United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) Hits New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company 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.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on UNFI shares. Roth Mkm raised their price target on United Natural Foods from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Guggenheim restated a “neutral” rating on shares of United Natural Foods in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $25.20.

United Natural Foods Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $2.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -21.41 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 1.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.70.

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On United Natural Foods

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its holdings in United Natural Foods by 66.5% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 931 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares in the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United Natural Foods in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of United Natural Foods during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of United Natural Foods by 46.0% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,027 shares of the company’s stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 639 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of United Natural Foods by 186.7% during the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,391 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 1,557 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.63% of the company’s stock.

United Natural Foods Company Profile

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.