Recent Insider Trading: Whole Foods Market Inc (WFM)

Whole Foods Market Inc (NASDAQ:WFM) insider has recently participated in insider trading activity. Director, Hassan Shahid M sold 2,000 shares for $58,064        through one transaction Feb 12. Following this sale, this insider’s stake in the company comprises 36,114 shares, priced at $1115922.6 as of Tuesday. Director, ELSTROTT JOHN bought 350 shares for $9,926 via one transaction Jan 20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 55,533 shares in total, priced at $1715969.7 as of Tuesday. Another notable insider trading was done by the same insider on Nov 30. ELSTROTT JOHN acquired 850 shares at an average price of $29.07 for a total of $24,705. Moreover, this insider carried out a purchase of 1,000 shares at $29.32 each on Nov 13. The transaction amounted to $29,320.

The stock has experienced a total of 29 insider trades in the past three months. These trades include 18 sell activities and 11 buy trades. Furthermore, over the past 12 months, the stock was traded 59 times by insiders. In 45 of these trades, the insider was a seller while an employee of the company was the buyer in fourteen instances.

Whole Foods Market Inc (WFM) on February 10, 2016 reported results for the 16-week first quarter ended January 17, 2016. For the quarter, total sales increased 3% to a record $4.8 billion. Comparable store sales on a constant currency basis decreased 1.8%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) were $399 million, or 8.3% of sales, diluted earnings per share were $0.46, and adjusted return on invested capital was 14%.

During the quarter, the Company produced $232 million in cash flow from operations, invested $179 million in capital expenditures, returned $45 million in quarterly dividends to shareholders, and repurchased $634 million or 21.2 million shares of common stock. On December 3, 2015, the Company completed its previously announced offering of $1.0 billion of 5.2% senior notes due 2025, ending the quarter with $1.1 billion in total debt and $1.4 billion in total available capital. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company repurchased $100 million or 3.5 million shares of common stock.

Whole Foods Market (WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 91,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 18 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2014, the company had sales of more than $14 billion and currently has more than 434 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.