Activist Ancora reveals investment in Americold Realty and advocates for strategic evaluation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 09 2025
0mins
Should l Buy COLD?
Source: SeekingAlpha
Activist Investor Stake: Ancora has acquired a stake in Americold Realty Trust (COLD) and is urging the company to explore strategic alternatives, including a potential sale or divestment of non-core assets to focus on North America and reduce debt.
Financial Performance Concerns: Americold's shares have dropped 47% this year, prompting calls for cost reductions and margin improvements to enhance financial performance.
Future Growth Potential: Jim Chadwick, president of Ancora Alternatives, believes Americold could see a 190% increase in value over the next three years if strategic changes are implemented.
Market Outlook: Americold is facing macroeconomic uncertainties, with projections indicating a contraction in economic occupancy rates and concerns about dividend sustainability amidst market conditions.
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Analyst Views on COLD
Wall Street analysts forecast COLD stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 12.340
Low
18.00
Averages
22.36
High
25.00
Current: 12.340
Low
18.00
Averages
22.36
High
25.00
About COLD
Americold Realty Trust, Inc. is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company is engaged in temperature-controlled logistics real estate and value-added services. Focused on the ownership, operation, acquisition and development of temperature-controlled warehouses, it owns and/or operates about 239 temperature-controlled warehouses, with approximately 1.4 billion refrigerated cubic feet of storage, in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Its facilities are an integral component of the supply chain, connecting food producers, processors, distributors and retailers to consumers. In addition, it holds minority interests in two joint ventures, one with SuperFrio, which owns or operates 34 temperature-controlled warehouses in Brazil, and one with RSA joint venture, which operates two temperature-controlled warehouses in Dubai. It manages its business through three segments: warehouse, transportation, and third-party managed.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Americold Realty Trust Downgraded by BofA Securities
- Rating Downgrade: BofA Securities has downgraded Americold Realty Trust (COLD) from Buy to Underperform, lowering the price target from $14 to $13, reflecting a lower total return expectation compared to other REITs.
- Stock Price Decline: During Thursday morning trading, COLD shares fell by 4.92% to $12.38, indicating market concerns about its future performance, particularly in the context of limited demand visibility.
- Earnings Forecast: BofA projects a -14.7% earnings growth for COLD in 2026 and only 1.6% in 2027, contrasting sharply with the 6.0% and 6.7% growth expected for REITs in the same years, amplifying investor risk aversion.
- Market Performance: Although COLD has risen nearly 30% from its November 2025 trough, BofA's target price implies a 7% total return potential that is viewed as relative underperformance within its REIT coverage universe, reflecting a pessimistic outlook on future growth.
See More
Americold Realty Trust Options Analysis
- Put Option Appeal: The current bid for the $12.50 put option is 85 cents, and if an investor sells this option, they commit to buying the stock at $12.50, effectively lowering their cost basis to $11.65, which is a 1% discount from the current price of $12.57, making it attractive for those interested in COLD shares.
- Return Potential: Should the put option expire worthless, it would yield a 6.80% return on the cash commitment, or 7.17% annualized, referred to as YieldBoost, highlighting the strategy's potential attractiveness.
- Call Option Returns: The $15.00 call option has a current bid of 50 cents, and if an investor buys COLD shares at $12.57 and sells this call option, they could achieve a total return of 23.31% if the stock is called away at the January 2027 expiration, showcasing the potential profitability of this strategy.
- Risk Assessment: The $15.00 strike represents a 19% premium over the current stock price, with a 52% chance of the call option expiring worthless, allowing investors to retain both their shares and the premium collected, thereby enhancing investment security.
See More
Americold Realty Trust Appoints New CFO and Announces Personnel Changes
- Executive Appointment: Americold Realty Trust announced the appointment of Christopher Papa as Executive Vice President and CFO effective February 23, 2026, bringing extensive financial management experience from his previous role as CFO at CenterPoint Properties, which is expected to enhance the company's financial strategy.
- Interim CFO Arrangement: Current CFO Jay Wells has departed, and Chief Investment Officer Scott Henderson will serve as interim CFO until Papa's arrival, ensuring continuity in financial management and mitigating potential operational disruptions from leadership changes.
