Freshpet Inc. receives positive analyst rating upgrades
Freshpet Inc. (FRPT) saw a price increase of 5.07% as it crossed above its 5-day SMA, indicating a positive shift in investor sentiment.
The stock's upward movement is attributed to recent analyst rating upgrades, which highlighted improved earnings expectations for Freshpet and other consumer staples companies. Analysts have shown growing confidence in Freshpet's profitability outlook, contributing to its strong performance amid a broader market decline, with the Nasdaq-100 down 2.16% and the S&P 500 down 2.06%.
This positive analyst sentiment may lead to increased investor interest in Freshpet, suggesting potential for further price appreciation as the company continues to demonstrate resilience in a challenging market environment.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on FRPT
About FRPT
About the author


Market Volatility: A little chaos in the market can create opportunities for stock-picking, allowing investors to identify undervalued stocks.
Investment Strategy: Embracing market fluctuations can lead to better investment decisions, as it encourages a more active approach to stock selection.
- Analyst Rating Upgrades: As earnings season begins, low-to-mid cap consumer staples stocks like The Andersons (ANDE) and Beyond Meat (BYND) have received an A+ EPS revision rating from analysts, indicating growing confidence in their profitability outlook.
- Improved Earnings Expectations: Companies such as Freshpet (FRPT) and John B. Sanfilippo & Son (JBSS) have shown strong performance in recent earnings estimate upgrades, suggesting an improvement in their fundamentals.
- Increased Market Attention: Firms like Oddity Tech (ODD) and Reynolds Consumer Products (REYN) are attracting investor interest due to their strong earnings momentum, with positive analyst revisions likely to drive stock price increases.
- Industry Trend Analysis: Companies such as Turning Point Brands (TPB) and Village Farms International (VFF) are performing well in the current market environment, demonstrating resilience in the consumer staples sector amid structural challenges.
- Resilience in Pet Spending: In 2025, U.S. pet spending demonstrated resilience despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures, with pet and pet product inflation easing to 0.3% in November, providing relief to consumers and highlighting the sector's defensive appeal.
- Shift in Consumer Behavior: A survey revealed that 97% of U.S. pet owners consider their pets family members, driving demand for pet technology and health-oriented products, which reflects younger pet owners' balancing act between wellness and affordability.
- Emergence of a Two-Speed Market: Industry experts noted a bifurcation in spending patterns, where affluent households continue to purchase premium products while approximately 75% of households shift towards value brands, benefiting private-label producers.
- Investor Focus: Despite a slowdown in overall deal activity, the pet care sector remains attractive to investors due to its stable demand and lower tariff exposure, with analysts predicting a significant increase in transaction activity in 2026 and 2027, particularly in premium and value segments.
Investor Behavior: Many inexperienced investors tend to buy shares in loss-making companies based on appealing narratives, which can lead to emotional rather than rational investment decisions, increasing their risk exposure.
Freshpet's Growth: Freshpet has shown impressive earnings growth, with its EPS rising from $0.91 to $2.53 in the past year, and its EBIT margins improving, indicating a sustainable competitive advantage.
Insider Confidence: Significant insider buying, totaling $1.3 million in one year, suggests strong confidence in Freshpet's future performance, with insiders holding a substantial amount of stock.
CEO Compensation: Freshpet's CEO, Billy Cyr, has a modest compensation of $2.3 million, which may reflect a commitment to aligning management interests with those of shareholders, indicating good governance.

Investigation Announcement: The Schall Law Firm is investigating claims against Freshpet, Inc. for potential violations of securities laws, focusing on misleading statements and undisclosed information affecting investors.
Recent Downgrade: Freshpet's stock was downgraded by Bank of America from Buy to Neutral, with a price target reduction from $81 to $60, attributed to falling pet adoption rates and weakened consumer demand for fresh pet food.
Stock Impact: Following the downgrade, Freshpet's shares experienced a decline of over 6.3% on the same day, reflecting investor concerns about the company's performance.
Investor Support: Shareholders who have suffered losses are encouraged to contact the Schall Law Firm for a free discussion of their rights and potential participation in the investigation.
Fastest News Alerts: Benzinga Pro offers real-time intelligence to help traders stay updated and make informed decisions in the stock market.
Exclusive Stories: The platform provides unique stories and insights generated by Benzinga reporters, enhancing the trading experience for its users.
Community of Traders: Over 10,000 serious traders are part of the Benzinga Pro community, benefiting from shared knowledge and resources.
Market Intelligence: Benzinga Pro is positioned as a source for the most accurate and timely stock market intelligence available.








