Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. Cuts Stake in Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL)

Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. reduced its stake in Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL) by 50.0% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 52,500 shares of the company’s stock after selling 52,500 shares during the period. Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Vital Farms were worth $1,979,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Vital Farms by 78.7% in the fourth quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,171,950 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,172,000 after acquiring an additional 516,139 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vital Farms by 4.3% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 749,659 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,296,000 after purchasing an additional 31,187 shares in the last quarter. Emerald Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vital Farms by 106.8% during the third quarter. Emerald Advisers LLC now owns 706,440 shares of the company’s stock valued at $24,775,000 after purchasing an additional 364,837 shares in the last quarter. Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Vital Farms by 93.9% during the third quarter. Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust now owns 531,676 shares of the company’s stock valued at $18,646,000 after purchasing an additional 257,492 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in shares of Vital Farms during the third quarter valued at $16,464,000. 98.59% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vital Farms Stock Up 3.1 %

VITL stock opened at $35.38 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $39.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $35.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 2.81 and a current ratio of 3.24. Vital Farms, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $15.44 and a fifty-two week high of $48.41. The company has a market cap of $1.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.59 and a beta of 0.90.

Insider Transactions at Vital Farms

In other news, CEO Russell Diez-Canseco sold 44,728 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.66, for a total value of $1,684,456.48. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 613,797 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $23,115,595.02. This trade represents a 6.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Matthew Ohayer sold 24,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.19, for a total value of $916,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,038,890 shares in the company, valued at $268,815,209.10. This trade represents a 0.34 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 190,202 shares of company stock valued at $7,855,957 over the last quarter. 27.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Vital Farms from $34.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, January 24th. Craig Hallum assumed coverage on Vital Farms in a report on Friday, December 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $50.00 price target on the stock. TD Cowen upped their price target on Vital Farms from $41.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $52.00 target price on shares of Vital Farms in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Vital Farms from $45.00 to $41.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vital Farms currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $44.57.

Vital Farms Profile

Vital Farms, Inc, a food company, provides pasture-raised products in the United States. It offers shell eggs, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and liquid whole eggs. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.