- Legal and HR Integration: Chief Legal Officer Nathan Harwell will expand his role to include Chief People Officer, which is expected to enhance synergies in legal compliance and human resource management, thereby strengthening the company's governance structure.
- Financial Outlook Reaffirmed: Americold reaffirmed its financial outlook for FY 2025, expecting fourth-quarter adjusted funds from operations per share between $0.36 and $0.38, consistent with prior guidance, reflecting the company's confidence in its future financial performance.
See More
Americold Realty Trust (COLD) to Release Q4 and Full Year 2025 Financial Results on February 19, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Americold Realty Trust will announce its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results before the market opens on February 19, 2026, providing investors with critical performance metrics and future outlook.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day, allowing investors to participate by dialing domestic 1-877-407-3982 or international 1-201-493-6780, ensuring timely access to the latest information.
- Webcast Information: The call will be available via webcast on the company's Investor Relations section, with investors required to register and install necessary audio software at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to ensure smooth participation.
- Global Business Overview: Americold operates over 230 facilities across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America, providing approximately 1.4 billion cubic feet of refrigerated space, ensuring the safe and efficient logistics of temperature-controlled products and supporting the stability of the food supply chain.
See More
Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Americold Realty Trust with 14.15% Price Target Upside
- Price Target Forecast: As of December 20, 2025, the average one-year price target for Americold Realty Trust is $14.35/share, indicating a 14.15% upside from its latest closing price of $12.57/share, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: The projected annual revenue for Americold Realty Trust is $3.274 billion, representing a 25.57% increase, suggesting a sustained rise in market demand within the cold chain logistics sector, which could drive stock price appreciation.
- Institutional Ownership Changes: Currently, 701 institutions report positions in Americold Realty Trust, a decrease of 21 from the previous quarter, indicating a cautious market sentiment, although the average portfolio weight has increased by 9.23% to 0.24%.
- Investor Dynamics: Fuller & Thaler Asset Management increased its stake in Americold Realty Trust to 17.759 million shares, a 47.79% rise, while APG Asset Management US reduced its holdings to 12.14 million shares, an 11.28% decrease, reflecting divergent views among investors regarding the stock's prospects.
See More
B. Riley Cuts WhiteFiber Price Target to $40 Amidst Buy Rating
- Target Price Adjustment: B. Riley Securities has lowered the price target for WhiteFiber, Inc. from $44 to $40 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future performance.
- Market Performance: WhiteFiber shares closed at $14.30 on Tuesday, significantly below the new target price, reflecting market concerns about its growth potential and possibly impacting investor confidence.
- Analyst Perspective: Analyst Nick Giles from B. Riley believes that despite the target price cut, the company's fundamentals remain attractive, which may draw the attention of long-term investors.
- Industry Impact: This move could prompt other analysts to reassess WhiteFiber's market positioning, potentially affecting its performance in a highly competitive industry.
See More
Americold Realty Trust Downgraded by BofA Securities
- Rating Downgrade: BofA Securities has downgraded Americold Realty Trust (COLD) from Buy to Underperform, lowering the price target from $14 to $13, reflecting a lower total return expectation compared to other REITs.
- Stock Price Decline: During Thursday morning trading, COLD shares fell by 4.92% to $12.38, indicating market concerns about its future performance, particularly in the context of limited demand visibility.
- Earnings Forecast: BofA projects a -14.7% earnings growth for COLD in 2026 and only 1.6% in 2027, contrasting sharply with the 6.0% and 6.7% growth expected for REITs in the same years, amplifying investor risk aversion.
- Market Performance: Although COLD has risen nearly 30% from its November 2025 trough, BofA's target price implies a 7% total return potential that is viewed as relative underperformance within its REIT coverage universe, reflecting a pessimistic outlook on future growth.
See More
Americold Realty Trust Options Analysis
- Put Option Appeal: The current bid for the $12.50 put option is 85 cents, and if an investor sells this option, they commit to buying the stock at $12.50, effectively lowering their cost basis to $11.65, which is a 1% discount from the current price of $12.57, making it attractive for those interested in COLD shares.
