Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) Upgraded to “Hold” at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Sunday.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Krispy Kreme in a report on Monday, December 29th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating and issued a $3.00 price objective on shares of Krispy Kreme in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Krispy Kreme from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Krispy Kreme presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $5.59.

Krispy Kreme Stock Performance

Shares of DNUT stock opened at $3.03 on Friday. Krispy Kreme has a 12-month low of $2.50 and a 12-month high of $9.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 0.36 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $519.04 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.01 and a beta of 1.31. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.70 and a 200 day simple moving average of $3.68.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Krispy Kreme

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of DNUT. Capstone Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Krispy Kreme during the second quarter valued at $29,000. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC acquired a new stake in Krispy Kreme during the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in Krispy Kreme during the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Prudential Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Krispy Kreme during the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in shares of Krispy Kreme by 1,229.5% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 8,469 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 7,832 shares in the last quarter. 81.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc (NASDAQ: DNUT) is a global retailer and wholesaler renowned for its signature Original Glazed doughnut and a variety of other sweet treats. The company operates through a combination of company-owned stores, franchise outlets and strategic partnerships with supermarkets, convenience stores and other foodservice channels. In addition to its doughnut portfolio, Krispy Kreme offers freshly brewed coffee, assorted beverages and proprietary seasonal items designed to drive traffic and foster brand loyalty.

Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by Vernon Rudolph, Krispy Kreme has grown from a single local shop to a multinational brand.