Ranger Investment Management L.P. Trims Holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. $SFM

Ranger Investment Management L.P. lowered its holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM) by 65.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 51,355 shares of the company’s stock after selling 98,980 shares during the quarter. Ranger Investment Management L.P. owned approximately 0.05% of Sprouts Farmers Market worth $5,587,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 137.0% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 2,584,923 shares of the company’s stock worth $425,582,000 after purchasing an additional 1,494,014 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Sprouts Farmers Market in the second quarter worth about $198,080,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market by 157.3% in the second quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 1,248,891 shares of the company’s stock worth $205,617,000 after buying an additional 763,422 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market by 52.8% in the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,131,607 shares of the company’s stock worth $350,948,000 after buying an additional 737,008 shares during the period. Finally, AMF Tjanstepension AB boosted its position in Sprouts Farmers Market by 6,089.8% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 593,916 shares of the company’s stock valued at $64,618,000 after acquiring an additional 584,321 shares in the last quarter.

Sprouts Farmers Market Trading Up 3.0%

NASDAQ:SFM opened at $68.31 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $6.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.19, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $77.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $105.42. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a 52 week low of $66.17 and a 52 week high of $182.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CMO Alisa Gmelich sold 3,161 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.39, for a total value of $250,951.79. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer owned 5,552 shares in the company, valued at $440,773.28. The trade was a 36.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider John Scott Neal sold 17,471 shares of Sprouts Farmers Market stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.20, for a total value of $1,488,529.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 14,178 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,207,965.60. The trade was a 55.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on SFM shares. Wall Street Zen cut Sprouts Farmers Market from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, December 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from $124.00 to $91.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $88.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group set a $108.00 target price on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $127.69.

Sprouts Farmers Market Profile

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) is a specialty grocery retailer focused on fresh, natural and organic foods. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company operates stores designed to offer an open-market shopping experience, emphasizing quality produce sourced from regional farmers alongside organic pantry staples, dairy, meat and seafood. Sprouts’ product assortment also includes bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, a deli and prepared foods, reflecting its commitment to wellness and affordable healthy living.

Founded in 2002 by members of the Boney family, Sprouts began as a single farmers market in Chandler, Arizona.