UNFI Board Member Acquires 17,000 Shares, Transaction Value Approximately $573,000
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 10 2026
0mins
Should l Buy UNFI?
Source: Fool
- Share Acquisition: Board member James C. Pappas acquired 17,000 shares of United Natural Foods (UNFI) in multiple open-market transactions between January 2 and January 5, 2026, with a total transaction value of approximately $573,000, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Holding Structure Change: Post-transaction, Pappas's direct holdings remain at 24,685 shares, while indirect holdings through JCP Investment Management increased to 194,178 shares, reflecting a substantial overall position in the company.
- Change in Trading Frequency: This marks Pappas's first open-market purchase in over three years, suggesting a shift in his trading strategy and potentially renewed investment interest in United Natural Foods.
- Market Performance Context: During the acquisition period, shares were priced at $33.71 each, and despite a reported 0.4% year-over-year sales decline in Q1 2025, the stock delivered an 18.40% total return over the year, indicating some market confidence.
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Analyst Views on UNFI
Wall Street analysts forecast UNFI stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for UNFI is 39.50 USD with a low forecast of 35.00 USD and a high forecast of 48.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 39.700
Low
35.00
Averages
39.50
High
48.00
Current: 39.700
Low
35.00
Averages
39.50
High
48.00
About UNFI
United Natural Foods, Inc. is a distributor of grocery and non-food products and support service provider to retailers in the United States and Canada. It operates through three segments: Natural, Conventional and Retail. The natural segment reflects the wholesale distribution of natural, organic and specialty grocery and non-food products and services and includes the Company’s portfolio of natural owned brands and natural and organic snack food manufacturing business. The conventional segment reflects the wholesale distribution of conventional grocery and non-food products and services and includes the Company’s portfolio of conventional owned brands. Retail segment includes about 75 Cub Foods and Shoppers retail grocery stores. It offers approximately 230,000 products consisting of national, regional and private label brands grouped into various main product categories: grocery and general merchandise, perishables, frozen foods, wellness and personal care items and others.
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.
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- Financial Performance: TG Therapeutics reported preliminary fourth-quarter revenue of $182 million for its main product as of January 30, and despite a significant 92.8% year-over-year growth to $161.7 million in the third quarter, the overall performance could not offset the 11.8% decline in its stock over the past year.
- Market Comparison: The underperformance of TG Therapeutics' stock, losing 11.8%, contrasts sharply with the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500's gains of 20% and 15.8%, respectively, highlighting a lack of competitive edge in the biotechnology sector that may pose higher risks for investors.
- Investor Implications: The complete exit by Hussman suggests a diminishing confidence in TG Therapeutics, prompting investors to closely monitor the company's future strategic partnerships and clinical program developments to assess potential growth opportunities in oncology and immunology markets.
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- Importance of Participation: Shareholder involvement can improve company policies and oversight mechanisms, thereby enhancing shareholder value and promoting more effective management.
- Global Investor Representation: Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors worldwide, focusing on implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions for those affected by securities fraud and corporate misconduct.
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- Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Cut: The company slashed its adjusted EBITDA guidance by approximately $115 million, or about 13.3%, primarily due to lower procurement and inventory gains, reflecting the impact of supply chain volatility and a deceleration in inflation, which may further pressure future profitability.
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- Share Acquisition: Board member James C. Pappas acquired 17,000 shares of United Natural Foods (UNFI) in multiple open-market transactions between January 2 and January 5, 2026, with a total transaction value of approximately $573,000, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Holding Structure Change: Post-transaction, Pappas's direct holdings remain at 24,685 shares, while indirect holdings through JCP Investment Management increased to 194,178 shares, reflecting a substantial overall position in the company.
- Change in Trading Frequency: This marks Pappas's first open-market purchase in over three years, suggesting a shift in his trading strategy and potentially renewed investment interest in United Natural Foods.
- Market Performance Context: During the acquisition period, shares were priced at $33.71 each, and despite a reported 0.4% year-over-year sales decline in Q1 2025, the stock delivered an 18.40% total return over the year, indicating some market confidence.
See More
UNFI Director James Pappas Acquires 17,000 Shares for $573,000
- Share Acquisition: Director James Pappas purchased 17,000 shares between January 2 and 5, 2026, at a weighted average price of $33.71 per share, totaling $573,000, indicating his bullish outlook on United Natural Foods.
- Ownership Structure Change: This acquisition increased Pappas's indirect holdings to 194,178 shares while direct holdings remained at 24,685 shares, marking his first open-market buy in three years, which reflects confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Financial Performance: Despite a 0.4% year-over-year decline in sales to $7.8 billion in fiscal Q1 2025, United Natural Foods achieved a 2.6% revenue growth to $31.8 billion for the fiscal year, demonstrating resilience amid challenges.
- Debt Management: The company is actively working to reduce its debt, with a net leverage ratio dropping to 3.2x in fiscal Q1, aiming for a target of 2.5x by the end of fiscal 2026, which may lay the groundwork for future financial stability.
See More
Hussman Strategic Advisors Exits Entire Position in TG Therapeutics
- Position Change: Hussman Strategic Advisors disclosed in an SEC filing that it sold its entire position of 126,000 shares in TG Therapeutics, which previously represented 1.0% of its assets under management, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future performance.
