Blue Trust Inc. Acquires 2,219 Shares of The Middleby Co. (NASDAQ:MIDD)

Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of The Middleby Co. (NASDAQ:MIDD - Free Report) by 111.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 4,217 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 2,219 shares during the quarter. Blue Trust Inc.'s holdings in Middleby were worth $571,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Middleby by 4.0% in the third quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,278 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $317,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Middleby by 1.4% in the third quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 6,259 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $871,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in shares of Middleby by 5.2% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,868 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $260,000 after buying an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in Middleby by 41.1% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 398 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of Middleby by 27.2% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 622 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.55% of the company's stock.

Middleby Trading Down 0.0 %

MIDD stock traded down $0.07 during trading on Thursday, hitting $169.92. The company had a trading volume of 411,053 shares, compared to its average volume of 834,880. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.44 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a quick ratio of 1.70, a current ratio of 2.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The Middleby Co. has a 52-week low of $118.41 and a 52-week high of $177.90. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $149.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $142.08.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MIDD shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $160.00 price target (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Middleby in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Middleby from $134.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com lowered Middleby from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Middleby from $157.00 to $227.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Middleby from $160.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $178.83.

Middleby Profile

The Middleby Corporation designs, markets, manufactures, distributes, and services foodservice, food processing, and residential kitchen equipment worldwide. Its Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group segment offers conveyor, combi, convection, baking, proofing, deck, speed cooking, and hydrovection ovens; ranges, fryers, and rethermalizers; steam cooking, food warming, catering, induction cooking, and countertop cooking equipment; heated cabinets, charbroilers, ventless cooking systems, kitchen ventilation, toasters, griddles, charcoal grills, professional mixers, stainless steel fabrication, custom millwork, professional refrigerators, blast chillers, cold rooms, ice machines, and freezers; soft serve ice cream, coffee and beverage dispensing, home and professional craft brewing equipment; and fry dispensers, bottle filling and canning equipment, IoT solutions, and controls development and manufacturing.