VF Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:VFC)

VF Corporation (NYSE:VFC) saw some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Investors purchased 30,238 put options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 59% compared to the typical volume of 19,041 put options.

VF Stock Down 3.7 %

Shares of VFC traded down $0.63 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $16.57. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,372,468 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,160,463. VF has a 1 year low of $11.00 and a 1 year high of $21.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84. The company has a market cap of $6.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.53. The business has a fifty day moving average of $18.54 and a 200 day moving average of $15.50.

VF (NYSE:VFC) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The textile maker reported ($0.33) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.37) by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.85 billion. VF had a positive return on equity of 11.75% and a negative net margin of 11.39%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.15) EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that VF will post 0.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

VF Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 18th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 10th were paid a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 10th. VF’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -11.92%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VFC has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wedbush reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $13.00 price target on shares of VF in a report on Monday, August 5th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of VF from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of VF in a research note on Friday, October 11th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $20.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI upped their target price on VF from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on VF from $13.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $17.24.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Richard Carucci acquired 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 22nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $16.70 per share, with a total value of $250,500.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 230,178 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,843,972.60. The trade was a 0.00 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of VF

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VFC. M&G Plc bought a new stake in VF in the first quarter worth approximately $200,768,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in VF by 28.0% during the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 11,822,885 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $159,609,000 after buying an additional 2,589,852 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in shares of VF in the first quarter worth about $30,527,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of VF by 328.0% during the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,623,875 shares of the textile maker’s stock worth $21,922,000 after acquiring an additional 1,244,448 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board increased its holdings in shares of VF by 1,365.2% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 727,148 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $9,816,000 after acquiring an additional 677,519 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.84% of the company’s stock.

VF Company Profile

V.F. Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, procurement, marketing, and distribution of branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and children in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Outdoor, Active, and Work.