Chefs’ Warehouse (NASDAQ:CHEF) Sets New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHEF)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $55.01 and last traded at $54.94, with a volume of 46974 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $54.49.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on CHEF. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Chefs’ Warehouse from $50.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Chefs’ Warehouse from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Lake Street Capital increased their price objective on shares of Chefs’ Warehouse from $48.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $53.80.

Chefs’ Warehouse Stock Up 0.7 %

The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $48.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.42. The company has a current ratio of 1.85, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The company has a market capitalization of $2.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.99 and a beta of 2.29.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Chefs’ Warehouse news, CFO James Leddy sold 4,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.85, for a total value of $195,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 145,589 shares in the company, valued at $7,112,022.65. This represents a 2.67 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, General Counsel Alexandros Aldous sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total value of $225,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 114,342 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,145,390. The trade was a 4.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chefs’ Warehouse

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Chefs’ Warehouse by 24.6% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,202 shares of the company’s stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares during the period. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Chefs’ Warehouse by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,772 shares of the company’s stock worth $284,000 after buying an additional 481 shares during the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Chefs’ Warehouse by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 41,742 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,754,000 after buying an additional 640 shares during the period. KBC Group NV grew its stake in Chefs’ Warehouse by 67.1% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 2,100 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 843 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC raised its holdings in Chefs’ Warehouse by 20.3% in the 3rd quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 6,772 shares of the company’s stock valued at $284,000 after acquiring an additional 1,144 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.55% of the company’s stock.

Chefs’ Warehouse Company Profile

The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes specialty food and center-of-the-plate products in the United States, the Middle East, and Canada. The company’s product portfolio includes specialty food products, such as artisan charcuterie, specialty cheeses, unique oils and vinegars, truffles, caviar, chocolate, and pastry products; and center-of-the-plate products consisting of custom cut beef, seafood, and hormone-free poultry, as well as broadline food products comprising cooking oils, butter, eggs, milk, and flour.