- Return Potential: Should the put option expire worthless, it would yield a 6.80% return on the cash commitment, or 7.17% annualized, referred to as YieldBoost, highlighting the strategy's potential attractiveness.
- Call Option Returns: The $15.00 call option has a current bid of 50 cents, and if an investor buys COLD shares at $12.57 and sells this call option, they could achieve a total return of 23.31% if the stock is called away at the January 2027 expiration, showcasing the potential profitability of this strategy.
- Risk Assessment: The $15.00 strike represents a 19% premium over the current stock price, with a 52% chance of the call option expiring worthless, allowing investors to retain both their shares and the premium collected, thereby enhancing investment security.
See More
Americold Realty Trust Appoints New CFO and Announces Personnel Changes
- Executive Appointment: Americold Realty Trust announced the appointment of Christopher Papa as Executive Vice President and CFO effective February 23, 2026, bringing extensive financial management experience from his previous role as CFO at CenterPoint Properties, which is expected to enhance the company's financial strategy.
- Interim CFO Arrangement: Current CFO Jay Wells has departed, and Chief Investment Officer Scott Henderson will serve as interim CFO until Papa's arrival, ensuring continuity in financial management and mitigating potential operational disruptions from leadership changes.
- Legal and HR Integration: Chief Legal Officer Nathan Harwell will expand his role to include Chief People Officer, which is expected to enhance synergies in legal compliance and human resource management, thereby strengthening the company's governance structure.
- Financial Outlook Reaffirmed: Americold reaffirmed its financial outlook for FY 2025, expecting fourth-quarter adjusted funds from operations per share between $0.36 and $0.38, consistent with prior guidance, reflecting the company's confidence in its future financial performance.
See More
Americold Realty Trust (COLD) to Release Q4 and Full Year 2025 Financial Results on February 19, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Americold Realty Trust will announce its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results before the market opens on February 19, 2026, providing investors with critical performance metrics and future outlook.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day, allowing investors to participate by dialing domestic 1-877-407-3982 or international 1-201-493-6780, ensuring timely access to the latest information.
- Webcast Information: The call will be available via webcast on the company's Investor Relations section, with investors required to register and install necessary audio software at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to ensure smooth participation.
- Global Business Overview: Americold operates over 230 facilities across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America, providing approximately 1.4 billion cubic feet of refrigerated space, ensuring the safe and efficient logistics of temperature-controlled products and supporting the stability of the food supply chain.
See More
Truist Securities Maintains Buy on Americold Realty Trust with 14.15% Price Target Upside
- Price Target Forecast: As of December 20, 2025, the average one-year price target for Americold Realty Trust is $14.35/share, indicating a 14.15% upside from its latest closing price of $12.57/share, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: The projected annual revenue for Americold Realty Trust is $3.274 billion, representing a 25.57% increase, suggesting a sustained rise in market demand within the cold chain logistics sector, which could drive stock price appreciation.
- Institutional Ownership Changes: Currently, 701 institutions report positions in Americold Realty Trust, a decrease of 21 from the previous quarter, indicating a cautious market sentiment, although the average portfolio weight has increased by 9.23% to 0.24%.
- Investor Dynamics: Fuller & Thaler Asset Management increased its stake in Americold Realty Trust to 17.759 million shares, a 47.79% rise, while APG Asset Management US reduced its holdings to 12.14 million shares, an 11.28% decrease, reflecting divergent views among investors regarding the stock's prospects.
See More
B. Riley Cuts WhiteFiber Price Target to $40 Amidst Buy Rating
- Target Price Adjustment: B. Riley Securities has lowered the price target for WhiteFiber, Inc. from $44 to $40 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future performance.
- Market Performance: WhiteFiber shares closed at $14.30 on Tuesday, significantly below the new target price, reflecting market concerns about its growth potential and possibly impacting investor confidence.
- Analyst Perspective: Analyst Nick Giles from B. Riley believes that despite the target price cut, the company's fundamentals remain attractive, which may draw the attention of long-term investors.
- Industry Impact: This move could prompt other analysts to reassess WhiteFiber's market positioning, potentially affecting its performance in a highly competitive industry.
See More
