Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) Trading Up 8.5% - Still a Buy?

Shares of Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT - Get Free Report) rose 8.5% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $9.21 and last traded at $9.28. Approximately 1,007,733 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 40% from the average daily volume of 1,668,691 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.55.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DNUT has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Krispy Kreme from $14.00 to $13.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Krispy Kreme from $14.00 to $12.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Krispy Kreme presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $15.25.

Krispy Kreme Stock Performance

The firm's 50 day moving average price is $9.18 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.42. The firm has a market cap of $1.56 billion, a PE ratio of 53.82, a PEG ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.35.

Krispy Kreme Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.53%. Krispy Kreme's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.35%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Krispy Kreme

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. lifted its stake in Krispy Kreme by 86.1% during the third 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 lifted its stake 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 worth $9,366,000 after acquiring 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 acquired a new position in Krispy Kreme in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,716,000. Finally, Barclays PLC increased its stake in Krispy Kreme by 450.6% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 169,209 shares of the company's stock worth $1,816,000 after purchasing an additional 138,475 shares during the period. 81.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Krispy Kreme Company Profile

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.