Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Stock Price Up 4.3% - Time to Buy?

Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 4.3% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $89.34 and last traded at $90.20. Approximately 221,088 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 1,274,653 shares. The stock had previously closed at $86.50.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FRPT has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Freshpet from $170.00 to $142.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Freshpet from $155.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Freshpet from $154.00 to $102.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. StockNews.com cut Freshpet from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Freshpet from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $155.00 to $150.00 in a research report on Monday, February 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Freshpet has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.67.

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Freshpet Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $4.35 billion, a PE ratio of 95.00 and a beta of 1.58. The firm's 50-day moving average is $130.72 and its 200-day moving average is $139.29. The company has a quick ratio of 3.91, a current ratio of 4.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41.

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36. The business had revenue of $262.71 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $275.46 million. Freshpet had a return on equity of 3.92% and a net margin of 4.81%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Freshpet, Inc. will post 1.55 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Freshpet

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FRPT. M&T Bank Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Freshpet by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 2,253 shares of the company's stock valued at $333,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Freshpet by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 5,887 shares of the company's stock valued at $805,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC raised its stake in Freshpet by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 2,111 shares of the company's stock valued at $313,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Freshpet by 5.3% in the fourth quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,678 shares of the company's stock worth $249,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in shares of Freshpet by 19.1% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 573 shares of the company's stock worth $85,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter.

About Freshpet

Freshpet, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells dog food, cat food, and dog treats under the Freshpet brand name; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online.