Post (NYSE:POST) Shares Gap Up Following Earnings Beat

Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST)’s share price gapped up before the market opened on Friday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $105.86, but opened at $110.20. Post shares last traded at $112.13, with a volume of 247,248 shares changing hands.

The company reported $1.73 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.24. Post had a net margin of 4.63% and a return on equity of 10.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on POST. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Post from $120.00 to $116.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on shares of Post from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 18th. Finally, Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Post from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Post currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $122.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Post

In other Post news, CEO Nicolas Catoggio sold 6,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.14, for a total value of $726,840.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 70,501 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,540,491.14. This trade represents a 7.84 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Jeff A. Zadoks sold 28,969 shares of Post stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.96, for a total value of $3,475,121.24. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 67,788 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,131,848.48. This trade represents a 29.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 35,969 shares of company stock worth $4,322,051. 11.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Post

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Post in the 3rd quarter valued at $27,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its stake in Post by 426.0% in the fourth quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 263 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Post in the third quarter worth about $33,000. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Post by 244.9% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 338 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of Post during the 4th quarter valued at about $54,000. Institutional investors own 94.85% of the company’s stock.

Post Price Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average of $112.21 and a 200-day moving average of $112.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.95 and a beta of 0.65.

About Post

Post Holdings, Inc operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, and Refrigerated Retail. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereals under Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, and Malt-O-Meal brand names; hot cereal; peanut butter under the Peter Pan brand; and branded and private label dog and cat food products under Rachael Ray Nutrish, Nature's Recipe, 9Lives, Kibbles 'n Bits and Gravy Train brand names.