Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) Sets New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $8.41 and last traded at $8.43, with a volume of 1585048 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $8.62.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DNUT has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Krispy Kreme from $14.00 to $12.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Krispy Kreme from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Krispy Kreme from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Krispy Kreme has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $15.25.

Krispy Kreme Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.29, a P/E/G ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 1.34. The stock's fifty day moving average is $9.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

Krispy Kreme Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd will be issued a $0.035 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 23rd. This represents a $0.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.64%. Krispy Kreme's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.35%.

Institutional Trading of Krispy Kreme

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DNUT. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. lifted its holdings in shares of Krispy Kreme by 86.1% in the 3rd quarter. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. now owns 216,559 shares of the company's stock worth $2,326,000 after purchasing an additional 100,163 shares in the last quarter. Paloma Partners Management Co grew its holdings in Krispy Kreme by 6,993.4% during the 3rd quarter. Paloma Partners Management Co now owns 872,068 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,366,000 after buying an additional 859,774 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new position in Krispy Kreme during the 3rd quarter valued at about $810,000. Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new position in Krispy Kreme during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,716,000. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its position in shares of Krispy Kreme by 450.6% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 169,209 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,816,000 after acquiring an additional 138,475 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.