Morgan Stanley Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for US Foods (NYSE:USFD) Stock

US Foods (NYSE:USFD) had its target price raised by Morgan Stanley from $76.00 to $82.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

Several other research analysts have also commented on USFD. Melius Research raised US Foods to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 18th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of US Foods from $79.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of US Foods from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. UBS Group increased their price objective on US Foods from $67.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded US Foods from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $68.92.

US Foods Price Performance

NYSE:USFD opened at $69.13 on Tuesday. US Foods has a 52-week low of $44.81 and a 52-week high of $72.84. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $68.33 and a 200 day moving average of $61.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.67.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in USFD. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its holdings in US Foods by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 18,095 shares of the company’s stock worth $959,000 after acquiring an additional 1,177 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of US Foods by 20.1% during the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 47,874 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,536,000 after acquiring an additional 8,024 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in shares of US Foods by 91.4% during the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 236,990 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,556,000 after purchasing an additional 113,168 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of US Foods by 69.8% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 96,266 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,100,000 after purchasing an additional 39,585 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in US Foods by 13.5% during the 2nd quarter. Mount Yale Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,065 shares of the company’s stock valued at $639,000 after purchasing an additional 1,431 shares during the last quarter. 98.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

US Foods Company Profile

US Foods Holding Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in marketing, sale, and distribution of fresh, frozen, and dry food and non-food products to foodservice customers in the United States. The company's customers include independently owned single and multi-unit restaurants, regional concepts, national restaurant chains, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels and motels, country clubs, government and military organizations, colleges and universities, and retail locations.