BNP Paribas Financial Markets Boosts Holdings in United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its position in shares of United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE:UNFI) by 352.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 108,181 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 84,257 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned about 0.18% of United Natural Foods worth $1,820,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in UNFI. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. purchased a new stake in United Natural Foods in the third quarter valued at $595,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of United Natural Foods by 86.6% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 264,176 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,461,000 after purchasing an additional 122,626 shares during the last quarter. Aristeia Capital L.L.C. purchased a new stake in United Natural Foods in the 2nd quarter valued at about $661,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in United Natural Foods in the third quarter valued at about $548,000. Finally, Gabelli Funds LLC purchased a new position in United Natural Foods during the second quarter worth about $917,000. 87.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United Natural Foods Stock Performance

NYSE:UNFI opened at $24.07 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $1.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -12.74 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. United Natural Foods, Inc. has a 52 week low of $8.58 and a 52 week high of $25.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $21.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $16.59.

United Natural Foods (NYSE:UNFI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 1st. The company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $0.09. The company had revenue of $8.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.94 billion. United Natural Foods had a positive return on equity of 0.54% and a negative net margin of 0.36%. United Natural Foods’s revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($0.25) EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that United Natural Foods, Inc. will post 0.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other United Natural Foods news, insider Danielle Benedict sold 15,152 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.78, for a total value of $299,706.56. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 100,423 shares in the company, valued at $1,986,366.94. This trade represents a 13.11 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 2.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UNFI has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of United Natural Foods from $14.00 to $23.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. UBS Group upped their price target on United Natural Foods from $16.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on United Natural Foods from $15.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Finally, Northcoast Research raised United Natural Foods from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $18.40.

United Natural Foods Profile

United Natural Foods, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail. The company offers grocery and general merchandise, produce, perishables and frozen foods, wellness and personal care items, and bulk and foodservice products.