- Financial Performance: TG Therapeutics reported preliminary fourth-quarter revenue of $182 million for its main product as of January 30, and despite a significant 92.8% year-over-year growth to $161.7 million in the third quarter, the overall performance could not offset the 11.8% decline in its stock over the past year.
- Market Comparison: The underperformance of TG Therapeutics' stock, losing 11.8%, contrasts sharply with the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500's gains of 20% and 15.8%, respectively, highlighting a lack of competitive edge in the biotechnology sector that may pose higher risks for investors.
- Investor Implications: The complete exit by Hussman suggests a diminishing confidence in TG Therapeutics, prompting investors to closely monitor the company's future strategic partnerships and clinical program developments to assess potential growth opportunities in oncology and immunology markets.
See More
Investigation into United Natural Foods' Corporate Governance Breaches
- Shareholder Rights Investigation: Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating whether certain officers of United Natural Foods breached their fiduciary duties, potentially impacting corporate governance and shareholder rights.
- Legal Relief Options: Long-term shareholders may seek governance reforms, fund recovery, and court-approved financial incentives, aimed at enhancing company transparency and accountability.
- Importance of Participation: Shareholder involvement can improve company policies and oversight mechanisms, thereby enhancing shareholder value and promoting more effective management.
- Global Investor Representation: Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors worldwide, focusing on implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions for those affected by securities fraud and corporate misconduct.
See More
United Natural Foods, Inc. Faces Lawsuit Amid 71% Net Income Decline
- Deteriorating Financial Performance: United Natural Foods, Inc. reported a $6 million year-over-year decline in gross profit and over a 71% drop in net income and earnings per diluted share for Q2 FY2023, despite a 6% increase in net sales, indicating a severe erosion of profitability.
- Adjusted EBITDA Guidance Cut: The company slashed its adjusted EBITDA guidance by approximately $115 million, or about 13.3%, primarily due to lower procurement and inventory gains, reflecting the impact of supply chain volatility and a deceleration in inflation, which may further pressure future profitability.
- Legal Action Progress: The company and its executives are facing a securities class action lawsuit for failing to disclose material information during the class period, with a recent court ruling denying the company's motion for judgment on the pleadings, allowing the case to proceed and potentially impacting the company's reputation and financial standing.
- Ongoing Investigation: Kahn Swick & Foti is investigating whether United Natural's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders or violated other laws, and adverse findings could expose the company to greater legal and financial risks.
See More
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- ETF Performance: The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) underperformed in Q4 with a marginal loss of 0.73%, contrasting with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) gain of 2%, indicating a defensive lag in risk-on market conditions.
- Quant Rating Analysis: According to Seeking Alpha's quant model, XLP received a rating of 2.28, ranking as the second-lowest among 11 sector-based ETFs, only above the real estate ETF (XLRE), reflecting a lack of market confidence in consumer staples.
- Stock Rating Highlights: Ambev (ABEV) achieved a Strong Buy rating of 4.86, while United Natural Foods (UNFI) received a rating of 4.73, indicating these companies' relative strength in the current economic environment, potentially attracting investor interest.
- Future Market Outlook: Goldman Sachs Research noted that despite structural headwinds in the consumer staples sector, attractive and profitable categories such as nicotine, energy drinks, and beauty products are still worth investing in for 2026, suggesting optimism in specific sub-sectors.
See More
UNFI Board Member Acquires 17,000 Shares, Transaction Value Approximately $573,000
- Share Acquisition: Board member James C. Pappas acquired 17,000 shares of United Natural Foods (UNFI) in multiple open-market transactions between January 2 and January 5, 2026, with a total transaction value of approximately $573,000, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Holding Structure Change: Post-transaction, Pappas's direct holdings remain at 24,685 shares, while indirect holdings through JCP Investment Management increased to 194,178 shares, reflecting a substantial overall position in the company.
- Change in Trading Frequency: This marks Pappas's first open-market purchase in over three years, suggesting a shift in his trading strategy and potentially renewed investment interest in United Natural Foods.
- Market Performance Context: During the acquisition period, shares were priced at $33.71 each, and despite a reported 0.4% year-over-year sales decline in Q1 2025, the stock delivered an 18.40% total return over the year, indicating some market confidence.
See More
UNFI Director James Pappas Acquires 17,000 Shares for $573,000
- Share Acquisition: Director James Pappas purchased 17,000 shares between January 2 and 5, 2026, at a weighted average price of $33.71 per share, totaling $573,000, indicating his bullish outlook on United Natural Foods.
- Ownership Structure Change: This acquisition increased Pappas's indirect holdings to 194,178 shares while direct holdings remained at 24,685 shares, marking his first open-market buy in three years, which reflects confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Financial Performance: Despite a 0.4% year-over-year decline in sales to $7.8 billion in fiscal Q1 2025, United Natural Foods achieved a 2.6% revenue growth to $31.8 billion for the fiscal year, demonstrating resilience amid challenges.
- Debt Management: The company is actively working to reduce its debt, with a net leverage ratio dropping to 3.2x in fiscal Q1, aiming for a target of 2.5x by the end of fiscal 2026, which may lay the groundwork for future financial stability.
See More
