Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. $SFM Shares Sold by Principal Financial Group Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. lowered its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFM) by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 218,162 shares of the company’s stock after selling 35,035 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market were worth $23,736,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its position in Sprouts Farmers Market by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 10,355 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,691,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Rossby Financial LCC raised its holdings in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 2.3% during the second quarter. Rossby Financial LCC now owns 3,059 shares of the company’s stock valued at $504,000 after buying an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Sprouts Farmers Market by 0.8% during the second quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 9,069 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,493,000 after buying an additional 69 shares during the period. Alteri Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Alteri Wealth LLC now owns 7,627 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,256,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in Sprouts Farmers Market by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 3,335 shares of the company’s stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider John Scott Neal sold 17,471 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.20, for a total transaction of $1,488,529.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 14,178 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,207,965.60. This represents a 55.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Alisa Gmelich sold 3,161 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.39, for a total transaction of $250,951.79. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer owned 5,552 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $440,773.28. The trade was a 36.28% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on SFM. Bank of America cut their target price on Sprouts Farmers Market from $200.00 to $160.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on Sprouts Farmers Market from $148.00 to $140.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in a report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Sprouts Farmers Market from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, UBS Group set a $108.00 target price on shares of Sprouts Farmers Market in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $127.69.

Sprouts Farmers Market Price Performance

Shares of Sprouts Farmers Market stock opened at $67.32 on Friday. Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. has a 52 week low of $66.17 and a 52 week high of $182.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock has a market cap of $6.55 billion, a PE ratio of 13.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.67 and a beta of 0.75. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $77.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $104.31.

Sprouts Farmers Market Profile

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc (NASDAQ: SFM) is a specialty grocery retailer focused on fresh, natural and organic foods. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company operates stores designed to offer an open-market shopping experience, emphasizing quality produce sourced from regional farmers alongside organic pantry staples, dairy, meat and seafood. Sprouts’ product assortment also includes bulk foods, vitamins and supplements, a deli and prepared foods, reflecting its commitment to wellness and affordable healthy living.

Founded in 2002 by members of the Boney family, Sprouts began as a single farmers market in Chandler, Arizona.