Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Stock

Freshpet

Freshpet produces and sells premium fresh pet food through its company-owned refrigerators placed in grocery, mass and club, pet specialty, and natural stores. Freshpet primarily targets dogs (96% of 2024 sales), with cats and treats comprising the rest of its sales. Geographically, the company's home US market, where all its food is produced, accounts for about 98% of sales, with exports to Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European countries accounting for the remaining balance.

Freshpet Inc

DA Davidson analyst Brian Holland upgraded Utz Brands (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UTZ#NYSE">UTZ</a>) from Neutral to Buy on Thursday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/UTZ/analyst-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintaining the price forecast of $16.</a>
The analyst sees a compelling &#8220;risk-reward&#8221; setup for Utz Brands despite broader challenges in the food sector.
Holland highlights several supportive factors, including a firming position in the salty snacks category, which benefits from reduced promotional pressure and Utz Brands&#8217; strong performance in non-tracked retail channels.
Additionally, the company has exceeded expectations in transforming its supply chain, potentially setting the stage for upward earnings revisions if its recent market share gains continue.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44988897/china-trade-war-4-big-brand-stocks-that-will-suffer-most" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Trade War: 4 Big-Brand Stocks That Will Suffer Most</a>
The analyst also notes that, aside from names like Freshpet, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) and SunOpta, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STKL#NASDAQ">STKL</a>), no other food stock is currently trading at &#8220;a wider relative valuation gap.&#8221;
The company released<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/04/b44861060/utz-appoints-william-j-kelley-jr-as-chief-financial-officer" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 1Q25 preliminary results released last week.</a>
Although overall sales in the salty snack category have remained weak due to inflation-driven volume pressure, growing health consciousness, and possible impacts from GLP-1 usage, the analyst notes that Utz Brands has steadily gained market share.
This modest but consistent share growth has been driven by expanded distribution, increased marketing efforts, and product innovation targeting largely untapped markets—particularly in regions that account for over 60% of salty snack sales.
While competitive promotions, especially from dominant players like Frito-Lay, created challenges through 2024, the lack of sustained volume gains from those promos led to a market reset, the analyst writes.
Price Action: Utz shares are trading higher by 1.61% to $13.60 at last check Thursday.
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Movers

General

FRPT

STKL

Utz Brands Gets Analyst Upgrade As Salty Snacks Gain Traction, Promotions Ease

Truist Securities analyst Bill Chappell maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $110 to $90.

Price Target

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $90

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Shares of companies within the broader consumer staples sector are trading lower amid overall market weakness.

Benchmark analyst Todd Brooks maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $195 to $140.

Benchmark Maintains Buy on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $140

COTY

Shares of companies within the broader consumer staples sector are trading lower as stocks pull back after surging Wednesday following President Trump's tariff pause announcement.

Stifel analyst Mark Astrachan maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $135 to $115.

Stifel Maintains Buy on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $115

JP Morgan analyst Ken Goldman maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $102 to $91.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $91

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Shares of consumer staple companies are trading higher following President Trump's decision to implement a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China.

Wells Fargo analyst Marc Torrente maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $142 to $110.

Wells Fargo Maintains Overweight on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $110

Truist Securities analyst Bill Chappell maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $140 to $110.

Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $110

Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $160 to $145.

Piper Sandler Maintains Overweight on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $145

Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh downgrades Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) from Outperform to Perform.

Downgrades

Oppenheimer Downgrades Freshpet to Perform

J.P. Morgan analyst Ken Goldman cut the price forecast for Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) from $154&nbsp;to&nbsp;$102 while maintaining <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/frpt/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">a Neutral rating</a>.
The analyst says that key concerns for the company include changing consumption trends (particularly among lower- and middle-income consumers and in terms of household penetration) and uncertainity about accuracy of consensus estimates for first-quarter FY25 and beyond.
Meanwhile, Goldman cites the company&#8217;s strong revenue growth, which is among the best in U.S. consumer staples and substantial reasons to consider FRPT will continue to grow over the long term as tailwinds.
The analyst revised revenue growth estimates from 22.9% to 18.9% (vs. Street estimates of 20.1%) for the first quarter of FY25, from 24.1% to 21.0% (Street 22.7%) for FY25, and from 23.4% to 18.3% (Street 22.8%) for FY26.
Also, the analyst updates EBITDA estimates from $40 million to $38 million (Street $40 million) for first quarter of FY25 and from $211 million to $210 million (Street $213 million) for 2025.
The analyst now sees an EBITDA of $267 million (vs. $277 million prior and a consensus of $286 million).
Goldman introduced FY27 estimates of revenue growth of 16.2% vs. consensus of 21.7% and EBITDA of $335 million (Street $384 million).
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via ProShares Pet Care ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAWZ#BATS">PAWZ</a>).
Price Action: FRPT shares are down 7.46% at $89.63 at the last check Monday.
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Photo by Ground Picture on Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

Mid Cap

Reiteration

Trading Ideas

PAWZ

Freshpet Is Not Out Of The Woods On Consumption Trends, Analyst Says

CORRECTION: JP Morgan analyst Ken Goldman maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $154 to $102, rating action updated.

CORRECTION: JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $102 (Rating Action Updated)

Stifel analyst Mark Astrachan maintains Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $155 to $135.

