Copeland Capital Management LLC Has $65.99 Million Position in UniFirst Co. (NYSE:UNF)

Copeland Capital Management LLC increased its position in UniFirst Co. (NYSE:UNF - Free Report) by 12.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 332,187 shares of the textile maker's stock after purchasing an additional 36,651 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC owned about 1.78% of UniFirst worth $65,989,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNF. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in UniFirst by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,690,940 shares of the textile maker's stock valued at $309,290,000 after buying an additional 12,138 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of UniFirst in the fourth quarter worth approximately $288,000. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UniFirst during the first quarter worth approximately $513,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in UniFirst by 336.5% during the first quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 18,582 shares of the textile maker's stock valued at $3,223,000 after purchasing an additional 14,325 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pullen Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in UniFirst in the 1st quarter worth approximately $473,000. 78.17% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

UniFirst Stock Performance

Shares of UniFirst stock traded down $0.64 on Tuesday, reaching $189.93. The stock had a trading volume of 35,193 shares, compared to its average volume of 85,834. UniFirst Co. has a fifty-two week low of $149.58 and a fifty-two week high of $200.07. The business's 50-day moving average price is $188.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $174.93. The stock has a market cap of $3.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.64 and a beta of 0.81.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

UNF has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com raised UniFirst from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. UBS Group increased their price objective on UniFirst from $186.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, June 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of UniFirst from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, June 27th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of UniFirst from $185.00 to $199.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, June 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $186.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at UniFirst

In other news, Director Michael Iandoli sold 682 shares of UniFirst stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $194.30, for a total value of $132,512.60. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 4,744 shares in the company, valued at approximately $921,759.20. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the company's stock.

UniFirst Company Profile

UniFirst Corporation provides workplace uniforms and protective work wear clothing in the United States, Europe, and Canada. The company operates through U.S. and Canadian Rental and Cleaning, Manufacturing, Specialty Garments Rental and Cleaning, and First Aid segments. It designs, manufactures, personalizes, rents, cleans, delivers, and sells a range of uniforms and protective clothing, including shirts, pants, jackets, coveralls, lab coats, smocks, and aprons; and specialized protective wear, such as flame resistant and high visibility garments.