Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. Cuts Stock Holdings in Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL)

Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. decreased its position in Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL) by 50.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 52,500 shares of the company’s stock after selling 52,500 shares during the quarter. Hussman Strategic Advisors Inc. owned 0.12% of Vital Farms worth $1,979,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of VITL. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new stake in Vital Farms in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Mendota Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Vital Farms in the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,000. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its position in Vital Farms by 29.4% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,673 shares of the company’s stock worth $63,000 after buying an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP lifted its position in Vital Farms by 87.1% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,414 shares of the company’s stock worth $85,000 after buying an additional 1,124 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Values First Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Vital Farms in the 4th quarter worth approximately $199,000. Institutional investors own 98.59% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CMO Kathryn Mckeon sold 12,300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.08, for a total value of $517,584.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 46,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,944,222.24. This represents a 21.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Joanne Bal sold 28,246 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.10, for a total value of $1,273,894.60. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 59,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,677,632.10. The trade was a 32.24 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 190,202 shares of company stock valued at $7,855,957. Company insiders own 27.60% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on VITL shares. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Vital Farms from $34.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on Vital Farms from $41.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $52.00 price objective on shares of Vital Farms in a research report on Tuesday. Craig Hallum began coverage on Vital Farms in a research report on Friday, December 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Vital Farms from $45.00 to $41.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $44.57.

Vital Farms Price Performance

VITL opened at $35.38 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 2.81 and a current ratio of 3.24. Vital Farms, Inc. has a 52-week low of $15.44 and a 52-week high of $48.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.55 billion, a PE ratio of 31.59 and a beta of 0.90. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $39.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $35.66.

Vital Farms Company Profile

Vital Farms, Inc, a food company, provides pasture-raised products in the United States. It offers shell eggs, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and liquid whole eggs. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.