Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) Stock Rating Lowered by Wall Street Zen

Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) was downgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on DNUT. Zacks Research upgraded Krispy Kreme from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Krispy Kreme in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Singular Research upgraded Krispy Kreme to a “moderate buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reissued an “underweight” rating and set a $3.00 price objective on shares of Krispy Kreme in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Krispy Kreme currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $5.59.

Krispy Kreme Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of Krispy Kreme stock opened at $2.95 on Friday. Krispy Kreme has a 1 year low of $2.50 and a 1 year high of $9.43. The firm has a market cap of $505.34 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.99 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a 50-day moving average of $3.84 and a 200 day moving average of $3.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 0.36 and a quick ratio of 0.30.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Krispy Kreme

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Krispy Kreme by 42.4% during the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 3,565,152 shares of the company’s stock valued at $14,332,000 after buying an additional 1,061,308 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP bought a new stake in shares of Krispy Kreme during the 3rd quarter valued at about $11,704,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Krispy Kreme by 419.2% during the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 2,795,546 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,819,000 after purchasing an additional 2,257,061 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Krispy Kreme by 7.4% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,231,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,971,000 after buying an additional 153,645 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Krispy Kreme by 522.1% in the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,093,416 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,300,000 after buying an additional 1,756,932 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.72% of the company’s stock.

Krispy Kreme News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Krispy Kreme announced a national Friday the 13th promotion that will distribute 13,000 free-dozen coupons, generating widespread national coverage and likely short-term store traffic and brand attention. Krispy Kreme has launched a massive doughnut giveaway — here’s how to win a free dozen
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple consumer outlets (MSN, Yahoo, Cheapism, NYPost) amplified the promotion with local coupon details and how-to-claim guides, which can drive incremental visits, digital engagement and loyalty sign-ups—useful marketing tailwinds even if short-term revenue is limited. Krispy Kreme to Give Away 13,000 Free Dozen Coupons on Friday the 13th
• Neutral Sentiment: Short-interest data posted for February appears inconsistent (reports show 0 shares with an “increase of NaN”), suggesting a data or reporting glitch rather than a meaningful shift in short interest; this item is unlikely to change fundamentals while it remains unclear.
• Negative Sentiment: Underlying fundamentals remain a headwind: low liquidity (current ratio ~0.36, quick ratio ~0.30), negative P/E, and the share price sits below the 50-day moving average—factors that continue to cap valuation and increase downside risk absent improving sales/earnings.

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.