Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) Reaches New 1-Year Low - Here's What Happened

Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $17.31 and last traded at $18.14, with a volume of 440 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $18.26.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. DA Davidson lowered their target price on Flowers Foods from $24.00 to $21.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Flowers Foods from $23.00 to $20.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Flowers Foods has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $21.00.

Flowers Foods Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.20. The company has a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.24, a P/E/G ratio of 8.72 and a beta of 0.40. The firm's fifty day moving average is $18.58 and its 200 day moving average is $20.18.

Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 7th. The company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.01. Flowers Foods had a net margin of 4.86% and a return on equity of 19.48%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.20 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Flowers Foods, Inc. will post 1.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Flowers Foods Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.38%. Flowers Foods's payout ratio is 82.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Flowers Foods

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in shares of Flowers Foods in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Flowers Foods in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in shares of Flowers Foods by 617.3% during the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,700 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,463 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of Flowers Foods by 2,191.6% during the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,177 shares of the company's stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 2,082 shares during the period. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group increased its holdings in shares of Flowers Foods by 171.8% during the 4th quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 2,623 shares of the company's stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 1,658 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.45% of the company's stock.

Flowers Foods Company Profile

Flowers Foods, Inc produces and markets packaged bakery food products in the United States. Its principal products include fresh breads, buns, rolls, snack items, bagels, English muffins, and tortillas, as well as frozen breads and rolls under the Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Wonder, Canyon Bakehouse, Mrs.