Stifel Maintains Buy on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $135

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Shares of companies within the broader consumer staple sector are trading lower amid overall market uncertainty after President Trump confirmed March 4 tariffs.

Benzinga's options scanner just detected over 16 options trades for Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) summing a total amount of $2,126,192.
At the same time, our algo caught 2 for a total amount of 95,717.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $50.0 to $140.0 for Freshpet over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Freshpet's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Freshpet's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $50.0 to $140.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Freshpet Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1741014973_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th align="right">Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>FRPT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$56.7</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$1.0M</td>
<td align="right">707</td>
<td align="right">580</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FRPT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$54.7</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$498.4K</td>
<td align="right">707</td>
<td align="right">89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FRPT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$53.6</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$408.8K</td>
<td align="right">707</td>
<td align="right">202</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FRPT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$56.3</td>
<td>$54.0</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$341.6K</td>
<td align="right">707</td>
<td align="right">387</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FRPT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$56.4</td>
<td>$54.0</td>
<td>$56.0</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$173.6K</td>
<td align="right">707</td>
<td align="right">234</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Freshpet</h3>
Freshpet produces and sells premium fresh pet food through its company-owned refrigerators placed in grocery, mass and club, pet specialty, and natural stores. The former two store types accounted for 89% of 2023 sales, with grocery stores representing the primary driver of footprint growth. Freshpet primarily targets dogs (92% of sales), with cats and treats comprising the rest of its sales. Geographically, the company's home US market, where all its food is produced, accounts for about 96% of sales, with exports to Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European countries accounting for the remaining balance.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Freshpet, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Freshpet</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 333,243, with FRPT's price down by -4.48%, positioned at $102.23.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 63 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Freshpet</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $147.4.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Oppenheimer persists with their Outperform rating on Freshpet, maintaining a target price of $140. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Truist Securities lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $140. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Piper Sandler keeps a Overweight rating on Freshpet with a target price of $160. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Stifel persists with their Buy rating on Freshpet, maintaining a target price of $155. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on Freshpet with a target price of $142. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Freshpet, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Smart Money Is Betting Big In FRPT Options

Freshpet's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NYSE">FRPT</a>) short percent of float has fallen 7.86% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 4.11 million shares sold short, which is 9.96% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 8.85 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Freshpet Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1740500122_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Freshpet has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Freshpet's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Freshpet's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.72%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Looking Into Freshpet's Recent Short Interest

Truist Securities analyst Bill Chappell reiterates Freshpet (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) with a Buy and lowers the price target from $170 to $140.

Truist Securities Reiterates Buy on Freshpet, Lowers Price Target to $140

U.S. stocks were mixed, with the Dow Jones falling over 200 points on Monday.
Shares of Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRDG#NASDAQ">BRDG</a>) rose sharply during Monday's session after Apollo Global Management announced that it will acquire the company in a $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BRDG/news">all-stock transactio</a>n.
Bridge Investment Group shares surged 35.2% to $10.71 on Monday.
Here are some other big stocks recording gains in today's session.
<ul>
<li>Diginex Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGNX#NASDAQ">DGNX</a>) shares jumped 32% to $66.00.</li>
<li>Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLX#NASDAQ">TLX</a>) gained 20.7% to $23.53 after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly financial results.</li>
<li>Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOS#NYSE">GOOS</a>) rose 11.8% to $11.65.</li>
<li>Freshpet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FRPT#NASDAQ">FRPT</a>) gained 9.4% to $109.68 after Jefferies upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy.</li>
<li>Sun Communities, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SUI#NYSE">SUI</a>) climbed 7.2% to $135.17 after the company announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell 100% of its interests in the Safe Harbor Marinas business to affiliates of Blackstone Infrastructure.</li>
<li>Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZETA#NYSE">ZETA</a>) gained 6.8% to $22.14.</li>
<li>Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGA#NYSE">RGA</a>) rose 6.5% to $201.79 after the company announced a reinsurance transaction with Equitable Holdings.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/02/43909562/top-2-industrials-stocks-that-are-set-to-fly-this-quarter">Top 2 Industrials Stocks That Are Set To Fly This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>

Pre-Market Outlook

BRDG

DGNX

GOOS

ZETA

Bridge Investment Group, Telix Pharmaceuticals, Sun Communities, And Other Big Stocks Moving Higher On Monday

Earnings

Press Releases

Freshpet, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Freshpet, Inc. to Participate in the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference

Freshpet, Inc. to Participate in the 2025 ICR Conference

Freshpet, Inc. to Report Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results and Participate in the CAGNY Conference on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Freshpet, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results

INVESTOR ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Freshpet, Inc. - FRPT

Mutual Funds

DoorDash, TKO Group Holdings, Williams-Sonoma and Expand Energy Set to Join S&P 500; Others to Join S&P 100, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600

Freshpet, Inc. to Report First Quarter 2025 Results on Monday, May 5, 2025

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The Simply Good Foods Company - Common Stock

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Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. Common Stock

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Truist Securities

Benchmark

Stifel

JP Morgan

Wells Fargo

Screenshot 2024-02-27 at 6.34.08 PM

Emerging Markets

CHWY

More Millennials Are Opting For Pets Over Children As Pet Industry Continues To Grow

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