The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) Short Interest Down 19.1% in February

The Middleby Corporation (NASDAQ:MIDD) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 1,996,915 shares, a drop of 19.1% from the January 29th total of 2,468,979 shares. Approximately 4.2% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 534,750 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.7 days. Based on an average daily volume of 534,750 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.7 days. Approximately 4.2% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on MIDD shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Middleby from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group set a $187.00 target price on shares of Middleby and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Middleby from $159.00 to $197.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Barclays set a $168.00 target price on shares of Middleby and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Finally, KeyCorp upped their price target on Middleby from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $174.17.

Middleby Stock Down 1.0%

NASDAQ MIDD traded down $1.56 on Wednesday, hitting $160.57. 525,652 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 582,325. The company has a market cap of $8.09 billion, a PE ratio of -28.02 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $155.67 and a 200-day moving average price of $140.14. Middleby has a fifty-two week low of $110.82 and a fifty-two week high of $169.44. The company has a quick ratio of 1.92, a current ratio of 2.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

Middleby (NASDAQ:MIDD) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The industrial products company reported $2.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.27 by ($0.13). Middleby had a positive return on equity of 14.57% and a negative net margin of 7.44%.The business had revenue of $866.43 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.01 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.88 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. Middleby has set its FY 2026 guidance at 9.200-9.360 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 1.900-2.020 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Middleby will post 9.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Robert A. Nerbonne purchased 780 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $128.52 per share, for a total transaction of $100,245.60. Following the purchase, the director owned 21,471 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,759,452.92. This trade represents a 3.77% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 6.18% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Middleby

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MIDD. Torren Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Middleby in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Clearstead Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Middleby by 201.8% during the 4th quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 166 shares of the industrial products company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Middleby by 1,292.9% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 195 shares of the industrial products company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in Middleby in the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. purchased a new stake in Middleby in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. 98.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Middleby Company Profile

Middleby Corporation is a global manufacturer and distributor of commercial foodservice and food processing equipment. The company designs, engineers and markets a wide range of cooking, baking, refrigeration, warewashing, holding and dispensing solutions. Middleby’s products serve restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, institutional cafeterias, cruise ships and other foodservice operators.

The company’s portfolio spans multiple well-known brands, including Blodgett ovens, TurboChef rapid‐cook ovens, Southbend ranges and broilers, Pitco fryers, and Viking residential and commercial kitchen appliances.