MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI) Insider Sells 33,000 Shares of Stock

MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) insider Paul Lux sold 33,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.76, for a total value of $586,080.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 550,458 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $9,776,134.08. This trade represents a 5.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

MGP Ingredients Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NASDAQ MGPI traded up $0.09 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $18.15. The stock had a trading volume of 43,604 shares, compared to its average volume of 238,528. The company has a market capitalization of $388.60 million, a P/E ratio of -1.61 and a beta of 0.47. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $17.36 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $18.88. MGP Ingredients, Inc. has a 52 week low of $15.72 and a 52 week high of $30.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a current ratio of 6.99.

MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $124.36 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $125.16 million. MGP Ingredients had a positive return on equity of 7.41% and a negative net margin of 48.08%.The firm’s revenue was down 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.97 earnings per share. MGP Ingredients has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.500-1.800 EPS. Analysts anticipate that MGP Ingredients, Inc. will post 1.65 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MGP Ingredients Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. MGP Ingredients’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -4.26%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of MGP Ingredients from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. TD Cowen raised their target price on MGP Ingredients from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on MGP Ingredients from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of MGP Ingredients in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MGP Ingredients presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $27.25.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MGPI. Legal & General Group Plc bought a new position in MGP Ingredients in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in MGP Ingredients by 130.3% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 935 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 529 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MGP Ingredients in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its position in shares of MGP Ingredients by 237.0% in the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,830 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 1,287 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of MGP Ingredients by 278.9% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,883 shares of the company’s stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 1,386 shares during the period. 77.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About MGP Ingredients

MGP Ingredients, Inc (NASDAQ: MGPI) is a leading producer of distilled spirits and specialty ingredient solutions for the food, beverage and consumer products industries. Headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, the company operates two main facilities—its historic Atchison plant, founded in 1941 as Midwest Grain Products, and a modern distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. MGP Ingredients supplies an array of distillation products under its beverage and ingredient segments, serving brand owners, private-label producers and co-packers worldwide.

The beverage segment features a broad portfolio of premium spirits, including bourbon and rye whiskies, vodka, gin and neutral spirits.