Virtu Financial LLC Invests $639,000 in The Middleby Co. (NASDAQ:MIDD)

Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of The Middleby Co. (NASDAQ:MIDD - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 4,594 shares of the industrial products company's stock, valued at approximately $639,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MIDD. Quarry LP grew its stake in Middleby by 133.3% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in Middleby by 306.5% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 252 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of Middleby by 93.2% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 282 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new stake in Middleby during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Finally, Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Middleby by 820.0% in the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 322 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 287 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.55% of the company's stock.

Middleby Trading Down 1.7 %

NASDAQ MIDD traded down $2.33 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $138.75. 462,111 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 506,533. 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 $161.01. The stock has a market cap of $7.46 billion, a PE ratio of 19.14 and a beta of 1.60. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $138.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $134.44.

Middleby (NASDAQ:MIDD - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.48 by ($0.15). Middleby had a return on equity of 14.66% and a net margin of 10.14%. The firm had revenue of $942.81 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $996.60 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.35 EPS. Middleby's revenue was down 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that The Middleby Co. will post 9.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on MIDD shares. Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $164.00 target price on shares of Middleby in a report on Saturday, September 14th. StockNews.com raised Middleby from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on Middleby from $164.00 to $155.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and issued a $160.00 target price (down previously from $170.00) on shares of Middleby in a report on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $154.67.

About Middleby

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.