Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) Stock Rating Upgraded by Capital One Financial

Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) was upgraded by investment analysts at Capital One Financial from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued on Thursday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $6.00 target price on the stock. Capital One Financial‘s price target indicates a potential upside of 85.76% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Krispy Kreme in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Krispy Kreme from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, February 22nd. Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating and issued a $3.00 price objective on shares of Krispy Kreme in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Krispy Kreme from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $4.85.

Krispy Kreme Trading Down 5.6%

NASDAQ DNUT opened at $3.23 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $3.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $3.67. Krispy Kreme has a twelve month low of $2.50 and a twelve month high of $5.73. The company has a market capitalization of $556.21 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.07 and a beta of 1.27.

Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $392.37 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $386.72 million. Krispy Kreme had a negative return on equity of 3.66% and a negative net margin of 33.87%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.01 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Krispy Kreme will post 0.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Krispy Kreme

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Prudential Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Krispy Kreme in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Krispy Kreme by 1,229.5% during the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 8,469 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 7,832 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of Krispy Kreme during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Krispy Kreme in the second quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Sage Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Krispy Kreme in the third quarter worth approximately $39,000. 81.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Krispy Kreme

Here are the key news stories impacting Krispy Kreme this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Krispy Kreme secured about $120 million in cash from two strategic deals, providing near‑term liquidity to fund its turnaround plan and lower financing risk — a clear financial positive for a company with thin cash metrics. Krispy Kreme nets $120M in cash from two deals as turnaround plan takes shape
• Positive Sentiment: Capital One upgraded DNUT to “overweight” with a $6.00 price target (implying ~85% upside), which can attract buyers and boost sentiment if other investors follow the call. Finviz (Capital One upgrade reported)
• Neutral Sentiment: Krispy Kreme launched a limited‑edition “Artemis II” / space‑themed doughnut tied to NASA’s Artemis II mission (available Mar 31–Apr 2). This is positive for short‑term traffic and brand visibility but is unlikely to move long‑term fundamentals materially. KRISPY KREME® Launches Artemis II Doughnut to Celebrate NASA’s Historic Deep Space Crewed Mission, Available March 31 – April 2
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional media coverage of themed product tie‑ins (space/Oreo and movie‑themed donuts) supports marketing momentum but represents low incremental revenue per share in the short term. Krispy Kreme Launches Artemis II Doughnut to Celebrate NASA’s Lunar Mission
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts still show caution—consensus ratings sit on the weaker side (reported “Reduce” consensus), and DNUT’s fundamentals remain challenged: low quick/current ratios, negative net margin and ROE, and a meaningful debt load. That combination keeps selling pressure despite tactical wins. Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ:DNUT) Given Consensus Rating of “Reduce” by Analysts

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc (NASDAQ: DNUT) is a global retailer and wholesaler renowned for its signature Original Glazed doughnut and a variety of other sweet treats. The company operates through a combination of company-owned stores, franchise outlets and strategic partnerships with supermarkets, convenience stores and other foodservice channels. In addition to its doughnut portfolio, Krispy Kreme offers freshly brewed coffee, assorted beverages and proprietary seasonal items designed to drive traffic and foster brand loyalty.

Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by Vernon Rudolph, Krispy Kreme has grown from a single local shop to a multinational brand.