TCW Group Inc. Reduces Stake in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM)

TCW Group Inc. lessened its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM) by 3.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 26,640 shares of the company’s stock after selling 946 shares during the quarter. TCW Group Inc.’s holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market were worth $2,941,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SFM. Accent Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Crewe Advisors LLC increased its position in Sprouts Farmers Market by 223.5% in the second quarter. Crewe Advisors LLC now owns 317 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. bought a new position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in the second quarter worth about $29,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market during the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market by 1,425.8% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 473 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 442 shares in the last quarter.

Sprouts Farmers Market Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of SFM opened at $149.51 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.95 billion, a PE ratio of 43.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.58. The company’s fifty day moving average is $134.41 and its 200 day moving average is $106.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.13. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $46.74 and a fifty-two week high of $155.64.

Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ:SFM) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.14. Sprouts Farmers Market had a net margin of 4.73% and a return on equity of 28.24%. The firm had revenue of $1.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.88 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.65 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sprouts Farmers Market

In other news, Director Joseph D. O’leary sold 350 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.11, for a total value of $52,538.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,991 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,700,629.01. This represents a 1.91 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Joseph L. Hurley sold 4,956 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $132.66, for a total transaction of $657,462.96. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 11,184 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,483,669.44. This trade represents a 30.71 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 29,155 shares of company stock worth $3,742,274 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on SFM. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from $90.00 to $130.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Sprouts Farmers Market from $127.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com raised Sprouts Farmers Market from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 28th. Melius Research began coverage on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in a report on Monday, September 23rd. They set a “hold” rating and a $105.00 price objective for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from $102.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 31st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $118.40.

Sprouts Farmers Market Company Profile

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. It offers perishable product categories, including fresh produce, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, deli, bakery, floral, and dairy and dairy alternatives; and non-perishable product categories, such as grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.