Prudential Financial Inc. Grows Holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM)

Prudential Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM - Free Report) by 106.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 47,649 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 24,567 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc.'s holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market were worth $6,055,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SFM. Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 17.8% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 27,557 shares of the company's stock worth $3,043,000 after purchasing an additional 4,171 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market during the 3rd quarter worth $220,000. Freedom Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in Sprouts Farmers Market in the third quarter worth $233,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its stake in Sprouts Farmers Market by 76.1% in the third quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 40,058 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,423,000 after acquiring an additional 17,305 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Edgestream Partners L.P. purchased a new stake in Sprouts Farmers Market during the third quarter valued at about $2,640,000.

Insider Activity at Sprouts Farmers Market

In related news, CEO Jack Sinclair sold 2,915 shares of Sprouts Farmers Market stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $167.54, for a total transaction of $488,379.10. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 143,669 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,070,304.26. This trade represents a 1.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CMO Alisa Gmelich sold 445 shares of Sprouts Farmers Market stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.42, for a total transaction of $61,151.90. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 4,436 shares in the company, valued at approximately $609,595.12. The trade was a 9.12 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 96,784 shares of company stock worth $13,534,466. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

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Sprouts Farmers Market Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ SFM traded down $3.53 during trading on Friday, reaching $149.76. 284,072 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,380,628. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a 52-week low of $61.61 and a 52-week high of $178.99. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.68 billion, a PE ratio of 39.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.67. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $152.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $138.69.

Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ:SFM - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.72 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. Sprouts Farmers Market had a return on equity of 29.86% and a net margin of 4.93%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SFM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on Sprouts Farmers Market from $185.00 to $180.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Sprouts Farmers Market from $174.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their target price for the stock from $163.00 to $190.00 in a report on Monday, March 17th. Northcoast Research upgraded Sprouts Farmers Market from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $185.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on Sprouts Farmers Market from $132.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Sprouts Farmers Market has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $167.00.

Sprouts Farmers Market Company Profile

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. It offers perishable product categories, including fresh produce, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, deli, bakery, floral, and dairy and dairy alternatives; and non-perishable product categories, such as grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.