SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL) Shares Bought by Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in SunOpta Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL) (TSE:SOY) by 4.4% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 60,984 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,578 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in SunOpta were worth $334,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cedar Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in SunOpta in the 3rd quarter valued at $153,000. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. increased its holdings in shares of SunOpta by 26.1% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 21,465 shares of the company’s stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 4,443 shares during the last quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS increased its stake in SunOpta by 22.0% during the third quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS now owns 311,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,048,000 after acquiring an additional 56,150 shares during the last quarter. Zazove Associates LLC raised its position in SunOpta by 67.1% in the third quarter. Zazove Associates LLC now owns 482,023 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,624,000 after purchasing an additional 193,484 shares during the period. Finally, Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of SunOpta by 65.6% in the 3rd quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,904,312 shares of the company’s stock valued at $13,158,000 after purchasing an additional 1,546,567 shares during the last quarter. 85.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at SunOpta

In other news, insider Joseph Ennen sold 150,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.89, for a total transaction of $1,033,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 1,743,399 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,012,019.11. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other SunOpta news, insider Joseph Ennen sold 150,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $6.89, for a total value of $1,033,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,743,399 shares in the company, valued at $12,012,019.11. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brian W. Kocher bought 36,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $6.75 per share, for a total transaction of $243,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $243,000. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 6.48% of the company’s stock.

SunOpta Trading Up 2.3 %

NASDAQ:STKL opened at $5.61 on Friday. SunOpta Inc. has a 12-month low of $2.79 and a 12-month high of $8.22. The firm has a market cap of $663.24 million, a PE ratio of -3.66 and a beta of 1.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $6.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.63.

SunOpta (NASDAQ:STKL) (TSE:SOY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The company reported $0.05 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.01 by $0.04. SunOpta had a negative net margin of 22.85% and a positive return on equity of 4.05%. The company had revenue of $181.62 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $165.10 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that SunOpta Inc. will post 0.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on shares of SunOpta from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on SunOpta from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their target price on SunOpta from $8.00 to $9.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $9.40.

SunOpta Profile

SunOpta Inc engages in manufacture and sale of plant-based and fruit-based food and beverage products in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company provides plant-based beverages utilizing oat, almond, soy, coconut, rice, hemp, and other bases under the Dream and West Life brands; oat-based creamers under the SOWN brand; ready-to-drink protein shakes; and nut, grain, seed, and legume based beverages; packaged teas and concentrates; and meat and vegetable broths and stocks.