts

Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT) has been given an average rating of “Reduce” by the ten research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $4.5167.

Several analysts recently commented on DNUT shares. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Krispy Kreme from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating and set a $3.00 target price on shares of Krispy Kreme in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Krispy Kreme in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Krispy Kreme from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, February 22nd.

Krispy Kreme Trading Down 3.0%

NASDAQ:DNUT opened at $3.51 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $3.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $601.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.16 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.36. Krispy Kreme has a 1 year low of $2.50 and a 1 year high of $6.32.

Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.06. Krispy Kreme had a negative net margin of 33.87% and a negative return on equity of 3.45%. The company had revenue of $392.37 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $386.72 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.01 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Krispy Kreme will post 0.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Krispy Kreme

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its position in Krispy Kreme by 11.9% during the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 27,771 shares of the company’s stock worth $107,000 after purchasing an additional 2,961 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd increased its position in shares of Krispy Kreme by 33.4% in the third quarter. R Squared Ltd now owns 14,216 shares of the company’s stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 3,556 shares in the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in shares of Krispy Kreme by 4.5% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 83,611 shares of the company’s stock worth $336,000 after buying an additional 3,638 shares during the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Krispy Kreme by 1,229.5% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 8,469 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 7,832 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its position in shares of Krispy Kreme by 21.2% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 47,672 shares of the company’s stock worth $192,000 after buying an additional 8,351 shares in the last quarter. 81.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc (NASDAQ: DNUT) is a global retailer and wholesaler renowned for its signature Original Glazed doughnut and a variety of other sweet treats. The company operates through a combination of company-owned stores, franchise outlets and strategic partnerships with supermarkets, convenience stores and other foodservice channels. In addition to its doughnut portfolio, Krispy Kreme offers freshly brewed coffee, assorted beverages and proprietary seasonal items designed to drive traffic and foster brand loyalty.

Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by Vernon Rudolph, Krispy Kreme has grown from a single local shop to a multinational brand.