Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) Reaches New 52-Week Low – What’s Next?

Shares of Flowers Foods, Inc. (NYSE:FLO) hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $10.31 and last traded at $10.3250, with a volume of 4874705 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.79.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FLO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Flowers Foods in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Flowers Foods from $15.00 to $10.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $13.67.

Flowers Foods Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $2.18 billion, a PE ratio of 11.20 and a beta of 0.32. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $11.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $13.50.

Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.23. The firm had revenue of $1.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. Flowers Foods had a return on equity of 16.35% and a net margin of 3.78%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.33 EPS. Flowers Foods has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.020-1.08 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Flowers Foods, Inc. will post 1.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Flowers Foods Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 28th were issued a $0.2475 dividend. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.6%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 28th. Flowers Foods’s dividend payout ratio is currently 107.61%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Flowers Foods during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Private Trust Co. NA grew its stake in shares of Flowers Foods by 103.8% during the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,932 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 984 shares in the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in shares of Flowers Foods by 860.2% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,978 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,772 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Flowers Foods in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its stake in shares of Flowers Foods by 225.6% in the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 2,400 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 1,663 shares in the last quarter. 75.45% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Flowers Foods Company Profile

Flowers Foods, Inc is one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, offering a variety of fresh bread, buns, rolls, snack cakes and tortillas. Headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, the company operates an extensive network of bakeries and distribution centers that serve retail grocery chains, convenience stores, mass merchandisers and foodservice customers nationwide. Flowers Foods markets its products under well-known brands such as Nature’s Own, Wonder, Dave’s Killer Bread, Mrs.