Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT) Short Interest Down 7.0% in October

Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 16,450,000 shares, a decrease of 7.0% from the October 15th total of 17,680,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,430,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 11.5 days. Currently, 19.9% of the company's stock are short sold.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on DNUT. Bank of America increased their price objective on Krispy Kreme from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Krispy Kreme from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. HSBC upgraded Krispy Kreme from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $14.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Krispy Kreme in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Hsbc Global Res upgraded Krispy Kreme from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $15.56.

Krispy Kreme Stock Down 1.9 %

DNUT traded down $0.21 during trading on Monday, reaching $10.68. The stock had a trading volume of 703,226 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,055,871. Krispy Kreme has a one year low of $9.18 and a one year high of $17.84. The company has a market capitalization of $1.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 1.39. The stock's 50 day moving average is $11.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.16. The company has a current ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Krispy Kreme Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 23rd were paid a $0.035 dividend. This represents a $0.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.31%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, October 23rd. Krispy Kreme's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.35%.

Institutional Trading of Krispy Kreme

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Krispy Kreme by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 38,658 shares of the company's stock worth $415,000 after purchasing an additional 958 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Krispy Kreme by 8.5% during the 1st quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 15,739 shares of the company's stock valued at $240,000 after acquiring an additional 1,239 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its holdings in Krispy Kreme by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 50,819 shares of the company's stock valued at $547,000 after acquiring an additional 1,399 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Krispy Kreme by 28.3% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 8,064 shares of the company's stock valued at $87,000 after acquiring an additional 1,779 shares during the period. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its holdings in Krispy Kreme by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 84,610 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,289,000 after acquiring an additional 2,769 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.72% of the company's stock.

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces doughnuts in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Japan, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: U.S., International, and Market Development. The company offers doughnut experiences through hot light theater and fresh shops, delivered fresh daily branded cabinets and merchandising units within grocery and convenience stores, quick service restaurants, club memberships, drug stores, and ecommerce, as well as through its branded sweet treat line comprising Krispy Kreme branded sweet treats.