Principal Financial Group Inc. Increases Stake in Vital Farms, Inc.

Principal Financial Group Inc. has significantly increased its ownership in Vital Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ:VITL) by purchasing an additional 516,139 shares in the fourth quarter of 2024. This move raised Principal Financial Group Inc.’s total holdings to 1,171,950 shares, representing a 78.7% increase. As per the latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the value of these shares amounted to approximately $44,172,000.

Changes in Investor Positions

Other notable investors have also altered their stakes in Vital Farms. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. established a new position valued at around $35,000 during the third quarter. Mendota Financial Group LLC added a stake worth approximately $62,000 in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. increased its holdings by 29.4%, acquiring an additional 380 shares to reach a total of 1,673 shares, valued at $63,000. Quarry LP grew its position by 87.1% during the third quarter, now owning 2,414 shares worth about $85,000. Furthermore, Values First Advisors Inc. entered into a new investment in Vital Farms with a stake valued at roughly $199,000. Remarkably, institutional investors own about 98.59% of the company's stock.

Analysts' Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently provided updates on the valuation of Vital Farms shares. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a price target of $52.00 for the stock. Meanwhile, Jefferies Financial Group revised its price target from $45.00 to $41.00 while maintaining a “buy” rating. Stifel Nicolaus increased its price projection from $34.00 to $44.00, assigning a “hold” rating. TD Cowen also raised its price target from $41.00 to $45.00, alongside a “buy” rating. Additionally, Craig Hallum began coverage with a “buy” rating and set a price target of $50.00. Currently, one analyst has given a hold rating, while seven analysts recommend buying the stock, leading to a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” with an average price target of $44.57, according to MarketBeat data.

Recent Insider Transactions

In addition to institutional investments, insider trading activity has been noteworthy. Insider Matthew Ohayer sold 24,000 shares on January 21st at an average price of $43.19, making the total value of the transaction approximately $1,036,560.00. Following this sale, Ohayer retains ownership of 7,014,890 shares valued at around $302,973,099.10, representing a minor decrease of 0.34% in his position. Similarly, insider Joanne Bal sold 28,246 shares on January 17th at an average price of $45.10, totaling about $1,273,894.60. After this transaction, Bal now owns 59,371 shares valued at approximately $2,677,632.10, which marks a 32.24% reduction in her stake. Over the past three months, insiders have liquidated a total of 190,202 shares valued at $7,855,957, indicating that corporate insiders collectively hold 27.60% of the company's stock.

Current Market Performance of Vital Farms

On February 21, 2025, NASDAQ VITL opened at $34.77. The stock is currently trading below its 50-day moving average of $39.37 and its 200-day moving average of $35.65. Vital Farms maintains a current ratio of 3.24 and a quick ratio of 2.81, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Over the past year, the stock has experienced a low of $16.01 and a high of $48.41, giving it a market capitalization of $1.52 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.04 with a beta value of 0.90.

Overview of Vital Farms, Inc.

Vital Farms, Inc. is a food company known for its pasture-raised products available across the United States. Their offerings include shell eggs, butter, hard-boiled eggs, and liquid whole eggs. Established in 2007, the company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Further Resources

• More information about investment strategies in Vital Farms.
• Understanding the current market climate for food companies.
• Comparative analysis of similar companies in the sector.
• Insights into the 2025 market projections for food products.
• Guide on evaluating insider trades and their implications.

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