Post (NYSE:POST) Reaches New 1-Year High – Time to Buy?

Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $125.84 and last traded at $119.80, with a volume of 394541 shares. The stock had previously closed at $119.76.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on POST. Evercore ISI raised their price target on shares of Post from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, November 18th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Post has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $124.17.

Post Stock Performance

The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $113.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $111.24. The company has a current ratio of 2.36, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The company has a market cap of $6.77 billion, a PE ratio of 21.24 and a beta of 0.66.

Insider Buying and Selling at Post

In other Post news, COO Jeff A. Zadoks sold 28,969 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 67,788 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,131,848.48. The trade was a 29.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Nicolas Catoggio sold 6,000 shares of Post stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.14, for a total transaction 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 35,969 shares of company stock worth $4,322,051. 10.70% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Post

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new stake in Post in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Post during the third quarter worth about $33,000. Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Post by 244.9% during the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 338 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new position in Post in the 2nd quarter valued at about $62,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Post by 780.0% in the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 704 shares of the company’s stock worth $81,000 after buying an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. 94.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.