PriceSmart (NASDAQ:PSMT) Reaches New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ:PSMT) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $144.67 and last traded at $145.0750, with a volume of 24959 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $140.82.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings cut shares of PriceSmart from a “buy (a-)” rating to a “buy (b+)” rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen lowered PriceSmart from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, January 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy”.

PriceSmart Stock Down 2.6%

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $127.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $118.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. The stock has a market cap of $4.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.98 and a beta of 0.74.

PriceSmart (NASDAQ:PSMT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 7th. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.36 billion. PriceSmart had a return on equity of 12.20% and a net margin of 2.79%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.21 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that PriceSmart, Inc. will post 5.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at PriceSmart

In other PriceSmart news, COO John D. Hildebrandt sold 7,421 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.88, for a total value of $1,015,786.48. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 108,194 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,809,594.72. This trade represents a 6.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Beatriz V. Infante sold 1,995 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.87, for a total value of $273,055.65. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 10,879 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,489,008.73. This trade represents a 15.50% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 28,827 shares of company stock worth $3,683,481 in the last quarter. 17.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of PriceSmart

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Horizon Corp purchased a new position in shares of PriceSmart in the third quarter valued at $30,000. BNP PARIBAS ASSET MANAGEMENT Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in shares of PriceSmart during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of PriceSmart by 560.0% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 297 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of PriceSmart during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of PriceSmart by 52.5% in the second quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 363 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.46% of the company’s stock.

PriceSmart Company Profile

PriceSmart, Inc (NASDAQ: PSMT) is a U.S.-based retailer specializing in membership warehouse clubs. Founded in 1993, the company operates under a business model that offers bulk quantities of goods at discounted prices to individuals and businesses that purchase annual memberships. PriceSmart’s value proposition centers on low-cost operations, high-volume purchasing, and a no-frills shopping environment designed to pass savings directly to its members.

The company’s product assortment covers a broad range of merchandise categories, including groceries and fresh produce, household essentials, electronics, appliances, office supplies, furniture, and health and beauty items.