Freshpet, Inc. $FRPT Shares Sold by Riverbridge Partners LLC

Riverbridge Partners LLC lowered its position in shares of Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:FRPT) by 13.3% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,003,710 shares of the company’s stock after selling 153,579 shares during the period. Freshpet makes up about 1.1% of Riverbridge Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Riverbridge Partners LLC’s holdings in Freshpet were worth $61,156,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in shares of Freshpet by 86.3% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 67,623 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,624,000 after acquiring an additional 31,334 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in Freshpet by 734.1% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,810 shares of the company’s stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 1,593 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the 1st quarter worth $247,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in Freshpet by 211.6% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 25,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,753,000 after purchasing an additional 17,519 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc increased its holdings in Freshpet by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 132,139 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,980,000 after purchasing an additional 4,132 shares in the last quarter.

Freshpet Stock Performance

Shares of FRPT stock opened at $58.79 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 5.54 and a quick ratio of 4.57. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $72.43 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $62.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.66. Freshpet, Inc. has a 12 month low of $46.76 and a 12 month high of $89.80.

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.21. Freshpet had a return on equity of 6.93% and a net margin of 12.63%.The company had revenue of $285.23 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $285.66 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.36 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Freshpet, Inc. will post 1.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Key Headlines Impacting Freshpet

Here are the key news stories impacting Freshpet this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts dismissed competitive-threat concerns, a view that helped lift the stock as investors see Freshpet’s brand and growth resilience as intact. Freshpet stock gains after analysts dismisses competitive threats
• Positive Sentiment: Freshpet was named among mid‑cap consumer defensive stocks to buy, which can attract buyer interest from investors seeking defensive exposure to consumer staples/ pet‑care. 5 Best Mid-Cap Consumer Defensive Stocks to Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: Jim Cramer noted Freshpet has been “too hot versus the cohort,” flagging valuation/margin concerns even as the company remains a notable performer — commentary that can temper momentum rather than trigger a directional move. Jim Cramer on Freshpet, Inc.: “I Think That This Stock Has Been Too Hot Versus the Cohort”
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP opened an investigation into Freshpet on behalf of investors, a development that increases legal uncertainty and could pressure sentiment if the probe expands. INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Freshpet, Inc. – FRPT
• Negative Sentiment: Levi & Korsinsky also launched an investigation tied to a recent NAD ruling after a competitor challenge, signaling compounding shareholder‑lawyer scrutiny and potential litigation exposure. Fraud Investigation Opened: Levi & Korsinsky Investigates Freshpet Inc. (FRPT) on Behalf of Shareholders
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan cut its price target from $80 to $66 and moved to a neutral rating, which reduces upside expectations from a major institutional voice and can weigh on sentiment and flows. Benzinga note on JPMorgan price target cut

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have commented on FRPT. Oppenheimer upgraded Freshpet from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $80.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 20th. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Freshpet in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Freshpet from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a report on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Freshpet from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 25th. Finally, Benchmark increased their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $90.00 to $93.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $76.00.

Freshpet Company Profile

Freshpet Inc (NASDAQ: FRPT) is a leading pet food company specializing in fresh, refrigerated meals and treats for dogs and cats. The company’s products are formulated with carefully selected, natural ingredients and are designed to offer a higher level of nutrition and freshness than traditional dry or canned pet foods. Freshpet’s offerings include refrigerated rolls, pâtés and snacks, all of which are sold through the refrigerated section of grocery, mass-market and pet specialty stores.

Freshpet’s product portfolio is built around the concept of fresh, minimally processed recipes that do not require preservatives or artificial colors.