Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) Downgraded to “Sell” Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note released on Saturday morning.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Krispy Kreme in a research report on Wednesday, June 24th. Evercore set a $4.00 price objective on Krispy Kreme in a research report on Friday. Finally, Zacks Research lowered Krispy Kreme from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Krispy Kreme currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average target price of $4.33.

Krispy Kreme Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:DNUT opened at $3.34 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. Krispy Kreme has a fifty-two week low of $2.88 and a fifty-two week high of $5.11. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $3.41. The company has a market cap of $575.82 million, a PE ratio of -5.96 and a beta of 1.27.

Krispy Kreme (NASDAQ:DNUT) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.03). Krispy Kreme had a negative net margin of 6.16% and a negative return on equity of 1.15%. The firm had revenue of $331.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $303.35 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($0.15) earnings per share. Krispy Kreme’s revenue was down 12.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Krispy Kreme will post -0.07 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Krispy Kreme

In other news, Director Bernardo Hees bought 235,875 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of $3.39 per share, for a total transaction of $799,616.25. Following the transaction, the director owned 1,229,037 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,166,435.43. This trade represents a 23.75% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Over the last ninety days, insiders have bought 880,190 shares of company stock worth $2,973,833. Insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Krispy Kreme

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Prudential Financial Inc. bought a new position in Krispy Kreme in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Krispy Kreme by 1,229.5% in the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 8,469 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 7,832 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in Krispy Kreme during the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Apollon Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Krispy Kreme during the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Krispy Kreme during the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. Institutional investors own 81.72% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting Krispy Kreme

Here are the key news stories impacting Krispy Kreme this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Fall product launch could support seasonal sales. Krispy Kreme is bringing back Pumpkin Spice and Biscoff Cookie Butter doughnuts, along with new fall-themed doughnuts and lattes, beginning August 11. The limited-time menu could boost customer traffic and comparable sales during the important autumn promotional period. Pumpkin Spice is Back! Krispy Kreme Welcomes Fall with New Autumn Seasonal Collection
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent earnings showed mixed results. Krispy Kreme reported quarterly adjusted EPS of negative $0.03, in line with expectations, while revenue of $331 million exceeded the approximately $303 million consensus estimate. However, revenue declined 12.8% year over year, and the company continues to report negative net margins. Krispy Kreme 2026 Q2 Results Earnings Call Presentation
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst downgrades are weighing on sentiment. Zacks Research downgraded Krispy Kreme from “hold” to “strong sell,” while Wall Street Zen moved its rating to “sell.” The downgrades reinforce concerns about declining sales, continued losses, leverage, and limited near-term earnings visibility. Krispy Kreme Downgraded by Zacks Research Krispy Kreme Downgraded to Sell by Wall Street Zen

About Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc (NASDAQ: DNUT) is a global retailer and wholesaler renowned for its signature Original Glazed doughnut and a variety of other sweet treats. The company operates through a combination of company-owned stores, franchise outlets and strategic partnerships with supermarkets, convenience stores and other foodservice channels. In addition to its doughnut portfolio, Krispy Kreme offers freshly brewed coffee, assorted beverages and proprietary seasonal items designed to drive traffic and foster brand loyalty.

Founded in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, by Vernon Rudolph, Krispy Kreme has grown from a single local shop to a multinational brand.