United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) Reaches New 1-Year High Following Analyst Upgrade

Shares of United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday after The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on the stock from $25.00 to $28.00. The Goldman Sachs Group currently has a neutral rating on the stock. United Natural Foods traded as high as $32.56 and last traded at $33.12, with a volume of 62591 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $31.97.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on UNFI. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on United Natural Foods from $23.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Roth Mkm lifted their price objective on United Natural Foods from $20.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Guggenheim reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of United Natural Foods in a report on Thursday, December 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, United Natural Foods presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $26.40.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On United Natural Foods

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Voleon Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in United Natural Foods in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,498,000. Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in United Natural Foods by 18.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 756,585 shares of the company’s stock valued at $20,662,000 after acquiring an additional 118,817 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its holdings in United Natural Foods by 135.6% in the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,667 shares of the company’s stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 1,535 shares during the last quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in United Natural Foods in the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Finally, Oxford Asset Management LLP acquired a new position in United Natural Foods in the 4th quarter valued at $422,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.63% of the company’s stock.

United Natural Foods Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39.

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

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.