Hantz Financial Services Inc. Decreases Stake in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. $SFM

Hantz Financial Services Inc. decreased its position in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM) by 19.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 45,697 shares of the company’s stock after selling 11,131 shares during the quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market were worth $4,972,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank of America Corp DE increased 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 valued at $425,582,000 after purchasing an additional 1,494,014 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP increased its holdings in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,314,665 shares of the company’s stock valued at $381,086,000 after acquiring an additional 252,699 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 52.8% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,131,607 shares of the company’s stock worth $350,948,000 after acquiring an additional 737,008 shares in the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd increased its stake 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 valued at $205,617,000 after purchasing an additional 763,422 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc lifted its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 44.6% during the 2nd quarter. Man Group plc now owns 1,222,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $201,267,000 after buying an additional 377,028 shares during the last quarter.

Sprouts Farmers Market Stock Up 2.0%

Sprouts Farmers Market stock opened at $69.48 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $78.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $105.69. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a twelve month low of $67.64 and a twelve month high of $182.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.44, a PEG ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04.

Insider Buying and Selling at Sprouts Farmers Market

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms recently commented on SFM. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from $175.00 to $130.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from $185.00 to $122.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen cut Sprouts Farmers Market from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, December 21st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets set a $90.00 price target on Sprouts Farmers Market in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.